Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-03-10
STARVING
PIMA INDIANS.
We're Once a Prosperous and In
dustrIous Community,
THEIR FIELDS NOW BARREN
As the Result OF the Push Of the
White settler and the Neglect
Of the Government.

-Four hundred years ago according to
the narrative Of that intrepid Spanish
adventurer, Cabeza de Vaca, the por-
ton Of southern Arizona now occupied
by the ella Indian reservation, grew
luxuriant crops Of fruit and maize Cor
the friendly Pima Indians. This ex-
plorer describes them very much as
they are today. They occupied the same
lands as at present and were industri-
Gus farmers and lrrigators. as they con-
tinued to be for many years after the
acquisition OF Arizona by the United
States. They have raised corn, wheat,
pumpkins, beans, sorghum, and vege-
tables in profuslon. They have lived in
small villages and held their lands in
seyeralty and they are expert weayers
OF fine fabrics. All this has been ac-
complished through irrigation prac-
tlced by them since before the discovery
Of the New World.
What is the situation In this reserva-
tlon today? Those philanthropists who
bewail the passing of the American In
dian may well turn their attention to
the destitute condition OF the Pima In
dams. brought about by the push Of the
white settler and the criminal neglect Of
the government, whose wards the In
dams are, says the 81. Johns, Ariz,
Herald.
The Pamas have always been friends
Of the whites and enemies OF the
Apaches. They gave aid and succor
TO early white pioneers and their te-
PEGS were always open to peaceable
whites OF Indians when hard pressed
by savage foe. II is today their boast
that their hands have never been
stained by the white mans blood. IL
was under these conditions that they
were Joined about a century ago by
the Maricopas who came as fugitiYes
from the more powerful Yuma tribe.
When the belligerent Apaches broke
out upon the warpath, the troops OF the
United States often obtained substan-
tial aid and subsistence from the gem
tie Pimas. Their agriculture has been
carried on entirely by irrigation with
water diverted from the ella river
The tribes have always supported not
only themselves, but have shared their
worlds goods with the poorer Indians
10 the south Of them not favored by irri-
cation. They have learned readily at
the government Indian school and their
advance toward modern civilization has
been regarded as one Of the encouraging
features Of the Indian problem. Dur
ing the last 10 years their irrigatine
water--their life blood-has been taken
away from them and they are perforce,
lapsing into Incidence. misery and vice.
The waters OF the ella. above them,
have been diverted by white settlers
and Instead OF waving fields Of green
they now. during the summer, look out
upon the dry, parched earth Year af-
ter year they plowed and sowed and
irrigated their crops. only to see them
wither and die before maturity owing
to lack Of sufficient irrigation water
In the dryer months. A few who are
located at points where water appears
IN the dry bed Of the CHA, can stlll
lldNuit lntii tibpNs VtieIS tdh thN buA u
bare existence, by hauling wood, or
other precarious employments the
larger number, however, are becoming
more or less dependent on charity or
have degenerated into thieves and yag-
abonds.
About 5000 Of these Indians are de-
pendent on the lands OF the reservation
containing 100000 acres while the water
supply In the ella last year owing TO
use for lands allow has not been suffi-
cient TO irrigate 1000 acres belonging to
the Indian. Fully half the crops plant
ed have not produced enough for seed,
Notwithstanding the great fertility OF
the soil. Two acres per Indian Of irri-
gated land has been shown by com,
petent authority. as ample land for
their use and comfort.