Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1900-12-08
The MESCALER0
RESERVATION.
Strong Arguments That Are Ad-
vanoed Against Throwing 1t
Open to Public Entry,
NO AGRICULTURAL LANDS.
The Indian Allotments Would Take Away
all the Land That Gould Be Titled
Indications Of Mineral Wealth are
few-Oongressman Stephens
Scored.


November 2Sth, 1900.
Santa Fe New Mexican:-
Hon. John H. Stephens of Vernon,
Texas, representative for the thirteenth
congressional district of Texas, is men
toned in the ElPaso Herald about as
follows: congressman Stephens, who
returned from the Mescalero Apache
reservation last night, says that the res
ervation is the garden spot of New Mex
leo. He is preparing to introduce a bill
in the next congress for the opening of
the reservation to settlement, and visit
ed the reservation in person that he
could see for himself the exact state of
affairs. Il have seen all of New Mex
ico,' said Mr.. Stephens, and the Mes
calero reservation is the richest part of
the entire country. The Indians have
an ideal country and have enough to
give homes to thousands who are now
homeless and | was delighted to find
that they were perfectly willing to do it.
They offer no objection TIC opening the
reservation to settlement and seem to be
of the opinion that it would be of an ad-
vantage to them Mr. Stephens plan is
10 introduce Il bill for the opening of
that and several other reservations at
the next session of congress and if he
succeeds he will have done a lasting ia
vor to this country. The Mescalero
reservation, if opened, will give
homes to thousands of families. 1t is
understood that this bill will have the
support of New Mexico solidly. Mr..
Stephens contends that unless the In
dams are thrown on their own resources
and made to mingle with English speak
ing people they will never become civ
ilized to any great extent. On the
other hand, if they are thrown among
Americans, given the benefit of schools,
churches, and other public utilities,
they will become good citizens and not a
burden to the country"
Also the following appears in the El
Paso Times:
"Mr. John H. Stephens, El Paso's
representative in congress, came in last
night from the Mescalero Indian reser-
walton and will leave this morning for
his home at Vernon, Tex. A reporter
called on Congressman Stephens at the
Pierson hotel last night to ask him what
he thought of the opening of the Mesca-
Zero reservation since visiting and study
ing the conditions of the Indians. Il
am now,' said the congressman, more
than eve pleased with my bill providing
for the opening Of the reservation to
settlem ent. There are some very fine
farming lands on the creeks and mesas,
and also considerable timber land. lido
not know anything about the mineral
deposits of the country, but am informed
that some of the richest mineral lands
in New Mexico are located on this reser-
walton. | talked with a number of the
Indians, and those | talked with ex-
pressed a desire to have the land appor-
toned and the balance thrown open to
settlement. These Indians have made
more rapid progress toward civilization
than any other tribe in the United
States. Lieutenant Stottler, who was
formerly in charge of the agency, start
ed the Indians off in the right direction
by making them cut their hair and
throw away their blankets. Today,
thanks to the lessons of Lieutenant
Stottler, the Mescalero reservation In.
dians are almost self-supporting. There
are many successful farmers and stock
raisers among them.
"There are 474 $40 acres of land in the
reservation and only 444 Indians. If
each individual Indian was given an
allotment of 160 acres there would still
remain owe 400, 900 acres of land to be
opened to settlement.
"But the Mescalero reservation is not
treaty land. The land was set aside and
closed for agency purposes by executive
order. 1t did not belong to the Indians,
consequently only heads of families will
get 100 acres. The land opened to set
Element will be the same as any other
government land, and money received
for it from settlers will be turned into
the United sStates;,treasury. However
the government will continue to make
an appropriation for the care of the
Indians now on the reservation.
81 understand the present agent in
charge of the agency is opposed TO its be-
ing opened to settlement, and has made
a report accordingly. But that has been
the course pursued by every civilian APP
pointed to the agency. They lose their
job if the land is thrown open to settle
ment and they do not want to see it
done. But every army officer who has
had charge of the agency favored it's be-
ing thrown open.
"Mr. Perea, New Mexico's delegate to
congress, is bitterly opposed to the OPP
ening of the reservation, and considered
me an interloper for introducing the
bill. He said | had no business medling
with matters in his territory. l told him
that the opening of the Mescalero reser-
walton would effect my people in Ell
Paso more than it would any community
in his territory, and for that reason |
proposed to prosecute the matter ener-
getically. l hear that Mr.. Rodney, the
new delegate to congress, is in favor Of
throwing the reservation open for settle
ment. If that be true, my bill will pass.
As unanimous consent was necessary to
take it up, Mr.. Perea has been able to
block it. But | compelled him to be in
his seat every day for two months to OBJ
ject in case called up my bill, and |
am going to make him remain in his
seat next session."
Mr.. Stephens visited the Mescalero
agency on Friday, November IS, instant.
He arrived about 10 in the morning. was
shown over the school plant and the
school farm. He had luncheon at noon,
after which he was driven up Tularosa
canon above the agency about three or
Jour miles, and then returned to Tula-
rosa, N. NJ, that same afternoon. That
was the extent of his Thorough investi-
cation of the conditions as they now
on the reservation and ''his study
ing the Mescaleros. He saw only the
incest part of the reservation, and he
saw not one acre of arabic land nor one
drop of water not already appropriated
by the Indians. He saw not one good
tree nor one foot of merchantable tim
Der. If he had continued his investiga-
ions for about two weeks he would have
seen millions of feet of timber, but not
IN acre of land fit to be bomesteaded.