Albuquerque daily citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1895-1903, 1901-02-02

These Indians have saved the govern,
ment of the United States more thar
a million dollars, the amount now ask
ed to build a reservoir. besides this
lives Of many whites. They have pro
tected the overland mail. the freigh'
roads and the early settlers from 1855
to 1872 and even before that time from
the Apaches. The government and PEG
ple of the United States owe then
much. Well may the agent ask; "Ar,
they not bound In honor to pay THU
debt by restoring TO them their water
supply"
The question may be asked. Has moi
congress appropriated $4,000 to feed
these Indians during the present fiscal
Year," This Is true, but II must b,
remembered that the $4,000 Is only q
small fraction OF the amount that vii
be needed In coming years without tn,
water supply. With the wood disposed
Of the agent knows OF no work OF any
magnitude for the coming year OF
which the Indians might be employed
and therefore the moun necessary
for ratlons win approximate 1900 0
instead OF the 10000 as for this year,
And to all this | would add. Who can
estimate the demoralizinE effect on the
old and on the young. and especially
on those who have attended and are
now attending the different schools,
OF being deprived OF their accustomed
occupation and being compelled for no
fault of theirs TO become wholly de.
pendent on the charity OF the govern
ment2"
The government and territorial on
cials, the agent on the reservation. the
superintendent Of the schools. the mis-
sionaries on the field and all interest
ed agree that there In one and only
one way to meet the difficulty and that
is Through the construction by the
government OF a reservoir for the stor-
age OF the flood waters of the Ola riv-
err"
Now IL this practicable?
The Investigations in this matter
were formerly i~ntrusted to Arthur p.
Davis. and afterwards to ]. II. Lippin.
colt. whose report (see water supply
and irrigation papers OF the United
States geological survey. No. 80. Wash
ington, government printing Office,
1900 Is in every particular favorable TO
this proposition. Different cites were
selected. Investigations prosecuted and
conclusions reached. In this report It
Is clearly shown that the San Carlos
dam can be constructed, from which
the Indians on the reservation may Sc
cure a sufficient supply OF water with
out charge and the government reooup
itself for all expenditures from the sale
OF the remaining water rights.
have Just spent a few days on this
reservation. ] have looked into the
faces of this people well nigh civilized
and Ch~ristianized. I think OF the hun
dreds OF children from these homes
that are being trained in these schools.
/ have seen these people crowd their
churches Sabbath after Sabbath. I see
an Industrious and trustworthy race
anxious to remain self-supporting. and
In the name of Justice, humanity and
even economy I unite with those who
know the situation and plead for water
FOR the poor Indians on this Pima res.
ervation. May congress no longer turn
a deaf ear to the entreaties Of these
Indians and their friends, Let congress
during the present session but make
the appropriation for this work. and
let these starving Indians be at once
employed in the construction OF the
dam. and then, instead OF this grea,
and fertile valley becoming a desert
we shall soon see II bloom and blossom
as the rose and become the abode OF
a contented and well TO DO Christian
community.