Evening star., 1901-11-16

of progress. A lively feeling of self-respect
and independence which came of their self
supporting career for SO many years was
strongly implanted in their nature and can
yet be resuscitated.
If dam is built at San Carlos. which is
about fifty miles from the Gila reservation,
water in canal from this dam would irrf-
gate government land outside of the reser-
vation. 1t would also make possible a very
material reduction in the size of the reser-
walton, for the Indians would not REQUIRE
nearly as much irrigated ground as they
90 now While the land is arid. The reserya-
ton itself is fertile stretch Of mesa typi-
cal of Arizona. The valley of the Gila
only needs water supply to rival the Salt
hiVef valley. which now has a worldwide
reputation for fertility and productiveness.
The life of the Indians on the Gila reser-
Vauon Is at present a sordid and a hope
less sort of existence. They live in most
primitive style, many of them still occupy
Ing the brush and mud huts of similar
character to those which were on the land
When the Spanish explorers ventured into
the north. These huts are being replaced
In mhele'er possible by the more modern
adobe, or sun-dried brick, structures.
The PlmaS and Marcopas are purely aeri-
cultural Indians and have never left their
M pace OF settlement unless driven away
ne Eapagoes are more or less nomadic
though under the modern system of In,
d1an reservations they have of late wears
been fairly well confined to boundaries. If
the ella river reservation is improved as
q. Ao" Pi opoScu ny furnishing a water SUD-
ply to the land, the San Carlos Apaches,
numbering nearly 1900, would be moved
from their present location and given a.
portion of the Gila reservation 1t was
the San Carlos band of Apaches which
mace the United States government the
most trouble in the Indian wars of the
southwest. From this band came Geronimo
their nerce leader, whose capture was only
eHected at the cost of many lives and a
vast expenditure of money. Time is soften
ing the asperities of the Apache nature
however, and while they are still far from
be1ng civilized Indians there is little doubt
that with wise encouragement thew will
turn their hands as readily to the plow
as they did to the Scalping knife II has
been the experience of this country that
the most warlike Indians, being as a rule
the most intelligent and enterprising, make
the best Indians when once civilized
Remote from the highways of commerce
without special champions of their cause
and with few interests affecting those of
civilized communities, it is difficult to Sc
cure consideration of the needs of these
Arizona Indians A wise domestic policy
Is greater If not more important than a
wise foreign policy and brings far greater
and more immediate returns 1t has been
estimated upon conservative basis that
to make these Indians self-supporting and
utilize to the utmost the improvements re-
qulred to do SO will add $4,000 600 to the
property valuation in the Gila valley with
out ultimate expense to the national gov
ernment. AS a business proposition It is
without flaw. AS a fuIiIIment Of public
duty to distressed people it is even more
or moral obligation than it was for the
United States to free the inhabitants of a
neignpor1ng island from an oppressive for
eign rule. ]. D. WHELPLEY.