The Tucson citizen., 1902-02-28


held for nearly thirteen years past.
The agent at Sacaton, Mr.. Elwood G..
Hadley reported to the Commissioner
for ln0lan AhaIrs that Mr. Berger
was no longer required at San Xavier.
recommended that his services be uls-
pensed with. This recommendation
was approved IN Washington Mr.
Berger was discharged, and about
t"rec weeks ago Mr.. Hadley appeared
at San Navier, relieved MIR. Berger and
took charge of all stores, etc, in his
possession.
MIR. Charles Benman as a personal
friend Of MIR. Berger, and also in the
interests Of the Papago Indians inn
medately took the matter up and pre-
pared and Obtained the signatures to
a petition, arranging with Mr.. Roches-
ter Ford TO personally present the
same to the Secretary of the Interior
at Washington.
This morning MIR. Blenman received
the following telegram from Mr. Ford;
Washington. d. c., Feb. IS. 1902.
Charles Blenman, Tucson
Mr. Berger renstated with to his
position Everything all right,
ROCHESTER, FORD.
Ihe following is the petition that
Mr. Ford laid before the Secretary of
the Interior;
To the Hon. Secretary of the Interior,
Washington, y c..
Sir: We, the undersigned with re-
gret that you have decided to dispose
with the services of }. NJ. Berger, as
farmer in charge OF the Papago In
dian Reservation of San Eavier del
Bae about nine miles south OF Tue
son and respectfully wish To bring I'M
der your notice the following facts.
/. That said reservation was set
apart by an executive order in 1874.
confirmed by Act OF Congress in 1874
and contains 5000 acres
> That the City OF Tucson. the
county seat OF tlma County. the place
OF holding t.,e Territorial County
Court and the Federal Court Of the
First judicial District of Arizona, and
the location O. the United States Sur
Vcyor Generai Office and the United
States Land Office, Is the nearest post
once, telegraph and railroad station.
}. That the distance from san
Navier Reservation to Sacaton, The
Pima agency seat is ninety-one miles
/. That the total population Papa
go lndians) Of San Xavier Reservation
is al6, whilst the number OF Papagoes
living in about fourteen villages in
the southern portion of Pima County.
an. consequently south Of San Xavier
reservation. and still farther away
from Saratnn agency Is about 1000
> That all these Indians = 500 in
all arc practically totally beyond the
sUpcrHi siOn or control of the SacatOn
agency, unless there Is a sub agent.
farmer in charge. or some other Off
cal. located at San Xavier.
.. That the Mexican line is about
sixty miles south of San Xavier Re-
servation and the Southern Indian
villages are scattered. and extend from
Aavier, right down to the Mexican
frontier. where mescal Is plentiful. and
constant supervision of the Indians is
absolutely necessary to prevent them
smuggling. obtaining and drinking the
liquor.
I That Mr. Berger and his wife,
tboth very estimable people,, have re-
sided continuously on their own ranch.
situated within the boundaries Of San
Xavier. since the year 1888. a period
of nearly twenty years. and are well
acquainted with the manners and GUS
toms Of the Papagoes. Mrs. Berger be-
ing able to speak the Papago language
huently.
s. That in the year 1890. Mr.. Ber- (
ger was appointed farmer in charge /
at me san Xavier Reservation. and F
has ever since held that position, He (
has always held. and still retains. the .
confidence Of the public, and the ma /
tcrial improvement of the PapaRoes I
during the last twenty years, and their .
present good and prosperous condition. /
is directly due to the good work among (
them OF atr. and Mrs Berger
= That in our opinion. farmer, t
or other responsible officer. in charge
Of the San Nagier Reservation, IS alb
aOlutoly nccCs SarY, as thes" PapaGnes
arc not nearly ready for self control,
and We are also OF the opinion that no
better man for the position can he
found than Mr. Berger, and we re
spectfully point out thai his removal
would he serious mistake as the
Papaeoca would certainly drift back
TO me state of abandonment they were
IN twenty years ago. and we earnestly
urge his rcappointmcut
10, That in our opinion ON az
count Of the great distance Of the san
T., Il >