Albuquerque weekly citizen. (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1891-19??, 1902-04-05
OTERo COUNTY
BRIEF SK KETCH

large fraction OF the area OF north.
ern Otcro county Is taken up hy the
Mcscalcro Indian reservation for the
opening to general settlement OF which
a movement has boon set on foot. II
was not until lS94. when Capt. c. Y.
stottler took charge OF them. that the
Mescalpru ApaCncs began to make
strides toward civilization Up to that
time they had lived in tcpcos ana had
wandered at large over the rcscrva
tlon. which includes several hundred
square miles of land when this army
oihcer came among them be found
them wearing hreoch cloths frequently
drunk ON mescal and az disrcputable
ana troublesome as ii is possible for
an indian 20 be-. \ few had been edu-
Gated hN the United States government
at the Indian boarding schools at a
distance, but these seemed to be the
worst of the lot They had gone back
Ia long hair and iucit, I others 10 dis
regard the orders OF the officials.
Captain Stottlor began py deciding
that the Indians must ho made TO
"lotno themselves and have their hair
cW. They objected to this At last one
%. them was lrihed 10 allow mis- locks
90 he sh3u. He promptly got into so
mucn trouble with the squaw5 that he
ucIsua 1tJ other bucks tO uO as ne had
done. ln this way hall tho tribe were
given q hoi. cut. The remaining In.
dams were given their hair cut Ina a
more .Urriblc manner Then every
child over years OF age was ordered
To school. the parents who objected
being sent to jail and put to hard labor.
All HN r was taken away from the
old cuict and the bucks were told tnat
they had 10 20 TO work or starye Then
they went 10 work The work begun
hy Captain Stottlor was continued hv
Dr. lrttr u who until last year was in
charge Ji the agency. The result ia
that every Indian wears civilized attire
ana has otherwise adopted the ways Of
civilization. has a piece Of land fenced
IN on which he raises grain and ycgCta-
nles. has a good wagon hulses and
tarm Implements a log house. com.
iortably supplied with necessary furni-
ture and utensils: ten head of sheep
Tor man. woman and child in the fam.
ily From trouble making Apache he
has become self supporting man aud
no longer requires government AID AS
"s L Nc' rationS are .srded OYlv To
those Indians too old 10 work. At pres
ont there are on the reservations igO
Indians. of whom. 3G5 are adults. d-
yldcd into t2S families with the cx.
ceptiOn OF 80 women and 90 men all
ere married. Among them they cult.
Natc 30 farms, have 5000 acres of land
fenced in and | POO acres ir grain.
They own over 600 horses, 20 mules.
60 hurros, = 600 sheep 500 goats and
over 100 mead of cattle. There rs now
practically no reservation for the In
diaus lu the sense of confinement. the
present reserve merely protecting wa.
ter rights and guaranteeing oaCn In
dian permanent possession of HIS lands
and an opportunity to- make a good liv.
ing There Is excellent agricultural.
extensive grazing and very valuable
timber land on the reservation In the
mountains are many indications OF
large ore deposits.
All of the children of the MesCaloro
Indian reservation are In school. us
being in boarding school. on the reser-
walton. ana seven at non-rosCryation
sci oos. Attendance IS compulsory
The school plant is in good condition.
having electric lights an excellent
water system and ample fire protec.
tiOn. The work of the school has been
satisfactory in all departments and
pupils passing through the institution
are being well fitted 10 take up some
trade or follow the pursuit of farming
on The lands of the reservation. The
sClou' farm of 300 acres is doing finely
ana is raising large crops