Albuquerque daily citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1895-1903, 1902-04-05
INDIANS TO lRRlGATE.
Western Tribes to be Made Self
Supporting.
NAvAJos ARE GOOD WORKERS.

The Phoenix Republican says that in
view of the bills pending in congress
for opening the Indian reservations in
Arizona and New Mexico to mineral
entries, and the policy of the govern
ment to make the Indians self support
ing SO far as possible, the information
submitted by Secretary Hitchcock in
reference to the conditions on the res
ervations is interesting. The informa-
ton submitted comprises the reports
of special agents and covers the situa-
ton pretty thoroughly.
As TO the Navajo reservation, the
reports show that it can be reduced
as the Indians depend upon sheep for
their main support. They sheared last
year 400, 900 sheep. Their industry is
the manufacture of blankets and the
sale of surplus wool. They have sew
eral thousand head of cattle, and are
self supporting, industrious and good
workers. They work on the railroad
and any other work where they can
earn money. They are not permanently
located in homes. as they have to move
their locks to secure grass. In the
winter they have some regular habita-
ton, and in the summer a portion of
them cultivate land wherever they can
get a clance for irrigation. There is
a contract or permit granted MIR. Hun
of Pennsylvania, for ten years at a five
per cent royalty on all output from
mines he may discover and work in lne)
Carrizo mountain district. This per-
NIT authorizes. him to select GAO acres
for mining purposes. 1t gives him two
years to make his permanent location.
It requires him to make a regular re-
port, through the agent, of the work
that is being done. There is a railroad
projected from Durango, In Colorado,
across the country, to Clifton, Arizona,
1t proposes to cross the Atchison. TC-
peka & Santa Fe in the vicinity of
Gallup. New Mexico. Should this road
cross the Navajo reservation it would
be a benefit to these Indians. It would
afford them opportunity for labor
which they would readily take advan-
tage of, and open up many coal mines
In the reservation. There Is an abund-
ance of coal on this reservation. On
the north side of the reservation, along
the San Juan river, there are a success.
sion of valleys, which, IL irrigated,
would maze very fine farming land.
There is plenty of water for irriga.
ton and there are only lacking bitches
to take it out. The Indians are ready
and anxious to do the work, and the
few thousand dollars spent on each
valley would open up sufficient farming
land upon which to locate foul or five
thousand Indians. 1t is recommended
that some sum of money be allowed for
this purpose. The Navajos have no
money; draw no annuities except a
few wagons occasionally: they are self
supporting and are willing to do any
kind of work. If the government will
appropriate fifteen or twenty thousand
dollars for irrigating purposes on the
San Juan river, a very prosperous
farming community can be established
there. On the north side OF the river
from the reservation, it Is settled up
by prosperous white farmers who are
doing well; the only drawback on the
southern side, where the Indians are,
being a lack of bitches. The secretary
recommends that ten or twelve thous-
and dollars be appropriated this year
for that purpose.
As to the San Carlos, Arizona, reser-
vation, it is reported that it is a large
reserve, and occupied by different
bands Of Apaches. Less than twelve
years ago they were an unruly, turbu-
lent lot of Indians. Some of the bands
were the most warlike and troublesome
Indians in Arizona. They are now
p~eaceaDle, very good workers, make
good crops, are ready and willing to
work wherever they can make some
money. Frequently they are employed
ON the Bowie and San Carlos railroad
to repair %washouts, etc. They also
work on roads both off and on the
reservation. They are ration drawing
Indians. but draw 10 annuities. Addi-
tfcnal irrigation is needed here. and it
Is recommended that $12. 900 be given
to this agency to extend and build
bitches, which will increase the acreage
OF the agricultural land at least 5000
acres. With this money and increase
of irrigation they can supply them
selves with subsistence, and their ra-
tons and annuities one year thereafter
can be stopped. This reservation can
then be reduced, and a portion. which
il claimed to be mineral land, can be
thrown out.
The Pima reservation lies along the
CHA river country. The Indians are
probably among the best, most reliable
and deserving of any Indians under the
government control. They have al
ways been self supporting and friendly
to the whites. Now they are without
water for irrigation, consequently the
farming is curtailed and they have diff
fculty in earning a living. All they
ask is work to earn a living or water
furnished them by the government. a.
the proposition now before congress to
bud the San Carlo reservoir is grant
ed and money appropriated. these In
dams will be able to do a great part of
b work. This will relieve them until
they can get water from the reservoir
and canals. They receive no rations
and they ask for none All they want
to be a prosperous people, self support.
ing in every way, is water for irriga
ton.
Ordinary household accidents have
no terrors when there's a bottle of DR..
Thomas Electric OIL In the medicine