Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1903-12-24
THE MCDOWELL SETTLEMENT
Inspector Mead Will Visit the Reser-
walton Today.

Mr. Frank Mead, a special inspector
of the Indian office, who was here some
weeks ago and secured the options on
the lands of settlers on the Mcdowell
reservation, returned a day or two ago
and has been busy at his hotel confer
ring with settlers and others.
Yesterday the chief of the Apache
Mohaves, who is the big man among
the Mcdowell Indians, accompanied b.
his spouse, arrived in the city and will
today escort Mr.. Mead back to the res
ervation for u general inspection OF
conditions. There is no special pur
pose in view this time except to see
that everything is n order and all con-
ditions previously arranged. carefully
and faithfully carried out. Further Mr..
Mead says he has no fear but that they
have been and his visit therefore will
be merely formal.
In reviewing the accomplishment of
this settlement yesterday Mr.. Mead
said he thought the people of the val
ley. the settlers. the Indians and all
concerned, should be congratulated
that everything has been so satisfac-
I torily and quickly done fer the settle
ment has been effected in less time
| than any. similar tangle that has
| been before the Indian office.
! He says that when the matter was
brought before the president and the
| department it was announced that it
| was desirable that the matter should
| be quickly closed up and in a manner
| that would be satisfa Glory all round.
/ To accomplish this and to show both
| to the Indians and the settlers that the
| government had mutual interest in
! J, -frrI,f Of
cal things that might have been made
| the basis CT long drawn negotiations,
! were overlooked. To illustrate. the set
! tiers, innocently, no doubt, but never
the less without proper authority, had
squatted on lands that of right belong
ed to the Indians and had added there
| to improvements at great expense
Through misinformation or misunder-
! standing they had been appealing first
| to one bureau and another without a
| settlement and it was finally decided tc
Lappraise and buy at a fair figure all
| the property that was of real value and
| that could not be removed, thus salts
| flying the settlers that the government
was just and restore the land to the
Indians thus satisfying them. He
says this has been done and he believes
that ever settler and every Indian i:
now satisfied and has better opinion
of the government than ever before
This all applies to the north half o.
the reservation. The south half of the
reservation was legally opened t
white settlers and many awaited them
selves of their privileges to. acquir'
land Having done so and having
| learned that the north half was to b,
turned over to the Indians, many o
those on the south half desired also I,
get out and TO that end have offerel
their holdings TO the government a
prices they deemed to be fair an,
equitable. What will be done in thi
matter remains to be seen. They ar
: legally in possession and if the govern
ment decides to buy them it will be
move only to further favor the settler
whom it is most DESTROYS Of treatin!
literally Mr.. Mead will of course lool
| over the entire situation and be in :