The Cooperstown courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., N.D.) 1902-1913, 1903-09-03
MINES OF GREAT. RICHES.
Navajo Reservation I'm Api.ons, said
to Contain Msch Gold, Mag Z
- BE Opened Up.

tnaugurated for the removal OF the
Navajo Indians from the great reserva-
ton in northeastern Arizona. For years
men who wish to make fortunes In min
ing have. been looking with longing
toward the lands held by this tribe, and
1t is now hoped to interest President
Roosevelt In q plan to set aside certain
valleys ID partition to the Indians and
throw open the mountains to prospect
,ofs. reports the Pnfaadelphfa Esagef..ss
There has always been resentment
among the citizens there because. one
OF the richest parts Of the territory was
set apart for the redmen.s This feeling
has been diminished by the fact thlIt
the chief men Of the Navajo tribes and
their so-called princesses exhibit at the
settlements at times brides, saddles
and clothing weighted down with gold
and silver which they admit have been
taken from mines on the reservations
Far away in the middle Of the traet
they hold can be seen a high mountain
which shines brightly on a-sunny day
as it rises abruptly from the plain. and
tradition that comes from the indians
says that in this are found rich veinsDf
silver. It is called Silver mountain. be-
cause Of this. fact. On a clear day 1T
can be seen for 100 miles In Utah, Ari-
IONA, New Mexico aud Colorado, and
many are. the men eagerly hunting tor
gold and silver who have looked at 1t and
wished that they might explore its re-
cesses. $50. ri
The Navajos, however, are extremely
Jealous Of their land: They have been
approached at times by men who wished
to buy the privilege Of exploiting their
mines. but the head men Of their tribe
have always placed an emphatic vetopn
all such schemes. They have said con
stantly that if the white men should once
learn of the. riches in the mountains
they would take away t1elland from the
Indians. In consequence, the only trad
ing that the tribe does with Outsiders
Is in the Navajo blankets, which IRE
woven ~ the women. agofdgxnd
silver they mine are beaten. into fan
tastic shapes with great skill, and worn
by the. tribesmen. When the Navajo
takes q trading pilgrimage, however. he
lays aside his riches and appears only
in clothes Of white cotton stun, using
one of}the blankets made by the sauaws
to keep him warm. Asked Of his wealth,
he draws himself up to his fuilf height
Of six feet or over and gives reply with
q contemptuous stare, +.
There are traditions about men who
have ventured to explore the Navajo
country and get some Of the gold that is
rbeiieveAt to lie IN the beasof the stfsams.
There is one that 4 prospector once did
find the mines Of the chiefs and returned
to civilization with burrIo laden With
gold, which sbrups hts kiiis eusands Of
dollars. He fell into the hands Of the
gamblers, and, lost his. money ard set
out again to duplicate the fest Within
month a Navajo came to Flagstaff
wearing q hat like that worn by, the pros
pector, and persons who visited the
agency told Of other Indians who had a
saddle and Other possessions that
seemed very similar to those that had
been taken away by the venturesome
prosFector. Nothing was ever heard of
him and the Indians. always prefessed
ignorance of any visit when asked about
his fate.
20 a-.z---. gsza aaaes
Eachs PEG Has tHole.y
as ~ 4 4 j i ,sAEl