Albuquerque daily citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1895-1903, 1903-03-04
MAVAJ0S- -APACHES
Their Conditions on the Reservations
in The Southwest.
PRESENT STATE VERY BAD.

The suffering condition of Indians
on the Navajo ana Apache reserva-
tons in the southwest is attracting a
great deal of attention from those who
have made any Investigations into the
reports circulated.
To many, who have never investi.
gated the conditions connected with
the life of the Indians on the reserva.
tons, this is only a natural state of
affairs brought about by the shiftless-
ness and laziness of the Indians. but
recent Investigations have proven that
the starving of the Indians and their
stock from the want of food and their
w~rechedness caused from the lack of
clothing and shelter is no fault of
theirs.
The reasons leading to this unfortun-
ate condition of the Indians in the
southwest was brought about by the
lack of rainfall in the last two years,
which has resulted in the perishing of
large numbers of their ponies, cattle
and sheep. Not only has it resulted in
the Indians loosing their stock in
alarming numbers, but the scarcity of
water has rendered it impossible for
them to cultivate their farms and
ranches.
What is greatly needed on the reser-
vations of the southwest is the devel-
opment of water resources by the con-
struction of dams and bitches to hold
the flood waters, which now go to
waste during the winter and spring
months. Although on some of the res
ervations there are small streams flow
ing the larger part of the year, just at
the time when it is mostly needed,
that is, in the midsummer months,
the water is generally too low to be
drawn upon for irrigation purposes.
At the heads of nearly all the
streams there are natural barriers,
that with little expense, dams and
bitches could be constructed for hold
ing sufficient water for irrigation pur-
poses during the critical period. The
conditions resulting from the lack of
water to cultivate the lands is painful
ly visible all through the reservations,
especially the Navajo reservation in
San Juan county, New Mexico.
In consequence of the prevailing
state of affairs at their homes, many of
the Indians have been compelled to
seek employment as laborers along
the Santa Fe railroad, and while they
are not adapted to compete with the
foreign laborers, the railroad contrac-
tractors state that they give fair salts
faction.
When the conditions on the reserva-
ton are at their best there is none too
much land for agricultural purposes,
and now when the drought of several
seasons visit the lands of the Indians
there is little or no prospects of them
raising enough to sustain themselves
and their stock. Their condition was
bad enough before the cold and freez-
ing weather came as an unwelcome
visitor to the land of sunshine, but
now the chilling and piercing winds
and the great amount of snow that has
fallen in the past month has caused
them to suffer beyond the apprehen-
sion of even those who in the past
have made themselves acquainted
with the life of the Indians on the res
ervation.
There is plenty of land that could be
used for agricultural purposes if the
water system was developed. Even
the pasture lands have been dried up
to such an extent, that the reservation
o~verstocked with sheep and other
-ta.I- Aar moi Furnished enough food
tor these roaming animals and conse-
duently great numbers have persisted
from the want of something 10 eat.
Heretofore the Indians have been
self sustaining, filling their soil, har-
vesting their crops and raising their
stock, but things have changed entire
ly now and unless the government does
something TO relieve the sufferings OF
these people, many of them VIII be IN
great want and in distress, They VIII
be thrown upon the care of the settlers
in their vicinity. At the present time
many are begging from dOor TO door
of the settlers, many of whom are IN
no better circumstances than those
asking aid. The Navajos are unable
TO make the blankets, which have a
universale sale. on account OF the dy-
ing of the sheep, and the cold weather
will not permit the shearing Of what
small iocks they have on the reserVa-
ton.
Although there have been reports
of expenditures made for the develop
ment of dams and irrigation bitches
on the various reservations in the
southwest, it has only beer the reports
and that is as far as the matter has