The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1903-10-10
MINES OF GREAT RICHES.
Navajo Reservation In Arizona, Said
TO Contain Much Gold, May
BE Opened Up.

1t is probable that at the coming ses.
sion of congress movement will be
inaugurated 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 plan to set aside certain
valleys in partition to the Indians and
throw open the mountains to prospect
ors. reports the Philadelphia Ledger.
There has always been resentment
among the citizens there because one
of the richest parts of the territory was
set apart for the redmen. This feeling
has been diminished by the fact that
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 reservation.
Far away in the middle of the tract
they hold can be seen high mountain
which shines brightly on sunny day
as 1t rises abruptly from the plain, and
tradition that comes from the Indians
says that in this are found rich veins of
silver 1t is called Silver mountain, be-
cause of this fact. On clear day It
can be seen for 100 miles in Utah, Arr
IONA, New Mexico and Colorado, and
many are the'men eagerly hunting for
gold and silver who have looked at it and
wished that they might explore its re-
cesses.
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
nave always placed an emphatic veto on
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 the land from the
Indians. In consequence, the only trad
Ing that the tribe does with outsiders
is in the Navajo blankets, which are
woven by the women. The gold and
silver they mine are beaten into fan
tastic shapes with great skill, and worn
by the tribesmen. When the Navajo
takes trading pilgrimage, however, he
lays aside his riches and appears only
IN clothes of white cotton stuff. using
one OF the blankets made by the squaws
to keep him warm. Asked of his wealth..
he draws himself up to his full height
OF six feet or over and gives reply with
! contemptuous stare.
There are traditions about men who
have ventured to explore the Navajo
country and get some of the gold that is
believed to lie in the beds of the streams
There is one that prospector once did
ind the mines of the chiefs and returned
TO civilization with burro laden with
gold, which brought him thousands Of |
1eliars. He fell into the hands of the |
gamblers. and lost his money and set
'ut again to duplicate the feat. Within |
month a Navajo came to Flagstaff |
wearing hat like that worn by the pros-
pector, and persons who visited the
agency told of other Indians who had q
'addie and other possessions that
'eemed very similar to those that had
,een taken away by the yenturesome
'rospector. Nothing was ever heard of
lin, and the Indians always professed
ignorance of any visit when asked about
lis fate.