Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1903-11-09
PHOENIX. ARIZONA. NOV. ., 1903.
The Water Question on the diIa.

uC w dlCE OuGSAAou Oi AhG MIA
4 bulletin frcri the United States
geological SURVEY announces That
Prof. Willis r. Lee. one Of the hydro
graphers or the survey. has been sent
by the government 10 make a detail
ell investigation Of the underground
water resources Of the ella River In
dian reservation and to ascertain the
areas in which the waters may be OBJ
tanned Tor the use Of the Indians.
This investigation will be supple
mental 20 Investigations along the
same line hitherto made by agents of
the government.
According TO the survey it is now
seventeen years since the Pimas and
the Maricopas were forced TO begin
their struggle for actual existence. and
year by year their condition has be-
come more pitable. From being a
prosperous. independent. peaceful peo-
PIE they have become a half-starved,
vaEa bond race. and not few of them
have become thieves. II is surprising,
however. that they figure so compare
lively seldom in the criminal courts Of
this and Pinal counties.
The change began in 1856 with the
construction Of the Florence canal and
was later continued by the diversion Of
water Tor the Mormon farms farther
w the river-projects that from their
inception met with earnest opposition
on the part Of the friends Of the In
dams
From time immemoriaI the Pimas
and their blood brothers, the
Pspagos. had been irrigators. Long
before the white man ssA this land.
their arrow weed-thatched wickiups
had dotted the green river bottoms.
Here one generation after another had
planted and harvested their wheat and
corn. their sorghum and pumpkins.
had woven their blankets and baskets
had fashioned their earthenware ollas.
and pursued the arts OF peace and in
dustry untroubled by fears Of drought
and famine The days work done
they were used 10 while away the even
ing hours with a pleasant game Of
FinEskcCt.
When the white man came they were
proud 10 be his friend. Never did
they join with those relentless tribes
whose feelings expressed themselves in
war paint. rever were their hands
stained with the white mans blood.
ON the contrary. they made common
cause with the white man against the
Apache. About a century ago they
were Joined by the Maricopas. fugi-
tives from the Yumas. who. like them
selves. were an industrious. peace-lov-
ing people.
In 1859 the Indians dwelling along
the banks OF the CHA river and de-
pendent on its lands FOR sustenance
numbered about 5000. Their troubles
were then already upon them. The d.
version Of their water supply ruined
their crops and made their lands
worthless. Their homes were aban-
doned and some Of them became
outlaws. Year after year the Indian
agent was moved 10 plead their cause
with the government. They are now
wards OF the nation. But no yearly
stipend could rccompense an indepen-
dent people for the loss Of their an
ccstral lands. II VIII indeed be good
news TO them 20 know that their valley
may b. made verdant again and their
homes thus restored to them. From
the preliminary examinations already
made, IL has been ascertained that ex-
teus.ve areas are underlain by sands
and gravels containing an abundance
Of water which can be pumped to the
surface. Further investigation Is to be
made as 20 the extent and volume of
this water in various portions Of the
reservation. u is expected that cleo
trical power will soon be available for
pumping. and this means considera BILE
land can be brought under cultivation
10y the Indians.
And II is by no means certain that
the reservation viii not be supplied in
a f"w Years with water from a reser-
v0i- constructed by the government.
Tn" san Carlos site has many features
60 recommend a.. and had II not been
foi thevicious widely published person
sI attacks which have been made upon
the integrity Of the government Off
cills by a few Jealous but misguided
citizens OF Florence. the prospects for
O. storage dam az san Carlos would be
much better than they now are The
san Carlos reservoir would not only
provide the Indians with water for ir-
Iigation. but would create much az
ricultural wealth for the white people
who live in the neighborhood OF Flor
euDe. For the sake Of that section il
is 90 he hoped that the well-meaning.
hut foolish. clement will be held in re-
stIai1t hereafter and that counsel will
be taken Of their citizens who are
carahlr 81 wise leadership-men like
JUDI Doau, tor instance.