Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1904-03-26
Are Making Satisfactory Progress
--.I30 Pupils at Agency
School at Present.
DROUTH GREAT
DRAW W-BACK
Scarcity Of Water Will Allow Irrigation
Of Fraction Only Of 1000 Acres
Under Reservoir Systems.

H. H. Johnson, superintendent OF the
Jicarilla Apache reservation was in the
city yesterday on business.
Superintendent Johnson says that
there are 1870 Indian children of both
sexes attending the reservation school
at the Dulce agency and that condl-
tions are very satisfactory. The new
three story frame school building is
being used and che accommodations
are sufficient for the number of pupils
now at the school, but further school
facilities will have to be provided in
order to educate the remainder OF per-
sons of school age, belonging to the
Jicarila Indian tribe. There are alto
gether 275 persons of school age, that
is, between the ages of five and eigh-
teen years, belonging to the Jicarillas
and therefore additional school build
ings will soon have to be constructed.
The school building which was
erected last year and which is now
being used is proving sufficient only
for 13O persons; the school itself is
great success and already doing great
good. The Indian pupils now attend
ing have taken to it very nicely and
everything is progressing satisfactor-
lily.
Mr.. Johnson fears that this winters
drouth will interfere with farming OPP
erations as there has been no snow in
the mountains and unless heavy spring
rains set in, it will be impossible to
cultivate but very little land
There are about 1000 acres of irri-
gable land under reservoir and bitches
on the reservation but Mr.. Johnson
fears that owing to the scarcity of wa
ter but small fraction of this will
be utilized for agricultural purposes
this year,
| The Jicarillas upon the whole are
getting on very WELL especially the
younger people. Quite number OF
them are now employed on the con-
struction of the irrigation reservoir on
the reservation and the government
provides plenty of work for all of them
who will work, paying them fair wages,
which system encourages the Indian
to look out more for himself and in
time become self sustaining. Rations
are not issued to any of the Jicarillas
except the aged, sick and infirm, who
cannot work. all who are able to and
willing to work are employed.
Mr.. Johnson says that the Jicarillas
are good workers, practicable and are
learning quite rapidly matters con-
cerning agriculture, the raising of
stock, building of cabins and similar
matters.
| 1t is the policy of the government to
employ Indians on all reservoir works
whenever and wherever possible.
There are now about 800 Indians on
| the reservation, men, women and
children. They are contented and are
progressing. Mr.. Johnson is endeav-
oring to get authority to construct at
| the school about mile from Dulce,
hospital and large barn. If he gets
authority, Indian labor mostly will be
employed. Everything is peaceful on
the reservation and matters are pro-
crossing very satisfactorily. In addi-
tion to Mr.. Johnson there are about
thirty employees at the school and at
the agency, quite number of them
being Indians and members of the JIG
arilla tribe.
The Jicarillas are improving and ad-
vancing in the ways of civilization.
The health of the tribe is very good
upon the whole and but little sickness
prevails or has occurred during the
winter. There are nearly 10000 acres
OF irrigable land on the Jicarilla
Apache reservation and Mr.. Johnson
thinks that sufficient water for this
amount of land can be obtained in due
course of time by the construction of
reservoirs and irrigation bitches.