Durango semi-weekly herald. (Durango, Colo.) 1899-1907, 1906-10-01
NAVAJO CROP
IS A RECoRD-BREAkEH

90
Outside of strip along the San
Juan river, the Navajo indian reser-
walton is the scene OF record-break-
ing season OF plenty. On the San
Juan the ravages Of the grasshoppers
were keenly felt by 80, the poor
Indian" but at such places as the
Two Grey Hills country bounteous
crops are the rule. The situation
never looked better for the wards of
Uncle Sam.
The Pennington Enterprise says:
The grass Is something magnificent,
which augurs well for the flocks and
herds during the coming winter.
This coupled with the prolific crops,
will make the Navajo mighty nigh
Independent for some time to come.
The blanket industry will suffer
somewhat In consequence. With
plenty to eat and the means of Sc
curing plenty to wear the Indian will
not bother himself very much about
the question of blanket weaving,
when no particular necessity arises.
On top of the present big demand for
the product of the textile art of the
| Navajo prices will soar as a conse-
quence of the short supply and those
having stock of Navajo blankets on
hand will later be able to demand
high prices. This will be of no ma
terial benefit to the Navajo. Instead
l. will only bring dissatisfaction when
prices go down to normal conditions.
Periods like the present hurt the
blanket business very materially.
Only the poorer Indians are com
PEELED to make them, and, of course,
good workmanship has to give way
to haste for the Indian is compelled
to rush the article to completion in
order to get 1t into the market and
secure the necessities. Consequently
only inferior articles are placed In
| the market at such times and the
business naturally suffers.
The Indian problem is far from So
luton. There is some tendency to-
ward placing the educated Indian In
some position of trust and RESPONSE
bility and there let him work out his
own salvation. Some experiments
along those lines are being made.
Some kindly spirits "staked" Mel
son German, full blood Navajo to
thousand dollars. starting him out in
trading store at Chin Lee, where
the report says, he is doing we'll
Susan McCarty. another full blood,
il assistant missionary at Two Grey
Hills.
Robert Martin, late interpreter for
Superintendent Shelton, is looking up
location for farm and sheep ranch.
The new Navajo mission will be To-
Gated about five miles west OF the
present one at Two Grey Hills and
is being established under the aus
pices Of the Baptist Home Mission
society. which Mr.. r. B. Wright rep
resents.
The site Is an excellent one near a
flowing spring, large enough to irri-
gate several acres. 1t is the inten-
ton of the missionary In charge to
divert the waters upon some excel
lent lands near the spot and to give
the Navajos some practical examples
OF irrigation, agriculture and fruit
raising.
The tendency of the missions of to-
day seems to be leaning toward the
presentation of practical pursuits in
connection with spiritual advice.
That seems to be the only solution
OF the Indian question. 1t seems to
be the conclusion arrived at, that
where the native mind is broadened
by the acquisition OF advanced ideas
IN secular pursuits, so much easier
VIII 1t be to impress supon the prim-
tive ind the theories of civilization
and Christianity. Suffice 1t to say
that Uncle Sam, in connection with
the various missionary societies, is
doing a marvellous work and a won
der among the aboriglnes of this con-
tinent