Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1906-03-13
STEADY AND
SATISFACTORY
Progress on Jicarilla
Reservation in
Rio Arriba.
INCREASING IN NUMBER
1000 Acres in Cultivation
This Season--.New and
Commodious Buildings

H. H. Johnson, superintendent OF
the Jicarilla Apache Indian Reserva-
ton in Rio Arrba County, with head
quarters in Dulce, spent few days In
town last week on business before the
Z. S. District Court then and there In
session. To a representative Of the
New Mexican, Mr.. Johnson who bears
the reputation Of being very efficient
and competent Indian official gave in
teresting facts as to the progress and
the condition Of the Indians under his
charge.
Last year there were under irriga-
tion and cultivation by the Indians
about 800 acres of land upon which
good crops Of oats wheat. potatoes
and vegetables were raised. This sea-
son, Mr.. Johnson expects to have this
area increased to 1000 acres and more.
The outlook for prosperous crop sea
son is very fine so far Last year. the
average yield of oats to the acre was
50 bushels, about 35 Of wheat and on
fifteen acres, $4,000 pounds of pota-
toes were raised. The potato crop was
not satisfactory as it was planted
too late in the season This year the
acreage and the yield will be greater
and better than last year. In the
present reservoir system there Ia
enough water to irrigate successfully
about 1000 acres The Indians number
about $40 and are increasing of late.
During 1904 and 1905, the births were
considerably over the number Of
deaths that occurred. The Indians do
not leave the reservation and their
condition Is improving. They have
all adopted American garb and 1t Is
but seldom that one sees what Is
called a blanket Indian
Plenty Of Good Timber.
"There is considerable timber of the
Colorado pine variety on the reserva-
ton. A high estimate puts this at
about five hundred million feet, but
Mr.. Johnson thinks that a conservative
and safe estimate is from between one
hundred million and one hundred and
twenty million feet Of matured and
merchantable timber. ready for cut
ting and for the saw mill. During
the past year buildings to the value Of
$4,000 have been added to the agen'
cy. Among these were new school
house, new barn, an industrial build
ing and superlntendent's residence.
The school building Is about a mile
from the headquarters at Dulce and Is
very commodious and remarkably we'll
adapted for the purposes for which 1t
was erected. An appropriation for the
coming year has been asked for the
construction of two new cottages for
employees and a barn for live stock.
these buildings being greatly needed.
Their cost is to be about $4,000 and
there is little doubt but that they will
be provided for in the Indian appro-
priation bill at the present session of
Congress.
Fine Office Building.
"One of the finest Office buildings
in the Indian service has been just
completed and Is occupied by the of.
flee force at the agency. 1t Is very
commodious and just the thing. It Is
built of adobe. plastered inside and
out has a steel roof, Ia one story high
of very pretty architectural design
and contains council chamber, the
superintendent Office, clerks and ply
sician's offices. It's cost was about
$4,000.
Indian Inspector Charles who re-
Gently inspected the agency, stated
that the office building was one Of the
finest and best found on the Indian
reservations that he has visited. He
took the plans Of the building in order
to recommend their adoption for other
agencies"
Mr.. Johnson stated that the Indians
are peaceable and contented. There has
been very little trouble from the lille
gal sale of liquor to the Indians, as
he and the officials under him keep a
sharp lookout and report cases Of the
violation of the law prohibiting the
sale of liquor to the Indians promptly
to United States Commissioners and
to the United States attorney, which
officials take active steps for the pun
ishment of offenders.