Durango semi-weekly herald., 1907-08-05
An Advanced Navajo
July 81. 1907.

July 81, 1907.
Have Just returned from my annual
trip among my people" Zone month";
Landed first at Noel trading post on
tn Sd and remained over for the 4th
ms we gave the Indians in his section
grand blow out. feeding them with
beef. bread and coffee and all In abund-
ance. 1t was estimated that about
1000 were present. In the afternoon
were games of all kinds. horse racing.
buck racing, squaw racing and an old
mans race; then chicken pulling and
good time generally Next morning
pulled ont with my indian and a
pack horse for my grub and my bed
Crossed the mountain by trail and
struck camp Mt p. m. at the hogan
of Charlie Mitchell. an old time Naya-
10 friend OF mine. His place is sita-
ated well up in the mountains where
there is pine timber and also large oak
trees and with five large springs OF nice
cold wnter. all of which empty In
reservoir from which he waters his
ranch. About n mile from there the
government has installed n dipping
plant for sheep and as It was in op-
f! Grafton | paid visit. The vat Is
ninety-slx feet long and with Indians
standing on each side with forled
stick they would pass the sheep along
from one to another and by the time
he got out OF the dip he or she was
guaranteed to be thoroughly dipped.
The whole is under the supervision
| OF government inspector who gives
to each Indian paper stating the
number OF sheep dipped for him. Ev-
cry Navajo Indian ON or of the reser-
walton is compelled to have his sheep
| dipped. This is wise move II
not only gives them good clean,
healthy sheep, but at the end of the
government really has correct census
of the number of sheep and goats
owned by the Navajo tribe. From here
went to Round Rock store, owned by
Aldrlch & Dodge ani established there
| nineteen years ago. From there 10
Chin Lee valley AMI to the mouth n;
Canon Du Chilly winch Ia one of he
wonders of that pat OF the reserva-
tion as II contains n great many cliff
dwellings. From there to Fort Deh-
ance where was royalty entertained
(although strangely by Mr.. Ma.le
and wife, Mr.. M. being manager for
the Ilfeldt Bros. store there. | also
met and conversed with DIR. Harrison.
the new agent there. who informed ME
that S125.O00 would be expended there
this year including an electric plant
AS 1t was vacation | could not visit
their large fine school. From there
! went directly up big broad valley
| the foot of Mount Washington where
| lives "Chic' or Henry Dodge. a half
breed. He Is, think, without doubt.
the wealthiest Navajo on or OFF the
reservation. He has common school
education, reads and writes, owns a
half interest in the Round Rock store
that have already mentioned. has
Just dipped 6.700 sheep, all his own;
also owners several hundred head Of
cattle and to cap the climax he has
Just completed n residence costing
1900. The building is on an emil
nence commanding n magnificent view
down the valley. built OF light colored
stone quarried from the mountain
about two miles from there. Size Of
house 37x43. story and half, shingle
roof front porch 7x43 feet, railing all
around. front hall EXIT feet, room on
one side, hall and on other side 15x
10. another room 13xl6. In each OF
these rooms Is large fireplace with
mantles and In corner OF each room
is built large cupboard with draw
ers, doors, etc. Kitchen 13x1G with
range, china closet, bins for -four. etc.
and all sorts Of cooking utensils.
Floors. tongue and groove lumber.
large double windows in each front
room 24x36 glass. glass; transsoms
over every room In the house. all
tings, metal water guttr around entire
roof. Although | slept In the new
house in a good bed, his furniture Is
not all there yet. | write you this to
show you that my people" are begin
ming 10 prosper, or at least some of
them. I shall now retire to Simpson
trading post and look forward to my
annual next year. Yours truly,
| NAVAJO BILL"
Governor Buchtel of Colorado, while
| in Chicago replied In a signed inter