Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1907-03-12
STEADY ADVANCE
Of JICAR|L[As
Indian Office Plans
To Make Them
Self Sustaining
GREAT PROGRESS THE RULE
New Allotment of Lands.--
12O,OOO,Oo0 Feet Matured
Timber For Sale.

Timber For Sale.
Superintendent H. II, Johnson OF the
Jicarilla Apache reservation has been
in the city several days on business
before the United States Court in ses'
sion here. Superintendent Johnson
has recently returned from an oificiai
visit to Washington where he has been
in consultation with Commissioner
Francis e. Leupp Of the Indian Office
in connection with his duties and the
betterment Of conditions on the reser-
vation. A reporter of the New Mex
ican accosted Mr.. Johnson and re-
uuested information that might be OF
interest to the people of New Mexico
concerning the Jicarlla Apaches and
in the interview that follows Mr.. John
son said
Indians Are Progressing
"There are about 500 Indians of the
Jicarilla Apaches now on the reserva-
ton. men, women and children. Dur
ing the past several years their num-
Der has been about stationary, the
births and deaths that occurred being
about even. hope to see better
condition prevailing soon as the In
dians are becoming more thrifty, take
better care of themselves and are tax
ing more and more to the white mans
ways. The change of late years has
been quite marked in a favorable di-
rection. The young men, especially
have acquired the habit of wearing
civilized clothing, eating better food
and they and the young women and
the children are taking better care Of
themselves In many ways. or late
there has been very little Illness
among those under my charge
Becoming Good Farmers.
Last years agricultural season was
quite satisfactory There were about
A"hH acres under irrigation and actual
.ation during the season. There
!, raised about 100000 pounds OF
.toes, 5000 bushels of wheat aud
100 bushels of oats. The wheat and
have been sold by them and the
atoes are in store at Dulce and ar,
lgements for their sale are now go.
, .Ig on. There is sufficient water to
irrigate double that amount of land,
available for this coming season and
| | believe between twelve and fifteen
hundred acres of land will be placed
under cultivation by them. Part of
this land Is to be broken, cleared and
fenced and this think will be done
this spring. Quite a number of the
Indians are becoming good and atten-
tive farmers.
To Re.AIIot Lands.
"a bill has just become law which
provides for the re-allotment of the
land in severalty to each man, woman
and child The allotment that was
made several years ago has been
found inadequate and unfair and hence
authority was obtained from Congress
to change this state of affairs Under
the new law each member Of the tribe
will be allotted ten acres Of good land
under irrigation and under fence and
$40 acres of pasture land OH the graz
ing portion Of the reservation 1t will
| take little time to do so, as numer-
Gus surveys will have to be made in
order to treat all members of the tribe
alike and fairly A great sum of
money will come to the Indians from
the sale of about one hundred and
twenty millions feet of merchantable
timber in the south and center of the
reservation. This sale has also been
authorized by a recent act of Congress
and regulations to carry 1t out are now
under consideration in the Indian of.
! flee in Washington. 1t is understood
that an expert forester will be de-
/ tailed to mark the timber to be cut
and that no standing timber under IA
| inches will be cut 1t is estimated
| that 1t will take from six to eight
years to dispose of this one hundred
and twenty millions feet of merchant
able timber and that several logging
| roads will have to be built to bring
1T to market. The contractors whoever
they may be, will have to put up saw
mills on various portions of the reser
| walton, most of them In the central
southeast part thereof. 1t is expected
that a considerable sum over $500, ,O0C
will be realized from the sale.
| Installing Telephone System.
| There are many Improvements un
lder contemplation this year and Com
i missioner Leupp has been very kint
in listening to and approving my rec
concentrations for necessary better
ments and buildings. A telephone
system which will connect the agenc,
buildings proper with the railroa,
station at Dulce, the different farms
school houses, etc, will be put in thi
spring. The Indians are to do tn
labor and the material which will
have to be purchased will cost abou
| $3.50, This will be great civilizer a
the use of telephones generally is t
all people.
| Appropriations for new building
| have been granted as follows:
Appropriations for Buildings.
\ "A frame school building and assem
bly, hall which Is to cost $4,000.
Il "A frame barn for the school prof.
/ er at cost Of $2,500.
"A frame barn at the agency prope
to cost $4,000.
Police barracks and guard house