Arizona republican., 1909-05-27
An Explanation by Center
Street Committee
THE TEMPE AB0RIGINEs
Belong to a Different Settle
ment Than That of the In
dians Who Have Pledged
Aid in the Work of Con-
struction.
To the Editor of The Republican:

To the Editor of The Republican:
| Sir:-An amusing attempt rs made
by the Tempe bridge committee in an
article in yesterdays Republican to
cloud the facts and to show that the
Indians will not help in the construe-
tion of the bridge at the foot of Gem
ter street.
To those familiar with the conditions
this claim on the part of the Tempe
committee is SO amusing that ii hardly
justifies serious attention, but fearing
that some taxpayers may perhaps be
| deceived by the statements made, we
! present the facts in the case, showing
the absolute support . under distinct
contracts approved by the United
States Indian service, given by the In
| dams to the Center street bridge.
The Tempe committee states that It
has petition signed by seventy-fiv
Pima Indians favoring the Tempe site
and stating that they will not aid in
the construction of the Center street
bridge At the end of the Indian state
ment occurs this significant and inn
portant clause: sour ford across the
Gila is southeast of Tempe"
The Phoenix committee has never
NAoiiilNh any SuPpOIl lIOLu lut INDIANS
southeast of Tempe, but has the abso-
lutte support for the Center street
bridge, under written contracts with
the Indians living at the Maricopa In
dian village. and at the ella Crossing
villages an entirely different settle
ment. lying from twelve to fifteen miles
southwest of Phoenix. These Indians
cultivate over 5000 acres and their nat
ural market is Phoenix and they rarely
go to Tempe, except when the river is
in flood. The Center street bridge has
the loyal support of hundreds of these
Indians together with the tribal chiefs.
Large numbers of them have signed
contracts donating to the Center street
bridge the work of themselves and
teams, and these contracts have been
forwarded to washington and approx
ed by the United States Indian bureau,
and $4,000 has already been placed in
the fund to be drawn upon by Agent
Alexander for the subsistence of these
Indians while working upon the con-
struction of the Center street bridge.
During the visit to Phoenix early
this month of United States Indian
Commissioner Leupp. a sub committee
Of the Phoenix bridge committee called
on him and received assurances of his
approval of the Indians action in as
sisting to build the Center street
bridge and his promise of continued
cooperation and support on the part
of the United States Indian service.
The work in securing the co-opera-
ton of the Indians and the United
States Indian service for the Center
street bridge began nearly a year since
and as a complete refutation of the |
unjustified attack of the Tempe bridge |
committee. we publish herewith a copy
of a letter written on August 5. 1908. |
to Barney Alexander by C. F. Larrabee. |
acting commissioner of the United |
States Indian service:
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, |
Office of Indian Affairs.
Land 1888 1867. H. H.
Washington, August 5, 1908.
Subject: Assistance of Indians in |
building bridge across Salt RIVER at |
Phoenix, Arizona:
The Superintendent,
Pima Indian School.
Sacaton, Arizona.
Sir:-The office is in receipt of your |
letter of July 10, 1908, reporting on the /
proposed construction of a bridge
across the Salt river at the foot of
Central avenue, Phoenix, Arizona, by
the Phoenix and South Side Bridge
company of that place, and the-plan |
for the cooperation Of the Indians in |
the work of construction. Il
The estimated cost of the bridge Is |
$4,000 and as the Indians 400 or
more. will be materially benefited by
this bridge if built you think that they
should donate in work, or otherwise,
not less than $4,000 toward its con-
struction.
Many of them have agreed in writ
ing to give a certain number of days
of work with teams for this purpose
and some have agreed to give work
without teams, upon condition that
they are to be subsisted while doing
the work You ask whether $4,000 OF
Support of the Pima, 1909" can be
used to feed the Indians while at work
on the bridge SO that, when the plan
for constructing it is settled, the agree
ment of the Indians to donate work
can be approved, and recommend that
a contract be executed securing to
them the free use of the bridge and
otherwise protecting them before they
are allowed to begin work.
In response you are informed that
the funds to which you refer are avail
able and have been st aside for the
purpose, indicated. When the plans
for constructing the bridge are settled
will ha of m ha nffipa