The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1909-12-31

lhe progress OF the southwest was the
first Navajo fair, which was held at Shiprock
Agency, New Mexico, recently
At ShiprOCk the past six years has been
period of preparation, struggle for position of
advantage from which the ignorance and super
stition Of barbarous people might be attacked
and the influences which have fettered them
might be Obliterated, that freed from its bond
age the Navajo race might take its place among
the useful and beneficial elements of the nation,
contributing its share toward the industry and
enjoying its proportion of the advantages en-
braced in the common stock
How successful this preparation for and be.
ginning of their civilization has been is soon
apparent to the observer who visits Shiprock be-
comes acquainted with the superintendent and
his assistants and realizes what they are achiey.
ing.
How important the civilization of the Navajo
Is TO that section of the country is also apparent
when 1t is considered that there are some &C, 900
Oh them scattered over a reservation in New
Mexico, Arizona and Utah, which contains a
larger area than all the New England states and
includes thousands of acres of fine agricultural,
mineral and timber lands, and is almost com.
pletely underlaid with coal The increase of
their produCtiveness means an increase in the ont
put OF the southwest. Their education and per.
manent settlement upon small homesteads will
leave large surplus of land to be sold to white
settlers. Thus the work being carried on at
Shlpr0ck has many points which commend it to
the people who are interested in the DEVELOPMENT
of that section
The holding of fair this fall was not decid-
ed upon until about two weeks before it was held
and when the decision was reached it was so late
in the season that it was necessary to arrange
for it at once, thus less than two weeks notice
was given the NavajOs by means of Indian police
and messengers-barely time to gather up what
they had on hand and bring it in without any
preparation or opportunity to gather or make
anything especially for exhibition.
Under these circumstances the amount and
quality OF the exhibits displayed was no less than
remarkable. The extent to which they responded
to the call to bring in their products was sur.
prise to Major Shelton, the Indian agent for this
reservation, himself. He knew that they could
and would make very credtable showing
Two hundred and ninety general exhibits
were received and displayed, while several others
arrived too late to be accepted These exhibits
contained from five to 60 articles each Agricu
tura products formed the chief part of the exh.
bition, but by no means all, as the famous Navajo
blanket was there in many styles and Sizes beau
tiful silver jeWelry of various and unique designs
8 odd blankets of great value a few buffalo robes
Invaluable pieces of bead work and dozens of other
Nproducts and curios ancient and modern Be-
sides these general exhibits there was the live
stock show, in which horses, mich COWS, sheen
and goats were numerous.
The sports consisted of foot races 1.-THE longest
one five and one-half miles, in which II entered
and four tinished), horse races, games and amuse.
ments. Each evening the Navaios Drovided
their own amusement by participating in several
of their ancient sacred dances, which were both
interesting and entertaining to the visitors.
AS an example of how list of prize winners
at an Indian fair would read, the following ex
tracts are given:
General exhibit of farm and garden products
First prize, double harness. Barber-bit-cil.y nhe
latter is the winners name); second disk bar
row, Happy Jack; third. cultvator, Be-kin.e-be
gay; fourth, shovel, Dobebitsee.
Native blanket, all wool-First, cook stove
Kin-lechene; second, 100 pounds -four. Lenna
Oliver; third so pounds -four Be-ka-da-na-be.ga.
fourth 25 pounds -four Pele-can-e-es kline.
Cleanest Navajo baby-Ftrst, so pounds -four.
Lenna Oliver; second % pounds flour Hostonat.
so.se.
The Navajo blanket collection, like all other
exhibits was a fine one. 1t contained few Of
the oldtime bayetas, for which the Navajos first
became famous. These were originally made
from the yarn obtained by unrayeing WOODEN