Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1909-12-30

the progress OF the southwest was the
first Navajo fair, which was held at Shprock
Agency. New Mexico, recently.
AZ Shiprock the past six years has been
period of preparation struggle for position of
advantage from which the ignorance and super
sttiou of a barbarous people might be attacked
and the influences which have fettered them
meht be obliterated, so that freed from its bond
age, the Navajo race might take It's 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 achiev-
ing.
How important the civilization of the Navajo
is to that section Of the country is also apparent
when It is considered that there some 10000
OF 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 AID is almost com
pletely underlad with coal The increase Of
their productiyeuess means increase In the out
put OF the southwest, Their education and per
manent settlement upon small homesteads will
leave large surplus Of land TO be sold 70 white
settlers, Thus the work being carried on at
Shiprock has many points which commend It TO
the people who are interested in the development
of that section
The holding OF a fair this fan was not decid-
ed upon until about two weeks before Il 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
given the Nayaios by means OF Indian police
and messengers barely time to gather up what
they had on hand and bring il in without any
preparation or opportunity to gather make
anything espe 2ially 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 I'm their products was a sur
prise TO Major Shelton, the Indian agent for this
and would make very Creditabe 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 go articles each. Agrcul.
tura products formed the chief part OF the oxhi.
biuon, but by no means all, rs the famous Navajo
blanket was there in many styles and sizes, beau.
tfu silver jewery OF various and unique designs
old blankets OF great value, a few buffalo robes.
valuable pieces OF bead work and dozens OF other
products and curios, ancient and modern. Be
sides these general exhibits there was the live
stock show, IN which horses mitch cows sheep
and goats were numerous
The sports consisted of foot races lthe longest
one five and onehalf miles, in which Il entered
and four hnishcd), horse races, games and amuse-
monts. Each evening the Nayaios provided
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 Indian fair would read. the following OK
tracts are given.
General exhibit of farm and garden products
First prize. double harness, Extraordinarily lthe
latter is the winners uamel; second, disk har-
row, Happy Jack; third, cutiyator Beknebe.
gay; fourth. shovel. Dobe-btsee
Native blanket, an wool-First cook stove.
KiuIe.cheue; second, 100 pounds flour Leuna
oliver. third. 80 pounds dour, Bekadanabega
fourth 25 pounds dour. pele-can.ees- kline
Cleanest Navajo baby-First 90 pounds -FOUR
Lcnua Oliver; second. % pounds -four Hos,on-at-
sose.
The Navajo blanket collection. like an other
exhibits was line one. Il contained a few OF
the old.tme bayetas tor which the Navajos first
became famous These were originally made
from me yarn obtained by uurayelius wooden