Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1910-11-16

Following is the letter from tn
Parker board:
Parker, AriZ., Nov. 8, 1910.
Board of Trade. Phoenix, Arizona:
Gentlemen-In reference to the open
ing of the lands of the Colorado Rive
Indian reservation, you will please fin
enclosed copy of letter addressed to tn
Honorable r. A. Ballingar, secretary o
the department of the interior, date
October %, 1910, which is in answer [
letter from Mr.. Ballinger giving hi
reasons for the delay in opening thi
body of land.
Copies of this letter are being sent L
the Los Angeles chamber of commerc
and To the Honorable Ralph Cameron
our delegate to congress
If your honorable body can give u
any aid in this matter we will deepl,
appreciate your efforts.
You realize. We know, the great bene
fit that all Of Arizona would feel, an,
especially Phoenix, were this Ian,
opened TO entry and settlement.
If you could get the press of you
city to take this matter up it would
very likely result in great good.
Yours very truly,
PARKER BOARD OF TRADE.
r. C. Saufley, Secretary.
The letter from the Parker board o
trade to the secretary of the interior
was as follows:
Parker. Ariz, Oct %, 1910.
To the Honorable Secretary. Depart
ment of the Interior, Washington
d. c.:
Sir-We are in receipt of your letter
of the 18th inst, and we thank you fol
the extension of the time for the pay
ment of the balance due on lots in the
townsite of Parker.
1t makes us feel that the government
is ever ready TO assist her citizens
when the cause is just one. We there
fore feel that we can appeal further and
will get hearing. and that you will act
in all fairness. 1t will be understood
that we are arguing from our point OF
view and not in the spirit of criticism
In reference to the opening of the
Colorado River reservation or any part
thereof, as we made appeal to you in
our telegram of October 18th, you gave
several reasons for the delay, which we
wish TO touch upon separately.
That the act of April q, 1904,
the allotment of land in
five-acre tracts to the Indians, and the
portion disposed of under
the reclamation act, you admit, but no
funds for the administration of this
act
That by the act approved April A.,
MA ri Il
gress for the constructing of a pump
ing plant to be used for irrigating pur-
poses on the Colorado River reservation
for the irrigation of approxim-
ately 100000 acres of land to
be reimbursed from the sale of the sur
plus lands of the reservation" but YOU
do not think is wise to use this appro-
priation because the senate has bill No.
S6l7 pending, providing for the opening
Of this reservation under the Carey act
and other land laws of the United
States.
We have no assurance that this bill
Viii ever become law, and if it should
Ne must wait nearly year for it, then
he lands under the Carey act are deed
I'd to the state of Arizona to be dis
posed of by its legislature.
We have no state of Arizona. nor do
We know when we will have, out pre-
'uming that all goes well and we do
lave a state soon, there will be many
hings to occupy the new legislature.
20 that action from that source, look
ng to the relief. of the few actual set
lers and residents of Parker, is in the
cry dim future.
You say your department held out
20 inducement to the purchasers of
own lots in Parker, nor made any rep
esentations Indicating a date when the |
lands would be opened to |
ettlement and entry" We submit Mr.. !
ecretary, that the passage of the acts
f April 81. 1904, and April 4, 1910, were |
implied promises to the pioneers of |
arker.
They did not think that the act of !!
pril 81. 1904, would remain imperative
,r six years.
And when this appropriation of $780,
DO was approved by the president,
pril 4. 1910. just prior to the auction
the lots at Parker, held May 10, 1910.
ill you not admit that ii had some
ling to do with the lots selling for so
uch more than their appraised valua-
on? Why did you send a new set of
Dpraisers to Parker to re-appraise the
is, at which time many of the lots
ere raised in valuation as much as
We and six times their first appraised
llue. unless it was understood that
was to be done very shortly
+ Parker? Why should desert land
at is only a mess of sand and sage
'ush, soar to hundreds Of dollars an
re? Surely not because the railroad
is built in here, also anticipating the
,ening of these lands
There are many such railroad towns
it'll only a section house to mark the
iot where they exist
BY your personal visit here and the
ported conversations with your en-