The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1910-01-01

the progress of the southwest 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 obiterated. 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
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 1t is considered that there are some 10000
of them scattered over a reservation In New
Mexico, Arizona and Utah, which contains
larger 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 increase in the out
put Of the southwest. Their education and per.
manent settlement upon small homesteads will
leave a large surplus of land to be sold to 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 fall 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 necessary to arrange
for It at once, thus less than two weeks notice
was given the Navajos by means of Indian police
and messengers-barey time to gather up what
they had on hand and bring it in without any
preparation opportunity to gather or make
anything especially for exhibition.
Under these circumstances the amount and
quality of the exhibits displayed no less than
remarkable. The extent to which they responded
to the call to bring in their products was a sur
prise to Major Shelton. the Indian agent for this
reservation, himself. He knew that they could
and weuld make a very creditable showing.
Two hundred and ninety general exhibits
we're received and displayed. while several others
arrived too late to be accepted These exhibits
contained from five to 60 articles each. Agricui-
tural products formed the chief part of the exhi-
bition but by no means all. as the famous Navajo
blanket was there in many styles and Sizes oeau-
tiful silver jewelry of various and unique designs.
old blankets of great value, 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. mich cows sheep
and goats were numerous
The sports consisted of foot races 1.-THE longest
one five and one-half miles, in which IL entered
and four finished), horse races. games and amuse-
ments Each evening the Navatos provided
their own amusement by participating in several
of their ancient sacTeo uaneee' ""ie ~
interesting and entertaining to the visitors.
As an example of how a list OF prize winners
nj an Indian fair would read. the following ex'
tracts are given:
General exhibit of farm and garden products
First prize. double harness. Barber-Dit-ciiiy ttne
latter is the winners name); second. disk mar
row. Happy Jack; third. cult1Vator' be-kin-eoe-
gay: fourth, shovel Do-be-bitsee.
Native blanket, all wool-First. cook stove'
Kin.le.che-ne: second. 100 pounds -four. Lenna
oliver: third, SO pounds -four Be-kada -naoega'
fourth. 25 pounds flour, Pelecan-e-es-kine.
Cleanest Navajo baby-First. SO pounds hour.
Lenna oliver: second. rs pounds flour. Hoston-at-
so-se. " -.
The Navajo blanket collection. like all otner
exhibits was a fine one. 1t contained 1ew OF
the oldtime bayetas, for which the Nava1os hrst
became famous These were originally maoe
from the yarn obtained by unfaVenns "o'-