Arizona republican., 1910-01-03
The Parker Country.


 at Parker writes that the people of that section are anxious to have the public lands in that valley thrown open to settlement. Among other things he says:
 T am not attacking the Indians on this reservation, for they have certain rights and should be taken care of; but there is no reason under the sun why the government should withhold from settlement 100000 acres of land which have in the course of nearly half a century been occupied by a tribe of Indians who at no time have utilized or have developed one good sized farm, notwithstanding the assistance of the government Prior to the past year, it made little difference But the time has come when the conditions heretofore exist ing have changed. These Indians are not using the land. and there are thousands of white people who will. if given a chance
 There are thousands of acres of bottom land in this valley that will produce crops without irrigation, and there are thousands of more that can be farmed through the use of pumps. To wait until the reclamation ser vice gets ready to start its project IS utter foolishness. The citizens Of Arizona should at once request the government to remove the bar that prevents settlers from locating in this valley.
 True, Parker will grow by reason Of the railroad and her mining indus try. but to have what she is en- titled to: i e., agriculture, this reser- vation must be opened. Farming IS the backbone of every city, and Par ker's inheritance once secured, she will discount any town in the west"
 The Republican is in full sympathy with the aspirations of the people of the Parker section to develop their country as rapidly as possible. Much of the cause for impatience will be removed this year. however. The government will undoubtedly install pumps for the irrigation of 2O,O0O acres, which will be thrown open to settlement in small farms. The In- dians will be segregated and provid- ed with land under irrigation. There are but a few hundred of the Indians, and small area of land under irri- It is true. as our correspondent says, that 2OO.OO acres of land should not be reserved for their benefit.
 But the facts are that the land is withheld from settlement, not because of the Indians, but for the reclamation service Within the near future-a very few years at most-the govern ment will construct a dam across the Colorado river, and divert water suf ficient to irrigate fully 100000 acres. When that time comes. the whole area of land available under the project will then have in the Parker country a larger body of land under irriga ton than is now (prior to the cOmple- ton of the Roosevelt reservoir irri gated in the Salt River valley. The soil is equal to the finest in the world, and Parker will quickly become a great city One cannot fail to sym pathize with the impatience of the Parker pioneers, but there is for them a golden period but a short period away.
 Meanwhile, we can think of no practical reason why settlers should not be permitted to go upon land and reclaim it by their individual efforts while waiting for the government to put its project into operation. It should not be a difficult matter for the government to decide where the Indians can be located to advantage, and that being done, the hardy settler should be encouraged to build his pioneer home.