Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1910-07-02

The development Of water supply
Tor the Navajo Indians on an
extensive scale mt n cost of Sl0O,O00
and repairs on the damaged reservoir
at Zuni Pueblo. which will cost $780,
900. are two big features of the adj
mlnistration of Indian affairs in he
southwest Which have been given spe-
rial attention by Assistant Commits
sioner of Indian Affairs Frederick II.
Abbott. oil a long overland trip of in
spection among he southwestern In
dams, Mr.. Abbott and party arrived
in the city yesterday from northern
Arizona and he left last night. accom-
panied by his Wife and two children
for Ell Paso. whence they viii go to
the Mescalero Apache Indian reserva-
ton in Lincoln county. Mr.. Abhotts
family viii spend the summer there.
The assistant commissioner was ac-
companied ON his four months trip
over the country by Dr.. J. IL. Murphy,
chief medical supervisor Of the In
dian service, and a famous eye spe-
cialist; Supervisor Harwood Hall, for
merly superintendent of the big Riv-
trside Indian school, and II. f.. Rob
inson OF this city, superintendent OF
irrigation for the Pueblo Indians,
Mrs. Abbott and two children We're
with the assistant commissioner all
through the arduous trip, much of
which took the party through wild,
rough and uncivilized country. The
overland tour, starting from Fort
Lewis, Colo, included the ship Rock
agency in northwest New Mexico;
Fort Defiance. Ariz., and the Hopi
villages; Tuba. Ariz., and the remote
portions of the Navajo and pueblo
country in northern Arizona.
The party visited Havasujai canyon.
where q disastrous flood some months
ago washed away the Indian school
and did other damage. The trip, ac-
cordinS to the assistant commissioners,
is n general field inspection trip, hay
ing as its object the general better
ment of the Indians in whatever way
possible. Mr.. Abbott expressed him
self as well pleased with the general
condition mons the indians. and II
is said that the Ndvajos, aside from
~ E'Nbl a p VI NhtIt "a ~ AAlf -
weather. are in prosperous condition
and doing well in every way,
The Navajos are in man ways
the hest. thriftest and most indus
trlous Indians we have to deal with" |
said superintendent Robinson yester-
day after arriving home from his long
trip. They give less trouble, make
better workers and do better for
themselves, perhaps. tnan any others
under the governments supervision.
Just mt present VIC are devoting our
selves chiefly to the development OF
on adequate water supply for the
Navalos and adjoining Indians. at a
of somo $15O.00e. We have well
drilling outfits on the reservation,
drilling wells wherever water appears
to he available and developing every
bit of water we can find to add to the
supply. Five wells have been COM
plctcd TT tho Indian school at Leupp,
Ari2., whore at a cost of some $4,000
We are putting in "A pumping plant to
irrigate the school farm. 1t has been
a very dry spring in the Navajo coun-
try and the water problem, always Il
serious one. has become pressing. The
water Is there, however, and the wells
nov being sunk will solve rle prob
For n tribe which gets no sup
port from the government. no
'rations. the Navajos are doing better
than n others, and making a good
living. chiefly out Of their cattle and !
sheep and goats. Mr.. Robinson says
he believes that when al the truth is
old as to the Wetherill killing on the
reservation last week. ii will appear
the Indians. who undoubtedly
had a grudge against the trader. had
some reason on their side"
Speaking generally. the Navajos
ere not disposed to do things like
his, said Mr.. Robinson. "aHd in the
ong run cause little serious t,ouble.
And when a Navajo does start trouble
le generally has a real or faneied
grievance"