Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1911-08-20

and the experimental farm stand out
like an oasis from the surrounding
desert of not unfertile, but still I'M
developed land. After crossing the
ella river vista of shady avenues
is disclosed that reverses the opinion
almost invariably formed by an out
slider 10 the effect that a school and
a town surrounded by such stretches
of desert must necessarily be desc
late in the extreme.
The experimental farm surrounding
the schol is a splendid example of
the results of well irrigation. on
either side of the road. leading up
To Sacaton, from the river. are large
fields of alfalfa which give any other
impression than that the water from
the well is running the land. Here
and there small patches of ground
are seen in which the crop seems
To be making an unsuccessful at
tempt To flourish, and on close eX-
animation, il is seen that these places
are covered with alkali That the
alkali is not due To the water used
for irrigation, is evidenced by the
situation of the unfertile spaces.
which are generally located on the
higher ground.
II was learned that a similar con-
dition prevails all over the rescrva =
ton. and that there are few sections
Of land which are not spotted here
and there with alkali. This alkaIi
was either on the surface before the
wells were completed or because of
its nearness To- the surface seeped
up after the watcr was turned on
to the lands There is nothing to
indicate that the water is running the
lands. If such were the case. the
deposits Of alkali would he general.
Within 200 yards Of the school
buildings, field Of Egyptian cotton
is seen. covering twenty acres or more
This cotton, it is believed, will later
become the most profitable crop rails
ed on the reservation. as il attains
luXuriant growth ard Yields a
larger amount of cotton per acre
than in any other part Of the United
States where il is cultivated. Mr.
Russell stated that the cotton raised
on the experimental farm. and by
the Indians themselves. brings TWEEN
ty-eight cents per pound i'm the open
market, and already the more pros
porous Indians are beginning to make
speciality of il on their farms This
field Of Egyptian cotton. in which a
six foot man could walk erect. with
out being seen from the road. has
been irrigated from one of the wells
put in by the Reclamation service.
which the eastern editorial writer de-
clares is running the lands"
All over the experimental farms
the gratifying results Of scientific
farming and careful irrigation are
seen. and the benefits which will re-
salt for the Indians when all the
agricultural lands may he farmed I'M
der as favorable conditions. are in
calculable. 4 large garden. guilty ated
by the Indian students under the di-
rection of competent instructors. fur
rishcs vegetables for the school and
it is apparent that all the work on
the experimental farm is done for
the purpose of teaching the govern
ment wards the value Of careful and
systematic methods Of soil cutiva-
ton
The school buildings at Sacaton.
which scarcely deserves the name Of
town. since it is almost entirely
composed of the government build
ings and one or two stores. are not
new. and n large sum Of money has
been spent recently in repairs. The
house Of the superintendent. surround
ed by well-kept gardens. ard neatly
bordered walks. is comfortable
place on the hottest afternoon. while
the other buildings. including dorm
tories. recitation rooms. and the
teachers home, are scarcely less at
tractive.
A number of Indians are detailed
to keep up the grounds about the
buildings. during the summer months,
when the school is closed. and the
teachers absent on their vacations
When asked if the Indians make good
workmen, Mr. Russell replied THE
very best think they do fully
as well as white men. and perhaps
better They are not afraid of work
and when they start in on job
they stay with it until their work
is done We have very little trouble
with them"
When asked what course he would
take if an Indian refused to do tn,
work allotted to him. he replied: we
do not have such cases"
There are in the neighborhood oi
two hundred students attending the
school at Sacaton during the schoo
year. which lasts nine months. The
boys are taught farming, and the
girls domestic economy, and the!
make willing students. At the time
of their graduation from the schoo
they have completed a course which
would compare with the work &C
cOmplished by a student in the pub
! lie schools, who completes the sew
enth grade studies. After they leav,
| the Sacaton school, the Indian boy
/ and girls are free to continue thei
studies in the higher institutions
numbers of them coming. every year
| to the United States Indian schoo
az Phoenix, and to other schools II