Semi-weekly herald., 1912-04-01
BILL TO OPEN NAVAJO
RESERVATION TO SETTLERS

The following bill was introduced
in the house of representatives Of New
Mexico, in their frat session:
"Memorializine the Senate and House
of Representatives of the United
States of America to Allot and
Open the Navajo Indian and Other
Reservations to Settlers.
Whereas. that portion of the Nav
ajo Indian reservation, located in New
Mexico, contains over 100000 acres
of land, which is an acreage Of about
twelve hundred acres for every. In
dian on such reservation, which is far
in excess of the needs and require
ments Of such Indians, and far in ex-
cess of what is permitted any white
settler to secure or occupy, and
Whereas, large additions have re-
Gently been made to the ]icarilla
Apache Indian reservation, also in
northwestern New Mexico, which ad-
ditions are not actually used by the
said Indians except for the purpose
Of leasing to white settlers and resi-
dents in the immediate vicinity as
pasture lands, and
Whereas, large forest reserves
have been created within New Mex
leo, over 10 per cent Of which contain
no forests or merchantable timber
whatever, but for the use and pas
turage upon which the owners of
sheep and cattle in the immediate vi
cinity are charged heavy rentals,
which places them at great disad-
kvantage in competition with other
stock raisers who enjoy the privilege
of free range, and
Whereas, tracts of land have been
withdrawn from entry for the purpose
Of power sites far in excess of the
amount needed for such purpose, and
Whereas, other large areas have
been withdrawn from settlement for
the purpose Of classification as to
whether or not it is coal, oil or min
eral land, and such classification de-
layed from time to time by the de-
partment thus preventing the occupa-
ton and settlement of the land un-
der the homestead and desert land
laws, except in restricted and un-
satisfactory manner, thus preventing
the settlement of large areas Of land,
and
Whereas, all of these reservations
and Withdrawals have greatly retard-
ed the development Of New Mexico by
preventing the residents and the peo-
pie Of said state from securing the
wood and pasturage which they have
enjoyed for generations, preventing
the settlement of the state and the
building of homes to large extent
restrained the development of the
state in its agricultural, horticultural
and other industries, and
whereas large areas Of land are
withdrawn as part of reclamation
projects which are not necessary to,
but which it has been determined will
not become part of such projects,
and the settlement and reclamation Of
such portions of such Withdrawals
thereby prevented.
"Now, Therefore, your memorialists
respectfully request tho passage Of
the act now pending in congress pro-
hibiting the further withdrawal of
the lands in New Mexico for any pur-
pose whatever, and
"Be 1t Further Resolved, that we
request the passage of an act provid-
ing for the allotment Of 160 acres
to each Indian on the Navajo and
Jicarilla Apache reservations, and the
opening Of the remainder Of said lands
to settlement, and
"Be 1t Further Resolved. that we
request the immediate restoration Of
all lands embraced within the several
forest reservations Of New Mexico
which do not contain merchantable
timber or are necessary to the ad-
ministration Of such reservations, and
"Bs It Further Resolved, that We