The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1912-04-17
BOB JOHNSON WAY our WEST
WRITES OF HIS EXPERIENCES
IN LAND OF THE RED MAN.
Staked a Claim in New Mexico and
Drove Indian Chiefs Team in Ari-
IONA. An Interesting Letter.


iona. An Interesting Letter.
HOSUTON, Texas.-Editor of The
Dawson News. Dear Sir: l left
OPP. Ala, in November, 1909, and a
few days later arrived in Cocheese
county, Arizona. I met there old
Roruphistail, who was returning
from the Yak Indian reservation to
his ranch in northern New Mexico.
he had several good teams, and as
he was in need of a teamster l took
charge of one of them and assisted
him to his home.
filed on a homestead there, lived
on it 4 months, and then got pat
ent to my quarter section Of New
Mexico land from Uncle Sam. / farm
ed just enough to comply with the
homestead Iaws-planted several
acres as freeholder. Our first rain
in 1910 came on July 22nd. 1t was
an 8-inch precipitation, and fell in
a very few minutes. The dry creeks
and canyons were overlooking in
short time, and it was to me great
ter running faster than a train.
Farming in New Mexico depends
largely upon holding these food wa
tiers. Some say there is river I'M
der New Mexico that can be brought
to the surface.
Many hOmesteaders are taking half
section claims. The Mandell special
homestead act of congress gives the
homesteader the privilege of filing
on a half section of these dry claims.
The parties filing on such claims
must adopt great deal of Camp
bells dry farming methods to prove
up on their claims.
Thirty miles west of my claim are
the Rockies Some of them reach a
height of two miles or more. They
were covered with snow until July
I have passed through and over these
mountains by way of the Cimmaron
Canyon to a Mexican town called
Toas 1t was in November during
the dry season.
| left New Mexico after proving
up my homestead and went in the
stave business in Calcasieu par
ish, Louisiana. 1 had several Savoi-
ans there getting slaves until the
water made me leave the swamps
Some one told nae of the Red Bones
in Louisiana. | found them there.
They are in Rappides, Vernon and
Calcasieu parishes. The Red Bones,
or some of them, claim to be full
blooded Irishmen, yet they will not
tell that their great-grandfather was
an African. The boiling pot is busy
there.
| am here at Houston. l visited
the battle-ground down on Buffalo
Bayou, where Sam Houston begged
the lives out of the Mexicans. The
mud to the left of the bayou was
pointed out to me as the place where
Sam did the work On seeing this
bog-hole feeling passed through me
like the one when l view the spot on
Kinchafoonee creek, where Stumpy
Edwards split the foot-log open with
his mighty gun while all the Indians
were crossing the creek. Everybody
here calls the old San Jacinto battle
ground Unto.
To me Dawson is greater town
than Houston. Houston has more
than its share of skyscrapers, some
of which are very tall. l see no ten
ants in the upper parts of these tall
buildings. In a few years they will
be the homes of bats-that is, the
upper stories will.
Speaking about lands, I believe
they commenced to double in value
the world over the day John Mercer
bought the old HERS farm. Up to
that time no one had paid $25 an
acre for farm land in old Terrell
county.
I advise every boy that is raised
on a farm in Georgia to stay there
if he intends to farm. Never cross
the Mississippi river Respectful
ly, ROBERT JOHNSON.