Bisbee daily review., 1913-01-03
OBJECTION RAISED ID THt RETURN OF
 APACHE INDIANS
Roswell, New Mexico. Starts Protest Against Bringing Old Geronimo Tribe to Muscalero Reservation
NATIONAL PARK IS
 MUCH ADVOCATED

Says the Fl PasO Herald: Roswelrs CommercIai club has taken the Iead
 n general movement Lo defeat. if possible. the removal Of the Chiric |. hua Apaches, remnant of the old Ger onimo band and their descendants. from Oklahoma to the Mescalero res eryation in the White mountains no.ih Of Cloudcroft. The chief grounds of the protest, which is being formulated
 n the shape of numerously signed pe- titions sanctioned by the commercial organizations of all tke cities ani towns in the' southwest, are, first, that the two tribes are better of apart than united; second. that there is not enough tillable land in the Mescalero reservation to give each Indian l6u acres, even those now On the reserva- tion, much less the Oklahoma pr son CTS of the government. third. that the Mescalero reservation is ideally sit uated for a national park: fourth. that the forested part of the reservation Is needed as playground for the peo- ole of the southwest, who have no other accessible mountain resort with in 800 or 1000 miles. of such Leauty. elevation, variety of scenery. and healthfulness.
 The Roswell plan Is to hold the Mescalefo reservation for the Indians who are already there: in a few years. allot to them the tilisble land: and hold the remainder for a national park, 10 be used jointly by the In dians to graze their livestock, ana by the public as a playground.
 This proposal has been before con gress and the departments for a doz en years: it has been the subject O. bills repeatedly introduced Opposi- ton has come from the Indian bu reau, which has always maintained that the reservation belonged to the Indians and that the Indians must be reimbursed if the ground be taken from them for even a public purpose The last reasonable objections were disposed of when Senator Fall of New Mexico and Congressmen Smith and Stephens Of Texas framed a measun. providing for Jhe cutting of merchan table timber on the reservation even after it became a park. ana turning the proceeds of the sale Of timber in 10 the fund of the Mescalero Apaches.
 The national park project could tLaNt Ltfu tdt iltN AlIbA-H lbElE dED if Fl Paso and all the other interest ed communities in New Mexico. Texas and Arizona had got together in the right spirit, and worked unitedly and energetically for this great end. It has failed so far for lack Of proper backing at this end of the line.
 It is to be hoped that, with Roswell backing the latest move with her ae- customed energy and wisdom. the rep resentatives in both houses or com gress from the southwestern states may now receive the efficient coop eration of al the southwestern com munities in this effort. Tine national park project will be seriously ob- stTucted. long delayed. if not entirely ruined, if the Oklahoma Apaches be allowed 10 go on the Mescalero reser- vation under the operation of Che law passed at the last session Of con gTess
 Give the Indians all they can use. give them all they are entitled 10 in ihe way Of money recompense. but save this beautiful region forever 10 the public as national park and the peoples playground.