The Parker post., 1917-01-27
FOR OPENING
INDIAN LANDS
THE LEGISLATURE MEMORIAL
lies CONGRESS AND SECRE-
TARY TO OPEN RESERVATION
LANDS AT PARKER-LAND
! COMMISSIONER NOW IN WASH
INGTON.

In a memorial passed by both
houses of the legislature last week,
congress and the secretary of the in
terror are urged to open the surplus
ana unallotted lands of the Colorado
River Indian reservation at Parker.
According to letter received this
week by The IS: from Senator Win
sOr, who Is the author of the resolu-
tior the contents of the memorial
was sent by wire to State Land Com
missioner Moeur, who is in Wash
ington ON business connected with
the department, Mr. Moeur was
urged to take the matter up person
ally with Secretary Lane and mem
bers of congress and explain the I'M
derground water Investigations which
the state of Arizona made in certain
parts of the reservation over a year
ago.
Some local effort should be made
toward forcibly bringing this matter
to the attention of the secretary of
the interior and ITO congress. The
full text of the memorial as passed
by the legislature follows:
To the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatives of the Congress of the
United States of America, and the
Honorable, the Secretary of the In
terror, Washington, d. &C.
Your Memorialist, the Third Legis-
lature of Arizona, respectfully rep
resents:
That there is embraced within the
Colorado River Indian reservation in
Yuma county, Arizona, approximately
10000 acres of highly fertile river
bottom lands, splendidly adapted To
the growing of general agricultural
products, and of rich mesa or high
table lands especially adapted by
reason of unusually favorable condi-
tions of soil and climate, to the Gull
lure of citrus and other valuable
fruits
The exhaustive engineering investi-
cations conducted by the State Land
Department of Arizona, under and by
authority of certain acts of the Sec
ond Legislature, and with the per-
mission of the Secretary of the In
rfoh 10
doubt the existence of underground
water resources, adequate in quanti-
ty and quality for the successful rec
lamation of the said lands, and the
Feasibility of such reclamation by
means of pumping plants, by individ
ual SETTLERS or cooperative communi-
ties of settlers.
That the reclamation of this sp1en-.
did body of land and its utilization
by progressive agriculturists and hor-
ticulturists would greatly enhance
the wealth and prosperity of the
state of Arizona, provide homes for
thousands of patriotic citizens, and
increase the production of those food
supplies so sorely needed for the
sustenance of the people of the world
That the allotment of such lands
embraced within the said Indian res
ervation as may be needed by the
Indians attached thereto and the
opening of the remainder to settle
ment or sale, would not only effect
these most highly desired objects,
but would also be AN act of simple
Justice to the town of Parker,
which, though established by virtue
of federal action and encouragement
finds itself, after years of waiting,
still surrounded by Indian lands and
effectually cut off from the develop
ment to which it's natural resources
entitle it.
Wherefore, your memorialist, the
Third Legislature of Arizona, respect
fully but urgently prays that such
action be had by congress and by
the Secretary of the Interior as may
be necessary to effect the proper,
just and expeditions allotment to
the Indians attached to the said
Colorado River Indian reservation,
OF the lands needed by them for
their use, and the restoration of the
remainder of said reservation or
some considerable portion thereof to
entry under the United States land
laws, or it's subsection to sale under
such terms and conditions, rules and
regulations, as will prove just to the
Indians at present owning the said
land and to the settlers who will be
attracted to it, thus achieving in the
fullest measure the beneficent pur-
poses described herein.