Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-12-26


villages the entire water supply has
come from one or two springs which
have been used from time immemo-
rial, and during this entire period
have probably never been thoroughly
cleaned out. The result that there was
a vast accumulation Of filth in the
springs which not only diminished The
water supply by sedimenting up the
outlet for the water, but the amount
of filth made the water almost liquid
poison. and only person Injured to $
use by heredity could possibly have
used it and lived.
| At the First mesa before the prin-
cipal springs were cleaned out and put
in shape there was an epidemic Of
some enteric trouble that caused the
death of Sky out Of a population of
SEQ in a few weeks, and the govern
ment physicians stated that it was un-
doubleday caused by the water sup
| ply. Since the springs have been put
In shape there has been no more trou-
BILE of this kind,
When the water development work
was first commenced it met with pas
! sive, if not active. opposition on the
part OF the Indians. They thought that
the development of wafer by means of
wells was the first step of the white
man to get hold on the country for
his own uses and it took considerable
work and several years for the Indians
to understand that the work was be-
ing done for them
The Hops objected to having any
thing done with their springs for fear
that the water gods would be offended
and stop the flow of water but by
careful handling and some diplomacy
they soon became convinced that the
development work would not hurt the
water supply they had. but increase it,
1t is their custom to give votive Of
ferings to the water gods and TO place
prayer plumes around the shrine usu-
ally found at the springs. When We
walled up the spring we were careful
to prepare a niche In the wall where
the shrine could be replaced and the
prayer plumes left In one case where
at times the priests would so down
into the water at certain ceremonies,
the spring outlet was walled up and
the overflow went into another basin
below, where the immersion of the
priest at the ceremony would not con-
taminate the spring itself, and they
were satisfied ana convinced.
Water Users Reformed.
Where once it was u common sight
to see the Indian women sitting
around the springs awaiting the ac-
emulation of the trickling flow and
taking turns in dipping it up a cup fun
at time, and then climbing the mesa
to the village, 400 feet above the
spring with the water jar on her back;
now the flow fills large concrete ba-
sin, walled and rooted, and 1t is sell
dom. that the use will be such that
there is no reserve supply, and instead
of filth the water is good ana pure,
The Indians are now eager to CO.
operate with us in any way to get the
water. The Navajos assist in the NOV
ing of the well rig and other hauling,
while the Hops have organized force
to do the work in connection with the
water development in each village and
are subject to the call of the foreman
in charge of this work at any time.
BY the Indian appropriation bill, eff
fective on July l of this year, there isl
given to this district about $3.50, GOO,
and of this amount about $4,000
comes directly from the action of the
Kiwanis club last year in asking your
congressman to get busy toward Sc
curing more money for the Indians of
New Mexico.
In the matter of the drainage of the
Rio Grande valley large proper
ton of the upper part of the valley be-
longs to the Pueblo Indians. and it has
been q matter of considerable specu-
lation and anxiety just what the stand
of the Indian office would be toward
their drainage | have taken consid-
cradle interest in keeping the office
advised OF the situation and inn
pressed upon them the value of the
drainage, and / am pleased to say that
a letter was received by the Chamber
Of Commerce in answer to a direct
question, stating that the office was
in favor of cooperation with some
general action for drainage of all the
land in the valley. There has been
prepared and sent to Washington a |
rough estimate of the area of Indian
land affected, and the probable cost
of drainage for their consideration
pending the actual formation of the
irrigation districts.
or all the endeavor to raise the
economic status OF the Indian, toI
make him self-respecting and self
supporting, useful member of the
community: of all the money spent by
the Indian service, the comparatively
small per cent that goes to the devel-
opment of irrigation and other water
supplies is undoubtedly doing the most
good toward the desired goal
The Hopi Indian would not leave his
and crowded villages to
spread over the land he claimed. The
education he received at the Indian
schools, the entreaty of the officials
nor threats could move him, but the
development of water for their stock
away from the mesas furnished the
necessary stimulus, and he is begin
ming to establish homes in more SAN
itary surroundings and where his ma
terial development will be fastened.
The Indian in the mass does not
take to trade or manufacturing, but
give him a chance to farm under irri-
cation or show him that there is wa
ter for his stock, and he grasps the
Perhaps had the govern
ment perceived this earlier in the
game, the Indian problem would now
be nearer it's final solution.