Mohave County miner and our mineral wealth., 1920-05-29
MEETING OF INDIAN
 AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
 AT PARKER, AR|Z.

All<tiio SollilllCGCS ol SolSlCS wa
 held at Parker last Tuesday to whicl
 many people interested in the lot o
 the Indians were invited. Anson H
 Smith represented the local business
 mems association, while Judge L. V
 Root, o. B. Mulvane, Otto Underhill
 C. w. Cronick and Frank Gabber
 were the delegation from Needles
 w. E. Thackery, superintendent of the
 Indian school at Fort Mohave, appear,
 ed before the committee in behalf of
 the maintenance of that institution.
 The meeting of the committee at
 Parker was for the purpose of inves- , tigating diversion dam project above
 that town and also to look into a
 proposition for the removal of the Mo-
 have Indians to the reservation and
 the abandonment of Fort Mohave as
 school. A number of witnesses ap-
 peared for and against the various
 subjects submitted. Among the wit
 nesses were Parker people, who felt
 aggrieved over the lack of diligence
 of the government in the opening up of the Colorado River Indian reserva- tion and the broken faith with those who purchased lots under the project under the impression that they were to soon receive material benefits from the government.
 From Phoenix many state officers, including Gov. Thomas E. Campbell; auditor Jesse Boyce; attorney general Wiley E. Jones; tax commissioners A. H. Howe and c. M. Zander; land commissioner w. A. Moeur; Sims Ely and others. Interested people were there from Los Angeles, San Bernar- dino, Tucson and other places.
 The congressional party consisted of nine congressman, mainly from the western states. Homer A. Snyder, of New York, was chairman of the com mittee and he appeared to have a wide grasp of the Indian situation. Carl Hayden, Arizona's representa- tive, was a member of the committee and he was sure on the job in bring ing to light the many important pro- jects that Arizona had that embraced in a way material interests of the Indians. While the Parker project will only bring under irrigation 14,- 900 acres for the Indians benefit it will make possible the reclamation of about 10000 acres of land, the irri- gation of which will enhance the value of the Indians holdings many fold. It will make possible the handling of the Indian produce on large scale and will furnish the men of the tribe with unlimited opportunities for work. The irrigation project that was put before the committee is' estimated to cost $S,000,000. At the hearing Gov. Campbell proposed that the state stand behind the issue of bonds to as- sure the building of the dam, the to repay the state with n a stated number of years. The government on the other hand was to .elease to settlers the excess lands in ;he project, which would make possi- ,le settlements as soon as the project vas completed. This proposition was we'll received by the committee and it S possible that something of the kind will be done. The state stands in a position to help this big project with ts credit and it's action along the lin IS laid down would at once bring about work on the big dam. Parker or any other part of Arizona where big re- ;ults may be obtained, is entitled to he aid of the state and it is to be loped that this great state of ours will come to the relief of the Parker project if the government fails in it's luty to the whites and the reds.
 The whole delegation were taken for ride through the great Valley below 'arker. Many thousands of acres are lnder cultivation, cotton and alfalfa eing the dominent crops. This area s irrigated by one big pump operated " the government. Five-year lease ave been given to white men, after which Indians come into their allot- nents and are supposed to farm the ands. Many whites have made nice hings out of the tilling of the soil, ut we understand that in the main he venture has not been a really prof table one. The whites have had to itch and level the lands and clear of brush and heavy mesquite, which as entailed a goodly expense, which he five year leases will hardly profit.
 In the evening" of Tuesday last plendid banquet was spread in one f the large Indian school buildings, , ne affair being under the patronage the Parker Commercial Club. Tur- ey and other enjoyable. foods were laced in plenty on the festal board 1 nd those poor congressman and news aper men who are not used to such lxurience are still suffering from in- 0 igestion from taking on a weeks ations at one sitting.
 Many speeches were delivered at , lis banquet, the members of the com g ittee, republican and democrat alike