The Coconino sun., 1927-06-17

In letter to Senator Carl Hayden,
Superintendent G. L. Walker OF the
Western Navajo Indian agency, has
this to say relative to plans for con-
Meeting up Utah and Arizona roads:
"For some time we have been
agitating the question of good roads
in this section OF the country and have
placed particular stress on the needs
| of q main thoroughfare through the
central part of the Western Navajo
reservation for the benefit it would
be to the Indians The matter has
been taken up with our Washington
office and we have been assured that
when the program is once started, we
will have the full cooperation of that
office in the advancement of it. We
| feel that the building of such road
would be worth more to the Indians,
as well as to the state Of Arizona,
than anything else that could be done
at this time and it is in behalf of both
that am working on the proposition.
II have been among Indians most
of my life and | have observed that
those who are constantly in contact
with civilization are the ones farthest
|
IN ignorance and block their progress,
we need only to isolate them from
civilization, but this is not the policy
of this office or Of the Indian office
The sooner they become productive
citizens, self-supporting and in
/ dependent the better off they will be
and the better off our state and
| federal government will be. The
Indian problem is one that causes
more controversies than any other OF
| its size we have to deal with and l
feel that the sooner it is solved the
better off everyone concerned will be.
/ am really interested in my work and
feel that it is my duty to push to
the limit anything that | can that will
assist in a solution of the problem
and it is for this reason primarily that
this letter is written.
"By referring to any map Of the
United States, it will be seen that we
have excellent highways leading from
points east and north to Durango and
Mesa Verde park, and those who have
| travelled over the country in southern
Colorado and southeastern Utah, know
that some of the most beautiful
scenery in the United States lies in
these sections. Arizona has still a
greater variety of interesting scenery,
and some of the most wonderful to be
found. Some Of the main features
along this proposed line are the Mesa
Verde national park; the oil fields
in southeastern Utah and northern
Arizona; the four state corners; the
Monumental Valley; Marsh Pass In
dian school; Betatakan, Keet Seel,
Inscription House, Long House Valley
and other ruins; Rainbow Natural
/ Bridge; three natural bridges in south
eastern Utah; Navajo Mountain; the
Elephants Feet, Trading posts;
Western Navajo Indian school; Hopi
Village at Moen Copi; the Petrified
Forests; The Painted Desert; Grand
Canyon national park and the many
other wonders, particularly in the
vicinity of Flagstaff, Arizona. All OF
these would be linked up with the
road we propose.
"But aside from the scenic interest
| in connection with this line it is one
of great Importance economically.
In the first place, it would be the
most direct line possible from south
ern California, Arizona and other
points in the southwest to Salt Lake
i City, Denver, Kansas City and points
north and east 1t would supply the
missing link in the park to park
system by connecting Mesa Verde and