Navajo times., 1962-08-01
Industry : Jobs : Conservation

development Conference, one theme kept recurring
I'VE need jobs for people, then solve the
range problem The range problem is known and &C
cepted by conservaoniss, stockmen and authorities
of both the Tribe and the government vital prob
lem OF distressing magnitude w ch is increasingly
becoming even bigger problem.
The Indian has always been of natures true
cOnservatOnists. Hehas ascribed to the Wanton
wastellness or thoughtless destruction often found
in the wake of the white For many hundreds of
years. the Indians lived with the buffalo, killing only
when they needed meat and then utilizing every shred
of the animal that could be put to any conceivable use
the white decimated the herds and drove them
nearly out of existence in less than century.
In the early days of the Pilgrim settlers, Squanto
tried to teach them to grow He would place the
corn seed in the ground, with fish, explaining that
the ground must be fed. The white thought this
savage super stion and never really understood
Squanos teachings until the dust bowls of the 1905
gave them tragic and costly emphasis No, the Indian
would wifully misuse his range, because that
wouldvio his basic beliefs, we'll his
sense.
follows, then what misuse of the range exists
on the reservation occurs not as matter of CHOICE
but rather of survival. and with the population 60
ing up at rapid rate, it will become more and more
necessary for the People, at least large percen
tage OF them to turn to other means of livelihood
There was much food for thought in the discussion
presented by RENO Sarln during the conference using
Navajo crest Products Industries as prime example
OF what industry do both directly and indirectly
boost the economy. The ent site of NF PI is
approximately $50 acres which previously supported
lin carrying capacity ia tus) Is sheep units. The
Tribe invested So million in this plant of which about
n inery and such items. Now, said Sarlin, take
1862 million round figures. This is going to gen.
crate jobs for 484 people, most of them the job at
the present, with average annual payroll of ST.
million. 484 people, according to statistics,
will generate jobs and ervice industries at Navajo
for additional 100 people.
THESE home Wages--money that stays in
home trade area which at the time would be
Gallup. The estimated eturn from stumpage is
estimated (roughly $500, 600 annually to the Tribe
owner of the timber. Estimated operating profits total
still another $500. 600 which stays at home with the
Tribe. Allowable depreciation to $500, 900. That
equals $1a million in salary and 81 100000 in benefits
the Tribe earned cash income in addition to sal
aries. This is when the mill is operative. "
For two years prior to that, Sarlln continued,
structon work gave jobs to 500 hired at
time or another, almost exclusively Navajo During
this same period, the H eavy Equipment Pool of the
Tribe was constructing roads; another Tribal function
earning profit and providing additional jobs. The
construction of the houses at Navajo thirty already
completed and another additional forty construc
tion have provided still jobs, with the Tribal
Design and Construction Section currently planning
more.
both housing and mill construction all wood used
was bought from the present saWmi and paid for from
construction funds, providing one large market for