Year: 1873

MIR. EDITOR :- The policy of keep ing the wild Indians of the country upon reservations of defined limits is one which challenges the interest of every good and loyal citizen. To us of this community the question is of peculiar interest. Separated but short distance from two of the largest reservations in the Territory with an already large and constantly in- creasing area of trade, and the num-

 Der, and defenceless condition of our neighboring settlements, 1t is no won- der that out people are constantly on the qui vive for Indian news, and

 watch with more than ordinary inter- est the progress of events in that con- nection. This very eagerness is ia-

 ble to make us fall into errors, as has

 been lately seen. The most extraor- dinary tales have come to us from the

 San Carlos reservation of Indians

 leaving in large numbers for the mountains; of lawlessness and gen. eral demoralization, until our whole community became alarmed and anx-

 ious. We confess that we partook of this feeling to some extent. and there fore it was with no pleasurable emo-

 tions that we recently undertook a

 business visit to that much abused

 spot.

 We reached the agency on the

 morning of an tissue day." when

 one might expect more or less confu-

 sion. The place fairly swarmed with

 Indians, but we experienced no diff culty in making our way through them to the camp of the troops close

 by. In fact, instead of finding inso- lent Indians, confusion and disorder, as we had been led to expect with passive, unresisting soldiers, as our troops have too often been compelled to appear, we could not help observ- ing the regularity which prevailed and the evident. purpose which was apparent in everything. The Indians evidently had encountered a power which had said "thus far shalt thou come and no farther,' and true to their character, whenever met with cool, calm and determined action. had accepted the situation. During our stay of three days we walked about unarmed in perfect security, and saw everything that was to be seen. The Indians are apparently content. The new ditch is in successful operation and planting has actually begun. Through the indomitable energy of their agent, Mai. W. H. Brown), they had recently received about seventy five milch cows and calves, which gave them great satisfaction.

 These and other things induce us to believe that the San Carlos Indians are in fair way toprosper. A con- tinuation of the present good manage ment is all that is desired. Let the ration of corn be reduced or totally abolished (Maj. Brown has for the present suspended its issue), and there will be fewer |" "tis-win drunks. Let the Indians be actually mustered for is now being done and thus prevent anything like an accumulation of supplies through | fraud on their part; let them be en- couraged to continue supplying the. troops with hay and fuel, and we be- lieve the work will be materially | hastened, and since it is evident that | our government is not to be guided | by the policy which teaches that only | dead Indians are good, it is our duty | to hope for the best and endeavor to promote it all in our power.

 As to the number of Indians actu- ally off the reserve, we were given to believe that it is small and insignifi- cant. Maj. Brown feels confident in being able to capture them in the end, and says that meanwhile, he will keep them so busy that they will have little time to raid on the settle ments. A scouting party was then out and had struck the trail which led sourhward in the direction of the San Pedro, and from what we have learned since, we strongly suspect that the Major has succeeded in forcing them where they must fight or sur render. We can only wish him every success.

 AS to the danger of a general out break, we do not regard it except as among the possibilities. The aver age Indian is lazy and indolent, and has just enough appreciation of his condition to keep him where he IS. True, le may be carried off by some