Page 289

REPORT OF COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. 
289 
higher price for supplies than the military pay. This I believe to be owing
to the fact 
that they were purchased in San Francisco without the advantage of competition.
In 
future, I respectfully suggestthat all stores required and that are produced
in this section 
of the country, such as beef, flour, corn, beans, &c., be purchased here,
and that a fair 
competition for the contracts be allowed to all responsible merchants. This
I am satisfied, 
from certain data in my possession, would very materially diminish the cost
of feeding 
the tribes on the different reservations. Here I would suggest that such
articles as are 
not produced here, and that may be purchased by the commissioner in San Francisco
or the Eastern States, be inspected before their shipment, or that samples
be furnished 
me, so that the faithful filling of the contract may be insured. 
I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
J. WILLIAMS, 
United State8 Special Indian Agent. 
Hon. E. P. SMITH, 
Commissioner of Indian Affairs, Washington, D. C. 
59. 
SAX CARLOS DIVIsIoN WHITE MOUNTAIN RESERVATION, ARIZ., 
August 31, 1873. 
SIR: I have the honor to report that during the past year the Indians upon
this res- 
ervation, composed of Pinal and Aravaipa Apaches and Tontos, have been removed
from the old Camp Grant reservation, upon the San Pedro River, to their present
loca- 
tion, at the junction of the San Carlos and Gila Rivers, which removal was
delayed by 
the frequent change of agents. 
Upon September 13, 1872, Mr. George H. Stevens relieved Mr. Jacobs, and took
charge at the Camp Grant agency. During his administration the Iudians behaved
extremely well, the only outbreak being the murder of a Mexican boy by an
outlawed 
Indian natned Charley. 
In December, 1872, the Indians were counted daily, by order of the department
com- 
mander, and, after thoroughly understanding what was required of them, were
very 
seldom absent from the muster. 
Upon February 9, 1873, Dr. H. R. Wilbur relieved Mr. Stevens, and immediately
pro- 
ceeded to remove the Indians to the present agency, arriving here in the
latter part of 
February, everything being in a very unsettled state and the supplies ot
rations inade- 
quate to the demand. 
Mr. C. F. Larrabee relieved Dr. H. R. Wilbur, March 4, 1873, as special agent.
Full 
supplies were still very difficult to obtain, and a great deal of jealousy
existed between 
the rival chiefs, two outlaw chiefs, Charley and Co-chi-nay, having returned
to the 
reservation. In April one of the most troublesome chiefs, Skin-as-kism, and
another 
Indian were killed in a quarrel. 
On May 27, Lieut. Jacob Almy, Fifth Cavalry, was killed, by an Indian named
Des-oh, 
when the bands of Co-chi-nay and Clumly, to whom the murderer belonged, immedi-
ately left the reservation and fled to the'mountains, the Indian Des-oh having,
pre- 
vious to the shooting; tried to spear Agent Larrabee, but was prevented by
an Indian 
called Yomas. After this murder Agent Larrabee turned over to me, as representative
of General Crook, all property belonging to the Indian Department, for which
he was 
responsible, giving as his reason for leaving the agency that the Indians
could only be 
controlled by the military authorities. 
I took charge of the agency upon the 1st June, ultimo, and since that time
have 
been gratified that the majority of the Indians are striving to obtain the
confidence of 
all connected with them, and have cheerfully obeyed instructions, planted
consider- 
able grain, and worked in the fields, brought in all the hay and wood required
by the 
troops, and on the 8th of this month delivered up to justice an Indian implicated
in 
the murder of Lieutenant Almy. 
A canal, for the purpose of irrigating the land, and to enable the Indians
to cultivate 
the valley of the Gila, was commenced in March, 1873. This canal was partially
com- 
pleted in June last, when a portion of land was plowed and allotted to the
different 
chiefs for their bands. Seeds and farming utensils welre furnished them,
and there is 
now a thriving crop of corn and beans, the Indians taking great interest
and pride in 
the growth of their respective lots. 
. In July a number of stock-cattle were given them, in fulfillment of a promise
made 
them by the special commissioner last year. Their cattle seem to be taken
great care 
of, and are in good condition. 
There are no schools or missions upon this reservation. The agency was formerly
under the control of the Dutch Reformed Church, but no effort has been made
to estab- 
lish a school or mission. In my opinion the children could readily be taught,
as they 
19 IA