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United States. Office of Indian Affairs / Annual report of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, for the year 1874
([1874])
[Arizona], pp. 286-300
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Page 289
REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. 289 WASHINGTON, D. C., September 25, 1874. SIR: I have the honor to submit herewith my fourth annual report for the Colorado River Indian agency. Work was resumed upon the irrigating-canal last fall, and pushed rapidly forward until June 23, when the water was flowing through it for nine miles, with an average depth of three feet by five in width. The principal work was done by Indians, averaging 125 daily, who labored for their rations alone. The tunneling, which measured 4,185 feet, was done by miners. Part of this being through loose, gravelly soil, we were obliged to timber, and having no funds for the work, used cotton-wood, procured on the reservation, thinking it would last until better could be supplied; but, unfortunately, about 100 feet has already caved, and will require about two months to repair. When these tunnels are rendered secure, the remaining work can be done by Indians without other expense than their rations and tools, continuing the canal the entire length of the reserve, 45 miles, and irrigating about 50,000 acres of arable land. The Hualpai Indians, numbering 580, came to the reserve in the spring, escorted by one white man. The troops had started by a different route; their commanding-officer had fallen by the way-side drunk, and the men were found by a scouting party on the road. An officer was placed in command, and they arrived the day following the Indians, their company commander coming in a boat, and not yet recovered from the effects of his debauch. This officer is still on the reserve with these Indians, General Crook insisting that his presence is necessary to control them. This he does not do, but permits them to visit the nearest town, where liquor is easily procured, and will not heed my request to expel a liquor-dealer from the reservation. When the Indians were ordered to be placed on the reservation I requested General Crook to furnish me twenty or thirty mounted men to pursue any who might leave the reserve; instead, an entire company of infantry is sent, who are useless in pursuit, and very demoral- izing, placed, as now, among the Indians. The presence of troops constantly on an Indian reservation is much to be deprecated, as it breeds familiarity, which takes away all fear or respect the Indians otherwise have for them. They should be near enough, and have such instructions as would oblige them to render assistance to the agent upon his official appli- cation. The Mojaves have worked faithfully upon the irrigating-canal, and displayed much inter- est in the work, believing, at least, that it is going to be successful. The death of Ireteba last spring, who was their chief for twenty years, is much deplored, as he was the most sagacious of the tribe, and a great assistance in my plans of improvement of his people. I have induced the Chimehuevis to settle down on the California side of the river, and give up their migratory habits. They wanted to come on the reservation until compulsory labor was mentioned. As they are but a small band, a little assistance in tools and seeds is all they require. Drunkenness and disease are having a sad effect upon the Yumas, who have been surrounded by the most demoralizing associations for the last fifteen years. There is no hope of improve- ment where they are, and they object to removal. This can readily be effected, however, when we have a better place prepared for them, where they can from the first earn their own living; for after feeding Indians one month they cannot understand or approve of a change. I have given them a few blankets, and to them, with parts of the Cocopah and Coahuilla tribes, a little flour before their crops matured, having exhausted their supplies. The last- named tribe is mentioned by the Rev. J. T. Ames in his report on the Mission Indians of Southern California. I am personally acquainted with many of the facts there stated, hav- ing made repeated trips through that country in passing to and from my agency, visiting several of the desert tribes at their rancherias. Last fall I found a white man had just surveyed and appropriated a large tract of land, upon which a band of the Coahuillas had been born and raised, and they did not know where to go. Thus they are becoming impoverished, and will soon become vagrants, dependent, if they can get it, upon the Government bounty. We earnestly hope that something may be done for them, at least that some responsible person be authorized to inquire into and rectify their wrongs, as far as possible. Our school at the reservation, conducted by Mr. A. E. Janvier, who labored very faith- fully, was very well attended during the winter; but, their coming being optional, the nuibers decreased in the spring, and the teacher requested his discharge in June. The results are not encouraging, as the few hours in school are quickly counteracted and im- pressions obliterated by their home-life. Although they display remarkable aptitude to learn, still the mere acquisition of our language by them is not desirable, unless accom- panied by instructions in some industrial education; this can only be acquired in a manual- labor boarding-school, which it is very important the Government should establish on each permanent reservation. Increasing confidence is being displayed in our treatment of disease, Dr. H. H. Davis, the agency physician, having been very successful in winning their confidence by cures and kind treatment. We are in great need, however, of a hospital-building and appliances, having been obliged to treat serious cases in our own dwelling. Finally, after over three years as agent for the Colorado River Indians, I am satisfied that 19 IND
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