224 THE IRRIGATION AGE. 



tion of Arizona by the United States. Their average wheat crop was about 2,000,000- 

 pounds a year, besides which corn, pumpkins, beans, sorghum, and vegetables were 

 raised in large quantities. They manufactured ollas, or earthen jars, and baskets, 

 and wove very fine blankets and cotton fabrics. They lived in small villages and 

 held their lands in severally. 



The Pimas have always been friends of the whites and enemies of the Apaches. 

 They gave succor and assistance to the early white settlers, and their door? were 

 always open -to peaceable whites or Indians when hard pressed by the savage foe. It 

 is their boast that their hands were never stained by the white man's blood. It was 

 under such conditions that they were joined, about a century ago, by the Maricopas, 

 who came at fugitives from the more powerful Yuma tribe. When the belligerent 

 Apaches gave trouble to the settlers, the United States troops sometimes obtained 

 substantial aid and comfort from the Pimas in the way of subsistence. 



The agriculture of the Pima Indians was carried on entirely by irrigation with 

 water diverted from Gila river. These tribes have always supported themselves, and 

 their progress toward civilization has been regarded as one of the encouraging feat- 

 ures of the Indian problem. During the last ten years, their irrigating water having 

 been taken away from them, they have lapsed into indolence, want and vice. 



Their condition of prosperity, industry, and independence continued until by 

 the settlement of the Gila valley above the reservation the water supply was partly 

 cut off and began to be deficient for the cultivated lands on the reservation. 



On March 27, 1895, Mr. J. Roe Young, United States Indian agent at Sacaton, 

 made a terse statement of the case to the Indian Bureau, closing his letter with the 

 following recommendation: 



"What is best to be done I do not know. I recommend, however, that a compe- 

 tent, thorough and skillful engineer, well acquainted with irrigation questions, be 

 employed to ascertain and report, first, whether or not under existing conditions a 

 supply of water adequate to the needs of these Indians can be obtained and retained 

 permanently, and then, if such a supply can be obtained, what is the best, most feas- 

 ble, practicable, and economical method of doing so. 



"To properly do this the engineer should examine carefully the past and present 

 condition and flow of the Gila river, the amount of water which formerly passed 

 through this reservation, and the amount we are now receiving; the number and 

 amount of inches of water for which charters for ditches have been granted in the 

 different counties through which the Gila flows, and the amount of water taken out 

 under these charters, together with the number of such charters now legally in force; 

 the underground currents and rock strata along the river, and all matters which 

 taken together may lead to some solution of this question. I have been unable to 

 get an estimate of what amount such an investigation and report will cost, but I 

 would suggest that the sum of $5,000 be set apart from any appropriation available 

 for this purpose. Competent and first-class engineers, with ability to make such a 

 report as this case requires, are scarce and high priced, and they have to be well 

 paid. It would be money thrown away to employ a man not thoroughly posted. 



"This matter should be taken up soon, in order that we may know what to 

 expect for next year." 



Mr. Elwood Hadley, who is now (1899) the Indian agent at Sacaton, in describ- 

 ing the present condition of the Indians of the Gila River reservation, writes as fol- 

 lows, under date of September 25, 1899: 



"Approximately 6,000 Indians Pimas, Papagoes, and Marieopas are depend- 

 ent for their subsistence upon the lands of the Gila River reservation, which reser- 

 vation contains 357,120 acres. It ia estimated that half of the land could be made 

 productive with water to irrigate it. The water supply in the Gila river the present 

 season, owing to its use for lands above us, has not been sufficient to irrigate 1,000 

 acres. Fully half the crops planted have not produced enough for seed. This land, 

 is very fertile. The condition of affairs here shows that in the past three years there 

 has been a large falling off in the wate'r supply for irrigation. The reason is apparent 

 in the absorption of the water by additional cultivated lands above. 



"I notice in the Indians a restlessness as they realize their helpless condition,. 



