Johnston] NAVAHO POPULATION 31 



1. In the 30 years following their return to their original home- 

 land, the Navalio clearly demonstrated their remarkable vigor in 

 recovering so rapidly from the cultural shock of military defeat and 

 captivity, almost without outside assistance. 



2. During the next 30-year period (1900 to 1930), we witness the 

 seeming paradox that this selfsame vigor brought the Navaho to the 

 verge of disaster, as their increased population and stock holdings 

 dangerously exceeded the carrying capacity of the reservation lands. 



3. Since 1930, extensive programs of economic rehabilitation and 

 education have been established on the reservation, while the Second 

 World War greatly speeded the process of acculturation. 



A SUMMARY OF NAVAHO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT 



In order to appreciate the conditions under which the Navaho have 

 traditionally pursued a livelihood, a summary of the climate and phys- 

 iography of the region they inhabit is in order (see Gregory, 1916 ; 

 Young, 1954, pp. 56-69; 1955, pp. 92-104; and 1961, pp. 348-356). 

 The country of the Navaho can be generally described as falling into 

 three zones: Mountain, steppe, and desert. About 8 percent of the 

 total land area of the reservation is classified as mountainous. The 

 climate m this zone is cold and humid, the elevation being from 7,000 

 to 10,000 feet. The average annual temperature of this zone is between 

 43° and 50° Fahrenheit, and winter temperatures fall well below zero. 

 Annual rainfall is between 16 and 27 inches ; 41 percent of the precipi- 

 tation falls as snow. 



About 37 percent of the total reservation area is classified as steppe. 

 The temperature here varies between an average low of 10° to 25° 

 in the winter months to an average high of 80° to 88° in the summer. 

 Annual precipitation is from 12 to 16 inches ; 25 percent falls as snow. 



The remaining 55 percent of the country is classified as desert. 

 Here, the average winter temperatures are between 11° and 30°, w^hile 

 the summer temperatures rise as high as 110°, averaging 100° in some 

 localities. Total annual rainfall in this zone is between 7 and 11 

 inches in most years, but it may be as low as 1.5 inches and as high as 

 16 inches. 



An important characteristic of the precipitation that falls in both 

 the steppe and desert zones is its high intensity and short duration, 

 producing sudden runoffs and flooding low areas. Furthermore, since 

 about 80 percent of the days on the reservation are clear and sunny, 

 evaporation causes the loss of much of this precipitation. 



The soils of the region are classified as 33 percent "excellent or 

 good," 29 percent "fair," and 23 percent "poor." The remaining 15 

 percent is considered to be totally unproductive. Nearly all of these 

 soils can only be used for growth of livestock forage. Land suitable 

 for agriculture is found only in the mountainous and steppe zones and 



