Land of the San Carlos Apaches

The rich copper deposits in the Morenci-Clifton area and the fertile Gila River valley farming areas adjacent to the reservation were originally included in it. Seemingly right, at the time, it must have been decided that the Apaches had little use for copper and certainly were not qualified as farmers and had little interest in learning. They would be in a vastly better position now if these rich lands were still a part of their reservation.

It was not an easy job to look after the daily needs of the Apaches in those early years on the reservation. And, ironically, one of the first steps taken by agent John Clum was to get them to raise hay for livestock and subsistence crops for their own food. Unable now to raid and plunder, and being restricted to a narroweddown area, their need for food was acute.

As one inducement to keep them on reservations, Commissioner Vincent Colyer, in 1871, recommended that these rations be issued: "One pound of beef, one pound of corn with salt per capita daily, with sugar and coffee occasionally."

There is evidence that Agent Clum's agricultural plan paid off as there were around one thousand acres of irrigated farm land in use by Apache families around old San Carlos in 1927, before this area was covered with waters impounded by Coolidge Dam to help the Pima Indians.

By 1896 agriculture on the Pima Indian Reservation, and on non-Indian farms in the Casa Grande Valley, suffered a shortage of water because of diversion of Gila River water by white settlers upstream. Governmentengineers planned to dam the Gila, then deliver its water, as needed, to the distressed areas. The location selected was on the San Carlos Reservation; thus, instead of the Bureau of Reclamation, the Bureau of Indian Affairs was directed to handle the project, identified as the San Carlos Irrigation Project. It was to build the dam with connecting irrigation ditches, install a power plant, construct transmission and feeder lines, then distribute the water and electricity.

An agreement was made with the Apaches for permission to build the dam and flood 21,745 acres of their land. The area occupied by Agency headquarters and Apache homes at old San Carlos and the 1,000 acres of farm land would be covered with water.

From information supplied by the Bureau, it appears that the agreement provided for an indemnity of $108,268.19 for land use, houses, fencing, grave removal and irrigation pumping plants plus a promise of new, irrigated farm land and provisions to bring electric power to their homes. In addition, $50,514.61 was allowed to individual Apache families for personal improvements and to assist them in moving their homes.

The government also paid $10,534.00 to non-Indian owners and paid for relocating the Southern Pacific Railway and allowed the Bureau $90,042.00 for constructing school and government buildings.

The families gave up their homes and farms and moved out and, like relocated people anywhere, they found it difficult to adjust to new surroundings. The money they received, no doubt a fair market value fortheir personal property, could not repay them for labor and sentimental ties built into their homes over the years. The government made a serious effort to provide the promised farms. Some of the wells went bad, or dry, in this untried section, resulting in crop failures, and many families lost interest. As a result very little good farm land was developed.

But, the Pimas, along with some non-Indian farmers, have received some needed water, although the flow from the Gila dropped so low it had to be supplemented by ground pumps. And even though none of the impounded water can be run to their homes, the San Carlos Apaches do receive a benefit in the electricity flowing along the 30-mile, $44,505.00 high-tension lines now serving all settlements on the reservation.

From almost every home bright lights shine at night, washing machines and other appliances ease the drudgery of household work, and radio and television programs are as common as they are elsewhere.

Through the years there has been a question of ownership of the land under the waters of San Carlos Lake and along the shoreline. At present there is a gentlemen's agreement between the Tribe and the State permitting persons holding Arizona hunting and fishing licenses to use this area without a special permit from the Tribe; and for Tribe members to use it for hunting, fishing, grazing and watering stock without special license or permission from the State.

Present-day Bureau officials hold the opinion that the original documents did not mention the transfer of title of Apache land but merely a permission for the water to flow over their land. The matter is now in the courts and if it is decided that the land is still Apache, hunters and fishermen will have to look to the Tribe for their permissions. And the Tribe will be able to develop recreational facilities of its own on and around the lake. This is one of their hopes for additional revenue from their otherwise relatively poor land.

The most convenient route for a look at the reservation is U.S. 70 which crosses its southern end between Globe and Safford. Numerous secondary and dirt roads go to almost every accessible part but many of these are difficult to negotiate in rainy weather and it is easy to get snowed in up in the high altitude areas in the winter.

There are no stores, service stations or garages in the interior. Distances are long and there's a lot of low-gear driving. It is essential to take extra gas, oil and supplies for any long, back-country trips.

Vast, timbered, wilderness areas along the northern borders are inviting and offer endless opportunities for outdoor vacations, camping, hunting and fishing. The Hilltop, Black River and Point of Pines regions are most popular in the summer while southern arid areas, including San Carlos Lake, offer delightful winter outings. Doubtless the original Apaches found the region ideal for migrating with the seasons, using the varied natural products of the land as they moved about. Game and fish were certainly as plentiful then as they are today.

Wild turkeys abound in the timbered country; deer and elk may be found above the 4,000-foot elevations; javelinas roam over the scrub-covered areas; and black bear inhabit the wilderness sections. Quail and doves are plentiful. Ducks drop in during migratory flights. Trout can be caught in the Black River along the extreme northern border and San Carlos Lake offers several varieties of fish.

Some 3,515 Apaches live in only three settlements: San Carlos and Peridot in the San Carlos River Valley and Bylas along the Gila River. In the extensive back country a few road-crew camps, lumber camps and fireguard stations are occupied part-time. Cow camps are

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Hampton Haozous, born on the reservation, had taken full advantage of his opportunity for a college education and returned to become general business manager. He has a charming wife, active in community service, and four delightful little daughters and twin boys. In a pleasant, businesslike way, he gave this picture of his people's standing:

Before 1923, all range land was leased to cattle companies and the Tribe received a small revenue from these grazing permits. Now, cattle raising is a business engaged in by the Apaches themselves. Five cattle associations, owned by five hundred families and managed by salaried, experienced stockmen, graze around fourteen thousand purebred cattle on eighty-five percent of the available range--about 1,400,000 acres up and down. The Tribe's IDT Herd and Registered Herd graze on the other fifteen percent, and can be counted on to bring in over a quarter million dollars this year.

Timber royalties are deposited for the Tribe in the United States Treasury and draw interest at 4%. Usually around seven million board feet are cut annually to bring in $56,000. Withdrawals can be made only upon presentation of budgets approved by the Bureau.

At one time asbestos deposits brought in a good income, particularly during the war. This has dwindled to a trickle but the potential is still there and will no doubt pay off again. Other minerals offering sources of revenue

Caceous earth. The Tribe plans to exploit these.

Tribal farms now covering five hundred and fifty irrigated acres produce hay, grain, alfalfa, milo and cotton. With new wells supplying good water, and with the leveling of fields, another one hundred acres are going into production. Future plans would put 2,400 acres under the plow. Anticipated income from current crops is set at $182,000, Breaking into the retail merchandising business in 1950, the San Carlos Enterprises rises have invested some $600,000 of their own money and now own and operate two general stores, two service stations, one garage and a restaurant. These provide much needed services on the reservation. They are just now getting into the black and should net $9,000 for 1962-63.

Rentals from two trading posts still doing business on the reservation are expected to bring an additional $3,000. Business Manager Haozous said, "It is a healthy situation to have privately owned businesses operating in competition with the Tribal stores."

A recent plan which will help their economy is the $250,000 revolving credit fund set up to lend money to individual Apaches, to help them establish small businesses of their own.

The Apaches who started with so many handicaps are taking big steps forward in their business enterprises. While some non-Indians were hired to supervise and train Apaches, the whole operation opened up employment to the Apaches and kept much of the money on the reservation. Ushered into the Treasurer's Office by Chairman Mull, we were turned over to David Sine. He directs the complex accounting system for the various enterprises, the credit records for individual Apaches, finds time for outdoor activity with the Game and Fish Department, and is an artist with pen, paint brush and canvas. His 1962-63 budget shows the year started with nearly $120,000 cash assets. Anticipated income from all sources were estimated $670,000. With planned expenditures of $608,000 there will be a nice surplus of about $62,000 to add to the assets on hand.

Loaded with financial statistics, we closed our books and stopped by the Livestock Association Office. Manager Gunter Prude, Jerry Rambler and Margarite Faras were busy setting up the schedules for upcoming cattle sales to mail out to prospective buyers. All cattle raised for the market are sold at auctions held each spring and fall at the Calva and San Carlos pens. The 1962 fall sales brought over a million dollars, had about $350,000 in expenses chalked against them and paid $633,000 to the members.

Voting day for Apaches

The Bureau of Indian Affairs building sits on the edge of a grassy public park lined with palms and shade trees. Within, on either side of a T-shaped corridor, modern, streamlined offices buzz with activity. The various departments are directed by qualified, experienced men and women, under the direction of Superintendent Charles J. Rives. The staff is busy with office routine and on-the-spot field work. There are forty-eight Anglos and sixty-eight Indians, mostly Apaches with a few Hopi, Papagos and Navajos, employed by the Bureau.

Last fiscal year, Congress appropriated $1,373,457 for the San Carlos Reservation. Soil conservation, roads, education, welfare, irrigation, range management and forestry absorbed ninety-five percent while extension services, employment assistance, law and order supervision and management of Indian Trust Money used up the balance.

Aside from education and medical care, promised them by the Federal Government when they were put on reservations, Indians do not receive any aid, grants or services that are not available elsewhere in the country to citizens who can qualify. Reservation land is held in trust for them by the Federal Government and they do not pay taxes on it. They pay state taxes on any land owned off the reservation. Apaches pay social security, sales and Federal income tax but are exempt from Arizona income tax by a special legislative act taken in 1924.

Apaches have full United States citizenship status and though subject to draft for military service have a high percentage of volunteers. They gave special, valuable service with the Signal Corps in World War II through use of their native language and made an enviable record in combat.

The San Carlos Agency is subject to area direction from the Phoenix office administered by W. Wade Head, who, in turn, is under Washington where Commissioner Phileo Nash manages top-side matters for the Bureau of Indian Affairs, a division of the Interior Department. Its policy and objective: "The duty of the Bureau of Indian Affairs is to assist the American Indian to eventually acquire economic status similar to that of their non-Indian neighbors, free of continuing Governmental supervision."

With the Tribe's objectives closely geared to those of the Bureau, progress is certain to continue. A big, rough spot to cross is the uncertainty of employment for all Apaches so that economic levels can be raised to improve their living standards.

Jess Stevens, a former Tribal Chairman and now State Employment representative, has been very close to this problem. His statistics show that the average earned income for an Apache family is only $1,200 per year, far below acceptable standards. He estimates that out of some 1,500 employable Apaches, only 300 have full-time jobs and around 600-800 find part-time employment. He is plugging for more off-reservation opportunities and is trying to open the way for more industry to move in to take advantage of the labor pool available.

Thoughtfully he said, "It's mainly up to the Apache

PHOTO TOUR OF THE LAND OF THE SAN CARLOS APACHES BY CHARLES W. HERBERT OPPOSITE PAGE

"APACHES GATHERING WALNUTS" Photo taken in Cassadore Canyon on the San Carlos Indian Reservation about one quarter mile above the road and spring. These three women, all members of the Ladies Aid, volunteered to show how they gather walnuts. They are left to right: Gladys Randall, Rosis Casas and Agnes Haozous. Walnuts are used as a food and the green hulls to make a yellow dye or stain to color the raw wood used in cradleboards. Walnuts are plentiful on the reservation along all the stream beds where there is moisture.

FOLLOWING PAGES

"BLACK RIVER-SAN CARLOS APACHE RESERVATION" Photograph taken about one quarter mile above the bridge at Black River Crossing on the road connecting San Carlos Reservation with the Fort Apache Indian Reservation. The photographer says: "Our guide, Calvin Kendelay, Apache Game Warden, took us to this spot and posed to give dimension to the picture. There is good fishing here." 4x5 Speed Graphic camera; Ektachrome; f.32 at 1/25th sec.; 135mm Optar Graphic lens; September; bright light; ASA rating 64.

"IN BLACK RIVER CANYON" Photograph taken just below the dam at Black River Pump up in the northeastern corner of the San Carlos Reservation. The photographer says: "We went down 400 feet in the canyon by cable car used by Phelps Dodge Company to service the pumps that are used to pump water up for a gravity flow towards their plant at Morenci. Very dense and varied vegetation abounds in this area due to the presence of the river. It is very dark here and all along the steep canyon hence its name Black River. Stream here offers fine trout fishing."

"POLE CORRAL LAKE" Photo taken from northeast side of Pole Corral Lake looking towards camp ground across the lake. Pole Corral is on the Point of Pines road one third of the way from Chiricahua Butte to Point of Pines. 4x5 Speed Graphic camera; Ektachrome; f.32 at 1/10th sec.; 135mm Graphic Optar lens; September; ASA rating 64.

CENTER PANEL

"SAN CARLOS APACHE CATTLE DRIVE" Photograph made at Beef Draw on the Ash Creek Cattle Association Range, San Carlos Indian Reservation, a few miles south of headquarters on the road between Warm Springs Junction and Arsenic Tubs. The San Carlos Apaches are fine cattlemen and are proud of their fine herds. 4x5 Speed Graphic; Ektachrome; f.16 at 1/100th sec. to stop action; Graphic Optar 135mm lens; October; good sun; ASA rating 64.