Condition of the Navajo Indian Country, page 50

OS7000, 8 bit, 400 dpi, 8,260,000 bytesbe transmitted to Congress, and that an appropriation of an additional sum, viz, $64,000, be asked for, the same to be used for the purpose of developing a water supply and a system of irrigation sufficient to meet the actual and immediate needs and wants of the Navajo Indians, upon the general plan submitted by the military officers (draft of an item here with).It may be proper to add that these officers in their respective reports speak of the desirability of boring artesian wells at various points on the reservation in order to afford a still more abundant supply of water for stock and to further extend and improve the irrigation system planned; but as they in no case state the probable cost of the same I make no estimate therefore, and no appropriation is asked for, at this time, for that purpose.It is remarked that the serious situation now existing among the Navajos led me, after mature deliberation, to recommend that the President be requested to give the necessary instructions to cause an examination and survey of the Navajo Reservation to be made, maps, etc., prepared, and report submitted, with a view of showing the best plan of opening up a water supply and establishing an irrigation system thereon. The work has been done and the plan submitted under the direction of the War Department, and the reports of the officers above mentioned have been carefully scrutinized by the commanding general of the Department of Arizona and have received his approval in every particular. The War Department requests, should these reports and maps at any time be printed under the direction of this department, to be furnished with copies of the same for the files thereof.In view all these facts and the further fact that the plans proposed appear to be the only proper solution of the vexed Navajo question, it is hoped that Congress will see fit to make the appropriation asked for. Should the appropriation be made and the water developed and irrigation established as proposed, it is believed that the roving, non reservation Navajos could be returned to the reservation and induced to remain thereon, and that the reservation Indians themselves could be restrained from going beyond the official limits of their reservation for the purpose of securing water and grass for their flocks and herds.Lives, both Indian and white, have already been lost by reason of conflicts between the two races, and, should Congress fail to grant the relief asked for, the situation among those Indians will become more and more serious, and I apprehend that other lives will be sacrificed in order conflicts which will surely follow.All the papers in the case are herewith returned and copy of this port submitted, together with tracings of the maps transmitted with the reports of the military officers, the same having been prepared for the use of Congress.Very respectfully, your obedient servant,T. J. Morgan,Commissioner. The Secretary of the Interior.------------------------------DRAFT OF AN ITEM FOR INSERTION IN THE PENDING INDIAN APPROPRIATION BILL.For the construction of irrigating ditches and the development of a water supply for agricultural, stock, and domestic purposes on the Navajo Indian reservation, sixty-four thousand dollars, to be expended in the discretion of the Secretary of the Interior