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Show 20 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIOKER OF IKDIAN AFFAIRS. appropriation by Congress is as pressing, but the amount of that appropriation will be very greatly reduced. Fame determination, it would seem, should be mnde. The course suggested by Sup'erintendent Steck, in ease it shall be determined to find a place for these Indians in the country formerly occupied by tbem, is tbat a joint commission, consisting of the snpeqintendents of New Mexico and Arizona, (which last named Territory is largely interested in the subject,) together with a military officer, be designated, with instructions to select a reservation; and Mr. Steck mentions a district on the Colorado Chiquito as one to which a portion of the tribe, as long ago as 1860, had agreed to go and plant their crops. This p!an contemplates the erection of a fort in that locality, and its permanent occupation by a garrison; but it is thought tbat no more troops will be required in the ag-gregate than are now deenied necessary in the Territory. 1 beg leave respectfully to urge an early and full consideration of this whole. subject, with a view to the establishment of a just and sound policy. Until this is done, our relations with the Indians of New Mexico must remain in an unsatisfactory condition at great expense to government. In order that accurate information, tiom a source unprejudiced by the previous discussion of the snh-ject, may be obtainedas to the present condition of, and best course to be pur-sued towards, the Navajoes, I have, with your approbation, designated Eon. T. W. Woolson, of Iowa, as a special cornmissioner to proceed at once to New Mexico, and after making the necessary inquiries, make report to this office. -His report Gill be submitted to you immediately on its reception, which, it is hoped, will be in time for action at the approaching session of Congress. ARIZONA. From the report of Charles D. Poston, superintendent of Indian affairs, together with that of J. Ross Browne, special agent of the Interior Depart-ment, much valuable information is obtained in relation to the Indian tribes of the newly organized Territory of Arizona. The estimate of the number of these Indians, as made by Agent Poston and published with the office report of 1863, was 58,100 souls, but more full knowledge gained by visiting the tribes results in diminishing this estimate considerably, and it, is probable. that 40,000 would cover the whole number. On his way out to his field of labor, Mr. Poston met at Salt Lake City sev-eral Moqui chiefs who had come to ask protection from the Navajocs. This tribe is peaceable and friendly to the whites, and the account given of their character and traditional origin is very interesting. They are estimated to mmber some seven thousand souls. Snperintendent Poston fauna the Ynmas diminished in numbers, since the advent of the whites to their country, from 5,000 to 1,500, and suffering from want of 'food, owing to the failure of the Colorado river to overflow its banks and irrigate the bottom lands upon which they raise, in ordinary seasons, a snf-ficient subeistenee. A emall supply of food was given to them, and promises of further aid. The Pimas and Maricopns, confederate tribes living on the Gila river, about one hundred miles above the confluence of that stream with the Colorado, were visited by Mr. Poston. They were found to be an agricultural people, consid-erably advanced in rude civilization, and independent of aid from government, raising sufficient food for their wants and a surplus for sale. A school has been opened among this people, and the supelintendent recommends that a black-smith be employed by the government to reside among them for the repair of their implements of industry. A quantity of cotton seed was given to them, and they were urged to renew their attention to the culture of this staple, in which they had formerly been successfully engaged. These Indians ale on |