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Show REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. VII and one of infantry are stationed some 40 miles north of the agency, at Fort Stauton, where large expenditures have been made for barracks, buildiugs, &c. If the Indians are removed these troops mill not be needed there, and thus a large amount of money would be saved to the government annually. Because of the contemplated removal no im-provements have been madeupou the reservation to any extent for some time; but ifthe Indians remain there for any considerable time longer, buildings will have to be erected at an expense of $3,000 to $4,000 (the agent estimates their cost at $9B6;000) which must ultimately be aban-doned, for no one believes that this reservation can be a permanent home for these Indians. If removed to the Jicarilla Reservation, one agent can take charge of the two bands, Mescaleros and Jicarillas (the former affiliate well with most of the latter and have intermarried), and the cost of removal will be less than the proposed expenditure for build-ings and for troops to guard the Indians where they are. The agent of the Mescaleros and our special agent advised the office, when the removal to the Jicarilla Reservation was first contemplated, that the military at Fort, Stauton and certain persons who have large contracts with that br'anch of the serrice would prevent such removal if possible ; and, as predicted, these intlucnces are now busily at work to prolong the disastrous state of affairs which for the past tell years have existed in Southern New Mexico, to continue the large expendi-tures resulting therefrom, and to prevent the government from settling the question now and permanently. The Indian problem is at best difficult of solution; but by removing the Indians from unfavorable sorronndings and bad men, as far as possible, a long step will have bee11 taken in the direction of success. INDIAN DISTURBANOES IN NEW XEYICO AND ARIZONA. In this connection I wish to call attention briefly to recent Indian disturbances in New Mexico and Arizona, which are the only Indian disturbances of any magnitude that have occurred during the year and which have beeu greatly exaggerated in the accounts published in the newspapers. For a few mouths after the destruction of Victoria and his band in OlaMexico, in October, 1880, Indian raids in New Mexico ceased; but last summer depredations and murders again began, chiefly in Socorro County, which were cha,rged to the "remnant of Victoria's band." It was known that a portion of that baud, by their temporary absence from the main body at the time of the fight with Victoria, sal-ed them-selves from destruction or capture. This "remnant," under Chief Nana, naturally became a nucleus for renegade Indians in that part of the country, and their number, which General Terrasas reported as 30, has been reported this last summer a8 about seventy. They have been again followed up by troops and chased toward Sonora. The folloving extract from report of Agent LleweUyn, dated July |
