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Show - - COMMISSIONER OF INDIAN AFFAIRS. 55 try is not .known, ljut so far as known they haGe always lieed there: The first authentic record of these people is given in the diary of Father Eusebio Kiuo, who made several trips into their country between 1698 and 1702. In Bancroft's History, volume 13, at pke 550, is found the fol-lowing : - The Papagos have been regarded as the best Indians in Arizona. * * More readily than other Indians they adapt themselves to circumstancds, tilling the soil, raising live stdck, working in the mines, or doing anything that offers. As the reader knows, they have sometimes had trouble with the Spaniards and Mexicans, but they have always been friends of the Americans and deadly foes of the Apaches. They have received very little aid from the Government. The greater part of the reservation is only adapted to grazing purposes, and the raising of live stock has naturally been the prin-cipal occupation and must be the chief means of livelihood for these -Indians. Some parts of the reservation are known to contain val-uable minerals, and under the terms of the order of withdrawal such lands may be located, entered, and acquired by citizens under the regular mining laws. Plans have been formulated for the educnLium and civilization of the Papago Indians, and several schoo'houses ,have been built at convenient points. Wells have been dug to furnish water for do-mestic and stock purposes, there being no considerable irrigation pos-sibilities on this reservation. In addition to these improvements a hospital is in the course of construction at Indian Oasis Under these improved conditions it is not hard to believe that this tribe of Indians, who have always been independent of the outside world and self-supporting, will in time become prosperous citizens. The Papagos are a moral, intelligent, industrious, and in all re-spects deserving people. To avoid useless and expensive officialdom, the Cherokee Nation was abolished on July 1, 1915, with the exception of the principal chief, who was retained at the nominal salary of $25 per month to sign Cherokee tribal deeds. On suggestion from this office, the officers of the Seminole Nation of Indians in Oklahoma, following similar action by the tribal 05cials of the Cherokee Nation, have tendered their resignations. This step marks in a definite and sig-nificant way the accomplishment of the ha1 disposition of the affairs of the Seminole Nation and the disbandment of the tribal organization so far as possible knder existing law. In the Choctaw, Chickasaw, and Creek Nations only pro forma tribal governments remain, which will he abolished as soon as tribal affairs will permit. |