Senator FRAZIER. They should have been sold?

Mr. HARBISON. Yes. Last year we had a market condition which would not permit of the sale which should have been made.

Senator WHEELER. You have had particularly dry years in the last two or three years, have you not?

Mr. HARBISON. No. I believe that last year and the year before— the year before especially-was an exceptionally wet year.

Senator WHEELER. Exceptionally wet year.

Mr. HARBISON. Yes. Last year probably was normal. I have not seen the figures, however.

Senator WHEELER. So that your idea is that sheep ought to be reduced to 111,000?

Mr. HARBISON. Yes, sir.

Senator WHEELER. If you reduced them to 111,000, could the Indians make a living from 111,000 sheep?

Mr. HARBISON. No, sir. It would not provide the income for the average Navajo family practically.

Senator WHEELER. It would not provide the income that he has at the present time, would it?

Mr. HARBISON. No, sir.

Senator WHEELER. It is at a pretty low ebb at the present time, is it not?

Mr. HARBISON. It is.

Senator WHEELER. Your only solution for the situation would be to have additional territory for them; is that correct?

Mr. HARBISON. An addition of land would be a temporary relief

measure.

Senator WHEELER. What are you going to do with them then, kill them off?

Mr. SCATTERGOOD. Why would it not be permanent if you got more land?

Mr. HARBISON. Because of the increase in population. In addition to their normal increase in population, which is stated to be at the rate of 22 per cent annually, we are teaching them to want better homes and better living conditions in general. If we teach them that, we should provide them a means of acquiring them. Additional land would, as I said, be a temporary measure. As the increase took place they would have to have more land.

Mr. SCATTERGOOD. Do you think there are sufficiently reliable figures over a sufficiently long time to fix the increase in population every year at 22 per cent? Is that not rather speculative!

Mr. HARBISON. As to that I would hesitate to say. I am merely quoting that.

Senator WHEELER. Where did you get the figures?

Mr. HARBISON. Mr. Faris uses those figures. One of the possibilities of relieving or partially relieving the situation is through development of agriculture. However, I do not think that would go all the way in solving the problem.

Senator WHEELER. Well, according to the engineer you can get approximately 3,500 acres more developed in agriculture. If that is true, then something else has got to be done?

Mr. HARRISON. Yes, sir.

Senator WHEELER. What would you suggest could be done, from your observation?

Mr. HARBISON. Instead of having the students that lease the reservation for their training come back to the reservation, perhaps they would be so trained that they can go out in competition with the whites.

Senator WHEELER. Well, they can not do it unless they get more than a sixth-grade education, certainly.

Mr. HARBISON. They would have to be trained sufficiently to compete, of course.

Senator WHEELER. The livelihood for a good many of them will have to be found off the reservation in the future, will it not? Mr. HARBISON. Yes, sir; I believe so.

Mr. GRORUD. Who is your superior officer?

Mr. HARBISON. Mr. Hunter.

Mr. GRORUD. Mr. Zeh, is it not?

Mr. HARBISON. Mr. Zeh.

Mr. GRORUD. He has made a general report of the grazing situation, has he not?

Mr. HARBISON. Yes. I have a detailed report of the Southern Navajo Reservation which I would like to present for the committee's consideration, and for the record. Mr. Zeh's report is a summary of the entire Navajo country.

Senator FRAZIER. Very well.

(The document referred to by the witness, namely, Working Plan Report of the Grazing Resources and Activities of the Southern Navajo Indian Reservation, is as follows :)

(See also pages 9121 and 9268.)

WORKING PLAN REPORT OF THE GRAZING RESOURCES AND ACTIVITIES OF THE SOUTHERN NAVAJO INDIAN RESERVATION, ARIZONA AND NEW MEXICO

FORT DEFIANCE, ARIZ., December 24, 1930.

SECTION I

1. GENERAL DESCRIPTION

.01. Area and location: The Southern Navajo Indian Reservation is located in the northeastern part of Arizona and the northwestern part of New Mexico and comprises approximately 3,775,765 acres.

.02. Topography and drainage: The topography is varied from rough in the east central portion and northwest quarter of reservation to gently rolling in the extreme east and middle portions. The highest elevation is in the Lukachukai Mountains, rising to 9,430 feet above sea level, the lowest point is in the Chin Lee drainage in the northwest quarter of the reservation, the elevation dropping to 5,000 feet.

The Pueblo Colorado wash in the southwest, the Chin Lee wash in the northwest, and the Chaco wash on the east drain the reservation. The Chin Lee and Chaco flow into the San Juan, the Pueblo Colorado flows southwest into the Little Colorado River.

.03. Geology and soil: The geology of the reservation is of sedimentary origin, with an occasional extrusion of volcanic rock formations. The soil is of decomposed rock and varies from shallow to very deep, many places being but a few inches in depth. In general, a deep soil is found along the washes and varies from a heavy gumbo to a light sand. The mesas in the western part of the reservation are invariably composed of a very light sand derived from red sandstone.

.04. Climatic conditions: The Southern Navajo Reservation is characterized by its varied weather conditions. Extremes of temperatures, high winds, and variable rainfall mark the reservation as unusual. Temperatures have a seasonal range of 122° to -24°, while the daily range is about 40°. The precipi tation for the Fort Defiance region averages 12.8 inches. The mountainous areas probably would show a precipitation of at least 15 inches, if records were

kept. The seasonal distribution, the factor of prime importance from a vegetative growth viewpoint, is greatly varied. April, May, and June having a precipitation of 2 inches; July, August, and September, 4.75 inches; October, November, and December, 2.75 inches; January, February, and March, 3.5 inches. Gregory, in Water-Supply Paper 380, reports that in the Fort Defiance region less than 1 inch of precipitation falls during July in 6 years out of 18.

Snowfall is common during the winter months, and is a deciding factor in the use of the range. At the lower elevations snow does not lay on the ground for any great length of time and does not interfere with grazing. However, much of the mesa country and all of the mountain country is too deeply covered with snow to permit of grazing.

.05. Forest and range types: The forest is all of the coniferous type. There is a total of 1,216,505 acres of forest lands. Of this amount, 428,825 acres are western yellow pine and 887,680 acres of piñon and juniper. On north slopes in the Lukachukai Mountains will be found small areas of Douglas fir. In the Black Mountains on the west side of the reservation is found a timber area which is hard to define as it is a mixture of piñon, juniper, yellow pine, and scrub oak.

Range types: The total acreage of 3,775,765 acres is divided into the following

..06. Land status: The area now known as the Navajo Reservation was set aside for the use and occupancy of the Navajo Tribe of Indians by treaty of 1868 and subsequent Executive order additions to the original treaty reservation. In the original treaty no mention is made as to what uses are to be made of the area set aside. Provision is made for the right of exclusive use by individual Indians of areas not exceeding 160 acres.

Of the original area, 1,029 acres have passed to private ownership and is now in the hands of homesteaders and missions; other small areas, probably not exceeding 200 acres, have been set aside and are used by missions under authority of revokable permits issued by the Indian Office. Ten thousand and twenty acres have been allotted to individual Indians and trust patents issued.

2. ECONOMIC SITUATION

.01. Population, transportation, and development: The census of 1930 shows the population of the Southern Navajo jurisdiction to be 15,880. This number includes Indians both on the reservation and on the public domain. It is estimated that 12,000 Navajoes are living on the reservation and the balance, 3,880, are on the public domain.

Transportation on the reservation is a serious problem, due to the type and condition of the roads. There are now but 20 miles of graded road and no surfaced roads. The great distances between the agency and outlying centers of population, such as Chin Lee, Lukachukai, Ganado, Cornfields, St. Michaels, and Klagetoh, make a great deal of travel and freight hauling necessary, and, because of the condition of reservation roads, the freight hauling for the jurisdiction presents one of the major problems.

Development of the reservation is just getting under way. Progress is being made along agricultural development, water development, home improvement, and livestock improvement. Much interest is being manifest throughout the reservation in better roads, better homes, better livestock, and better methods in agriculture. The reservation has been subdivided into districts; within the districts there have been formed farm chapters; in charge of each district is an agency employee, whose duties it is to encourage the Indians in the things which tend to make his home life and community life more pleasant and prosperous Judging by the accomplishments of the past year, much can be expected of these chapters in the future in such matters as better roads, homes, livestock, range development, and school facilities

.02. Principal industries of the locality and the relative importance of stock raising: The livestock industry is by far the principal industry of the locality.

The 1930 Annual Statistical Report shows the total value of livestock to be $2,680,203, while the total value of all individual Indian property is but $3,569,117.70. These figures show that the value of the Indian's livestock is approximately 75 per cent of the total value of all his property. Other industries in which the Indian engages are silversmith work, blanket weaving, and to a slight extent mining and lumbering.

.03. The stock industry with special reference to total number all classes in the economic territory of which the Indian lands form a part: Attempts have been made to ascertain the number of stock in both McKinley and San Juan Counties of New Mexico and Apache County of Arizona, but no results are at hand. Nevertheless, it is believed that the amount of Indian livestock, especially sheep and goats, is the determining factor in these counties in respect to local market prices, and especially the feeder market.

.04. Available range lands in the economic territory: The competition for range lands is very keen between the white man and the Indians. Cattlemen and sheepmen are rapidly acquiring the available range land. The Indian Office is now leasing, by annual lease, 241,361.15 acres of Sante Fe Railroad lands for grazing use of the Indians of the Southern Navajo jurisdiction. The Indians are being encouraged and aided in efforts to make homestead-entry applications for public-domain lands, in order to assure themselves range lands. Some Indians are leasing grazing lands for their individual use.

.05. The Indian stock industry with reference to number and classes: Sheep and goat raising constitute the major part of the livestock industry. The dipping records for 1930 indicate that 345,352 sheep and 136,700 goats were dipped. The 1930 Statistical Report shows a total of 10,354 head of horses, mules, and burros, and 8,000 head of cattle as being owned by the Indians. However, these figures include the stock owned by Indians both on the reservation and on the public domain. Since Indians on the reservation drift their stock onto the public domain and the public-domain Indians come onto the reservation, it is felt that the figures quoted represent the livestock load carried by the reservation.

.06. Allotted and tribal range areas utilized by Indian stock: Tribal lands, 3,764,716; allotted lands, 10,020; private lands, 1,029.

.07. Surplus lands not used by the Indians: None.

.08. Location of surplus lands with reference to demand for range: There are no surplus range lands.

.09. Grazing fees, other than Indian, in the economic territory: The abovementioned railroad lands are leased by the Government for $0.02% per acre per year.

.010. Relative economic importance of surplus Indian grazing lands with reference to percentage of stock accommodated and percentage of Indian grazing lands to total area available in the economic territory: There are no surplus Indian grazing lands.

.011. Markets, shipping points, and all other business facts which directly concern the stock industry: The principal stock market for the Indian stock is the local trader. The trader usually sells the stock purchased from the Indians to feeder buyers, who in turn send the stock into Colorado and other territories which grow stock feed. The main shipping points for the Navajo livestock are Gallup and Farmington, N. Mex., and Houck and Chambers, Ariz. The Navajo Indian is little concerned about shipping points, as his stock is usually turned over to the local Indian trader, who holds the stock until a sufficient number have been accumulated to make at least a car-lot shipment. .012. Market prices of sheep, cattle, wool, etc., approximate cost of produc tion and normal realization: The year 1930 was a disastrous year for the livestock raiser, due to the low market price of his produce. The average lamb price received for the region was $0.045 per pound; for cattle, all classes, the average price received was $27.50 per head. In normal years the average prices are $0.08 and $30, respectively. The price received this year for wool was only $0.15 per pound, whereas the average price in former years has been about $0.28. The price for cattle in the past does not show such a fluctuation but has held at $30 per head for all classes for the past five years.

To determine the cost of production for the different classes of livestock is very difficult. However, in comparison to the cost of production for the white man running livestock on private or leased lands, the Indian has the advantage, as he does not pay taxes on his stock which are raised on reservation lands, has practically no marketing expense, and he and his family perform all the labor in connection with the livestock business. If a market for the Indian's labor

were available, it would be proper to charge his labor in tending his flock against the industry, but it so happens that there is very little opportunity for the Indian to leave the reservation and engage in gainful occupation. The herding and shearing of the flocks is done mainly by the women and children. Practically the only cash expense incurred is the cost of dipping, which is the rate of $0.01% per head. Very little salt is purchased. In view of the fact that no cost accounts for livestock production are kept by the Navajo, it is impossible to determine the normal realization or net profits.

.013. Average percentage of lamb crop and calf crop: Sheep and goats, 45 per cent; calves, 50 per cent.

.014. Discussion of the local herd law and its enforcement on the reservation: As this reservation contains very little privately owned land, no trouble has been experienced with violation of herd laws. Occasionally, a complaint will come to the office that an Indian is claiming another's range. The determination of an individual's range is by tribal custom, and if an infraction of this custom occurs, it is usually settled by the Indians through the Indian court. .015. Location of infected areas with a discussion of nature and extent of diseases: Scabies is the only disease reported on the reservation. Of the 345,352 sheep dipped, 69,770 were reported as infected with scabies. The infection occurred in 296 bands and was found in all parts of the reservation.

The scabies infection has been prevalent on the reservation for years. However, a determined effort is being made to eradicate the disease within the next two years.

SECTION II

PRESENT PLAN OF MANAGEMENT

1. Brief history of grazing on the reservation.-Since 1868, the date of the return of the Navajos from Fort Sumner, livestock raising has been the chief industry of the Navajo. Even before this date the Navajo was running mixed flocks of sheep and goats. No data are available as to the number of livestock owned by the Indians. In the earlier history of the reservation the Indians owned and had upon the range thousands of horses. As the flocks of sheep and goats increased, it was found necessary to rid the range of the surplus horses; this work has continued to the present time, until now, the horse population is barely sufficient for the needs of the Indians. This fall good stallions and jacks were brought onto the reservation with the idea of improving the horses.

The original sheep and goats were of an inferior breed. In late years strenuous efforts have been made to improve the sheep and goats, until to-day the average flock is far superior to the flocks of a few years ago.

Marketing of Indian livestock has always been about as it is to-day, the traders being the principal buyers.

2. Base map of reservation.—See map1 forwarded under separate cover. 3. Analysis of ranges, including those used by Indian stock, showing the following:

.01. Name or number of range: See summary sheets of units.

.02. The summary sheet referred to above discloses the character of the cover of the units. All units are readily accessible and all units, with the exception of the Lukachukai Mountains, are in great need of water development.

.03. Name of permittee or Indian user: No leases are made on the reservation; neither are individual allotments made to Indians. All range lands are used in common or with an understanding between Indians that certain areas are for the use of a particular individual. This arrangement has grown up with the livestock industry and has not been a problem for the office to handle. Stock water is so scarce that it is absolutely necessary for many bands to water at the same place.

04. Period of grazing: Vegetative growth, with the exception of annual weeds, does not begin in this region until after the summer rains have begun. The rains usually begin in the early part of July and are at this time accompanied by warm weather. The mountain ranges should not be used before July 1. However, it often happens that the only water available is in the mountains, and it becomes absolutely necessary for the stock which normally ranges in the mesa country to be drifted to the mountains, in view of the fact that feed is scarce and not yet far enough advanced to furnish adequate feed.

1 Not printed.

26465-32-PT 18-20