Personnel of the Eastern Navajo Agency, March 31, 1931 Position 38, vacant. Total agency employees, 30, Income and expenditures for the fiscal years 1930 and 1931 Income and expenditures for the fiscal years 1930 and 1931 The tribal funds are the moneys accruing from gas and oil operations. The Eastern Navajo Agency receives its pro rata division of this amount which differs each year and is based on production. Individual Indian money is carried in the individual accounts and on Mar. 31, 1931, totaled $22,450.85; $10,000 of this amount is carried as a time deposit in the First National Bank of Winslow, Ariz.; $12,450.85 is the balance in the First National Bank of Gallup, N. Mex., and is carried as a checking account. INDUSTRY AMONG INDIANS 1. To purchase sheep, bucks, and goats to be sold to the Indians of the Eastern Navajo jurisdiction, including the Indians of the Puerticito, Canoncito, and Ramah bands, $10,000. (This to be available as soon as the land adjustments are consummated.) CHAPTER WORK 1. Twenty community chapters have been organized among the Indians of Eastern Navajo jurisdiction, and to date, five chapter houses have been constructed, the Indians donating their labor in each case. Five more chapter houses are now under construction, and the other organizations, who as yet have not started work on their chapter houses, wish to do so at an early date, but it is necessary for our department to furnish the material for these buildings, and we urge very strongly that $8,000 be provided for this purpose. This is very important work, and the actual chapter work should be under the direction of trained men in livestock, agricultural, and welfare work. SPECIAL 1. The committee should know that more than 200 Navajo Indians rendered service as scouts during the trouble with the Apache Indians in the early seventies and up to and including 1886. At this time there are more than 50 of these survivers now living, and it has been my pleasure to file their declarations for pensions, both for the survivers or their widows, and at this time 98 are getting pension at the rate of from $20 to $50 per month. They have also secured from back pay above $65,000, most of which they invested in sheep, goats, wagons, and harness. These loyal veterans are fast passing on and we wish to perpetuate the memory of these loyal scouts in the erection of a monument here at Crownpoint in recognition for the great service they rendered during the trying times of the pioneer days. We feel it very befitting that a monument be erected of bronze inset on the face of a figure on horseback, representing a scout, with a tablet in the back giving the names of all known scouts. Estimated cost is $3,000 and we wish to urge upon the committee this request. HOME IMPROVEMENT The unsettled land situation has retarded water development, the livestock industry, the economic situation generally, and particularly home building. Many of the community chapter members desire to construct substantial homes but are financially unable to do so unless assistance can be given them in the purchase of materials and supervision in the construction of same and to promote this work, we wish to make a request for $10,000 reimbursable, with not more than $600 to be advanced in the purchase of material to any one Indian. INDUSTRIAL EQUIPMENT Owing to the unusual depression, no market for Navajo rugs, no demand for sheep, and no labor of any kind to be had in the Indian country or in adjoining settlements, it has brought about a crisis among the Indians as well as among the white population. The Indians are in need of wagons, imple- • ments, and tools of all sorts but have no money to pay for same, and I beg to request that the following items be purchased for issue to these Indians, payment to be made by labor on reservoir construction, house construction, reservoir work, or any other construction which will benefit the Indians generally and none of this to be made reimbursable. The following items are being asked for, but at this time our department can not supply: It is indeed very unfortunate that times are so hard among the Indians, but the Navajos are anxious and willing to work, as shown by their cooperative endeavors in the construction of community houses, road building, and reservoir construction, and unless we are in a position to give them assistance during these hard times, it will be difficult to follow up from the start that has already been made. The approximate cost of the foregoing tools, implements, and wagons is $12,500. INDIAN TRADERS AND THEIR RELATIONS WITH INDIANS There are only 5 licensed traders operating within this jurisdiction and there are 25 more who have stores upon the public domain on privately owned property and who conduct Indian trading stores, with practically all of their business with the Navajo Indians. The majority of these traders are in good standing with the Indians and the community in general and have rendered aid to many of the Indians in their respective localities. As most traders have many outstanding bills, the Indians now find themselves unable to make payment of their accounts, due to the low price of wool. but little demand for blankets and but a limited sale of lambs last fall and unemployment, all of which contribute to the present depressive situation. Every assistance possible has been given by the Indian Department in relieving this unsatisfactory condition by permitting us to purchase all of our meat from the Indians and advancing us funds for road work, which amount is limited, but we have tried to distribute the labor of this class over the jurisdiction, which will admit of some of those who need work to secure money with which to buy supplies for their families. If the Indians are prosperous, the trader may do a fair business, and when he can not collect his bills his credit likewise is impaired with the firms from whom he secures his supplies. The Navajo is a shrewd trader; some are honest while others try to beat their bills, the same as among other people. The trader must meet the competition of his neighbor if he is to secure his share of trade, and his price must be fair, as the Indians soon learn where they can get the best bargains, and distance makes no difference to them if they can secure supplies at a reduced price. Unfortunately, in the past year there was no pinon crop, but there are indications that this year some relief will be secured in this direction, as they pick many thousand pounds, and brings in a revenue of many thousands of dollars, which will give the Indians an opportunity to pay their accounts, and the trader in turn will be in a position to pay his bills. The Indians often seek advice from traders in whom they have confidence about their business affairs, and we can trace the success that some of the Indians have had to the kind help that has been given them from this source. Submitted by S. F. STACHER, Superintendent. APPROPRIATIONS MEMORANDUM-ITEMS AND JUSTIFICATIONS Indian school buildings, 1933-new construction, remodeling, and im- 1. To construct and equip addition to present kitchen, refrigera- 2. Hog barn with feed and slaughter rooms. etc.. floors in 5 dormitories, school building, and children's dining hall; stuccoing, insulat- 4. To construct girls' industrial building, to include space for sew- 5. To purchase automatic stokers, power house, for 4 boilers, 6. Addition to present employees' club building, S rooms, en- 7. Construction of suitable greenhouse, material and labor----- 10. To purchase rails and other material to extend track from coal mine to power house, construct tipple, and additional coal cars- 11. Stone addition to present shop building and equipment, with class rooms for industrial instruction, auto repair, masonry, painting, and Navajo crafts___. $6,500 4,000 2,500 20,000 15,000 8,000 10,000 3,500 12,000 6,000 2,500 8,000 |