Conserving the rights of the Pima Indians of Arizona

              CONSERVING THE RIGHTS OF THE PIMA INDIANS OF ARIZONA.----Indian Rights Association Washington, D. C., August 9, 1911. Hon. John H. Stephens, Chairman Committee on Indian Affairs, House of Representatives. Sir: Your special interest is requested in the matter of conserving the rights of the Pima Indians of Arizona to the lands of their reservation and the necessary water supply for irrigation. The Government is expending large sums of money in providing well water for irrigation of the Pima lands. These Indians are entitled, as a matter of right through prior appropriation, to the natural flow of the water of the Gila River, and justly claim that every step possible should be taken by the Government to secure for them the reestablishment and continuance of the use of the low-water-mark water for irrigation. These Indians were the first settlers along the Gila River, and were self-supporting until immigrants nearer the source of the river diverted the waters for their own uses. The Government has so far failed to prosecute the necessary causes to establish and secure the continued use of these waters for irrigation, and this, notwithstanding the fact that these Indians have uniformly been loyal to the United States and formerly aided in suppressing the revolts of the warlike Apaches. The Pimas and many of their friends feel that the continued use of well water for irrigation is, at best, in an experimental stage, and results from use of the flow of underground waters in different locations within their reservation is foreboding to them. Directly affecting the Pimas' interests is the proposed disposition of the San Carlos Reservoir site by the Government. Every precaution should be taken to see that provision is made for the Pimas and that their right to the use of sufficient low-water-mark water is guaranteed to them in any negotiations had in the matter.The inclosed letters and statements concerning these rights of the Pimas, we submit, reveal a condition that calls for investigation. Since many of these statements are made by Mr. Herbert Marten, Sacaton, Ariz., within the Pima Reservation, we desire to state that on former occasions we have found statements made by him to have been very carefully considered and fully substantiated by investigation. The Pimas are petitioning for an investigation, claiming that their land and water rights are in jeopardy. I file their request as an exhibit herewith