embodied in the Commissioner's report is general and not specific as to effective conclusions, and the recommendations made for the consideration of the Interior Department do not point out exactly what action by the General Government is deemed best to be taken. I do not feel competent to declare the duty of the Government in this matter, except that I believe it absolutely essential to the public welfare that positive action looking to the settlement of the differences between the Navajos and white settlers be taken at once, either by the appointment of a commission for that purpose, or in some other

way.

The question of permitting the Navajos to ride in armed bands over the country off their reservation is very important. It is believed that such license has a bad effect upon the young Indians who at times are inclined to be warlike, and that it is demoralizing in other respects.

It is argued by some that this is a proper question for the Territorial legislature, and that an enactment should be had prohibiting, under suitable penalty, Indians traveling over the country in armed bands. It is doubtful, in my judgment, whether such a law could be enforced by the Territorial authorities. I therefore earnestly urge action in relation to this question by the General Government.

WHIPPLE BARRACKS.

It has been reported to this office that the military authorities are considering the propriety of abandoning the military post of Whipple Barracks, in Yavapai County, Ariz. I sincerely hope that the report is unfounded, and in view of possible difficulties with the Navajos it is very important to the people of northern Arizona that the post be maintained. The people of that section of Arizona most directly inter ested are expressing considerable anxiety on this subject. I therefore do not hesitate to ask you to recommend the continuance of the post at Whipple. The economic and sanitary advantages of the post are conceded, and I am assured that the department and post commanders are heartily in favor of not only maintaining, but of enlarging the post.

CAMP VERDE MILITARY RESERVATION.

The military post at Camp Verde, Yavapai County, Ariz., having been long since abandoned, Learnestly recommend that the reservation be surveyed and opened for settlement. There seems to be no good reason why this should not be done, as the military authorities have no further use for the land. A portion of this reservation lies in the most fertile part of the Verde Valley, in Northern Arizona, and all the settlers of that locality have petitioned to have the reservation opened. As the proportion of arable lands in Northern Arizona is not great, I respectfully submit that the occupancy of the land embraced in this reservation by thrifty farmers would be of great benefit to the Territory, and I earnestly urge favorable action upon this recommendation.

PUBLIC BUILDINGS.

The public buildings of Arizona consist of the Territorial prison, situated at Yuma; the Territorial University, at Tucson; the insane asylum, at Phoenix, and the normal school, at Tempe. All have been erected at Territorial expense, and are creditable structures.

Not one dollar has ever been appropriated by Congress for the erec

tion of public buildings in Arizona. This negligence or ungenerous discrimination is hard to understand, in view of the fact that the Government pays annual rentals for offices for United States officials in sums amounting to more than liberal interest on the cost of suitable buildings for the public service.

It is possible that, if admitted as a State, so that our representatives in Congress could vote, more consideration would be accorded us.

WORLD'S FAIR.

The appropriation of $30,000 made by the sixteenth legislature for the purposes of a Territorial exhibit at the World's Columbian Exposition was duly confirmed by Congress. The bonds of the Territory covering the amount have been sold at a premium, and the board of World's Fair managers of the Territory are actively engaged in the collection and preparation of articles and subjects for exhibition.

SURVEY OF THE ATLANTIC AND PACIFIC RAILROAD GRANT LANDS.

I strongly urge that provision be made for surveying the lands of the Atlantic and Pacific Railroad Company within Arizona. There are large tracts of this grant land in the counties of Apache, Coconino, Yavapai, and Mohave, across northern Arizona, that escape taxation because of not being surveyed, and the Territory is thereby deprived of considerable revenue that it otherwise would have. It is also impossible to locate the school lands that lie within the limits of the grant. I am informed that the grantees are anxious to have this land surveyed, and I see no good reason why it should be longer deferred by the Government. It is certainly a matter of great importance to the Territory, and it would seem to be no more than justice to the railroad company to define the limits of the granted sections by proper survey, so that disposition can be made of the lands, title pass, and the Territory receive the benefits of the revenue to be derived from taxing a large amount of property that now escapes contributing to the support of government.

MILITIA.

The National Guard of Arizona consists of one regiment of infantry of three battalions of three companies each.

The sixteenth legislature, in the act authorizing the Territorial militia, provided for an allowance of $30 per month to each company for current expenses. Several companies had been organized prior to the passage of this act, and had been partially equipped from funds allotted to the militia by the General Government, Arizona's proportion of which is about $2,000 per annum-not sufficient to thoroughly equip one company.

In connection with the proposed withdrawal of the United States troops from Arizona and abandonment of military posts, I consider it of great importance that the militia of the Territory be made as effective as possible. None of the companies have other equipments than those needed in the drill room, and were the militia called out for actual service at this time, it would necessarily be without camp equipage of any kind.

While under the present appropriations Arizona can not hope for a larger sum than now allotted, the late labor troubles in several of the

Eastern States, and the speedy mobilization of large armies of militia, are object lessons which have the universal and merited commendation of the press, and should prove to Congress that every possible encouragement should be extended to the citizen soldiery of the country. No part of the present appropriation is available for any other purpose than equipments, and the funds are all expended under direct supervision of the War Department. I recommend a larger appropriation, to the end that all existing militia be properly and thoroughly outfitted. If equip ments were attainable a much larger guard could be enlisted in Arizona, but it is hoped to have the present number thoroughly fitted out before organizing new companies.

STATEHOOD.

The people of Arizona desire to be admitted into the Union. They claim to be able to govern themselves successfully, and that they are financially able to properly maintain a State government.

By act of the sixteenth legislature of Arizona, approved March 19, 1891, provision was made for holding a convention and the forming of a State constitution. The convention authorized by the above act was duly held and a constitution framed, which constitution was subsequently submitted to a vote of the people and adopted by a large majority-more than two-thirds of the votes cast being in the affirmative. A bill for the admission of Arizona was introduced in the House of Representatives of the present Congress and was passed almost unanimously, only 12 votes being recorded in the negative; this bill is now pending in the Senate. I have not seen the text of the bill, but presume it is drawn with a view to admission under the constitution framed and adopted by the people of Arizona. There may be technical objections to certain provisions in the constitution as adopted, and it is possible that some of its articles should be corrected; if such is the case the corrections necessary to be made can be excepted by Congress and an enabling act be passed subject to them. I do not desire to submit a labored argument upon the principles involved; the question has been exhaustively treated in Congressional debates, and a large amount of evidence has been furnished by this and other Territories. Argument is superfluous upon a subject so well understood. I do not hes itate to assert that Arizona has population and wealth enough to justify admission, the people desire to govern themselves, and are qualified to do it. In the name of justice, fairness, and the rights of free Americans, I urge that an enabling act be passed for the admission of Arizona without further unreasonable delay.

CONDENSED RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CONGRESSIONAL LEGISLATION AND ACTION OF THE INTERIOR DEPARTMENT.

(1) That Arizona be admitted as a State.

(2) That all the public lands within the Territory be ceded to the Territory or State.

(3) That the public lands within the Territory be surveyed.

(4) That if it is impossible to have all the public lands of the Territory surveyed, that the lands within the Atlantic and Pacific railroad grant be surveyed without delay.

(5) That immediate and positive action be taken by the Government to settle the differences between the Navajo Indians and the white set

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tlers, and that a defined policy for the control of these Indians and the protection of the settlers be adopted and enforced without delay.

(6) That the mineral and coal lands on the San Carlos Indian reservation be opened for occupancy and development by white settlers, and that the western boundary line of said reservation be resurveyed.

(7) That the Camp Verde military reservation in Yavapai County, Arizona, be opened for settlement.

(8) That no further abandonment of military posts in Arizona be had at least for several years.

(9) That the sixteenth and thirty-sixth sections of the public lands within the Territory be made available for school purposes without delay, either by authority of Congress to lease them, or by direct transfer to the Territory.

(10) That a commission be appointed for ethnological and archæological research in Arizona.

(11) It is requested that Congress appropriate for the erection of buildings for the use of the public service in Arizona.

(12) That the salaries of the present judges in Arizona be increased to $5,000 per annum.

(13) That the pay of legislators in Arizona be increased to $10 per day.

(14) That appropriations be had by Congress to pay the governors and secretaries of the Territories the amounts allowed them by law under section 1845, Revised Statutes of the United States, 1878.

(15) That Congress appropriate a reasonable sum for artesian well boring in this Territory.

(16) That a suitable appropriation be made by Congress to thoroughly equip the Territorial militia.

Respectfully submitted,

Hon. JOHN W. NOBLE,

N. O. MURPHY,

Governor.

Secretary of the Interior.