http://southwest.library.arizona.edu/hav6/body.1_div.7.html History of Arizona by THOMAS EDWIN FARISH, Arizona Historian. Volume VI. Phoenix, Arizona, 1918. CHAPTER VII. PROGRESS OF SALT RIVER VALLEY "The Watson Ditch, Maddox Ditch, Van Arman Ditch, and Mexican Ditch No. 2 had each been cleaned and improved, more or less, in preparation for the spring season of 1873. " On Mon, Nov 8, 2010 at 9:31 AM, Linda Schwenn <schwel@comcast.net> wrote: > > Papers of Ulysses S. Grant: June 1, 1871-January 31, 1872, p 93 By > Ulysses Simpson Grant, John Y. Simon, Ulysses S. Grant Association > Google Books. [Google Search string: "Territory of Arizona, secretary Van > Arman"] > A plaintive letter to authorities during the US Grant administration from > Henry Van Arman 11 Oct 1871 from Sacaton, Arizona Territory, describes how > he and his nephew, after arriving in the spring of 1870 from the "ledmines" > by wagon train across the Missouri River, constructed irrigation ditches to > prepare their newly purchased land on the Salt River for farming, spending > nearly all what remained of the $2800 they took west with them. While they > were away, Indians came and destroyed it all. He had complained to the > Indian agent without redress and is pleading for it now. It appears to be > part of an investigation of abuses by and/or threats toward the Indian > agent. > > "On Oct. 11, Henry Van Arman, Sacaton, Arizona Territory, wrote to USG > "haveing left our home in the ledmines two-years ago last my for the west my > self and Nephew with the Sad to be the best waggon and team that had crossed > the Mo River that Season and $2800 twenty eight hundred Dollars in Cash we > brought upon Salt River in this territory about 18 month Since whare we > located farms and constructed a canal or ditch about 3 miles in length for > the purposs of irrogateing our farms which cost us evry thing we had Save > our groing Crop and improvenants which if we could have Saved would made us > quite independant but while absent for a few days leaveing my house in care > of a neighbor to attend to the Merricopa and Pemi or Pemoi Indians Made a > raid upon my place and Destroid evry thing we had a full Statementment of > which we have forwarded to the indian department with our affidavits and > other testimony now my good President Since doing this we are told unless > we employ a lobby lawyer we will not get any thing in 3 or 4 years and then > it will take all we claim to pay him --I am now working for the Indian agent > at Gila reservation whare I mit in person Mr. Vincent Colier and Stated our > Situation to him and he told me he would do all he could for me. Since the I > have been told by one in authority that he, colier receives thousand of > letters that he never reads them and will probably neve think of me again > now my Drs I am 53 years of age have spent all the best part of my life in > the mines you must know about what I am at this time of life and how well I > am capasitated to work by the month for my living which this misfortune > compels me to do which is terable on me allthough this agen is a verry good > Man to work for --now I will close by Saying in gods name help me if you > can, and please let me know at your earleyst convenience Direct to Gila > reservation A. T. in care of J. H. Stout of whom you can ask any question > relative to me you please and he will answer" ALS, ibid., RG 75, Letters > Received, Arizona Superintendency." > > Linda Schwenn >