The pre-dam perspectives

Construction of Coolidge Dam wrecked havoc with the status quo of San Carlos Apache Tribe Reservation lands. By the early 1920's, hundreds of San Carlos Apache Tribal members lived a relatively secure lifestyle on alluvial flats near the confluence of the San Carlos and Gila Rivers.  About 1,000 acres was cultivated for food and forage.  Small cattle herds were grazed along the rivers and adjacent areas.  Reservation administration and trading activities took place in the remnants of an 1870's US Army post. A busy railroad ran alongside both rivers.  Tribal members still enjoyed free passage on the railroad from a February 1898 agreement to allow the iron horse on their lands.

Rather suddenly and without much prior notice, San Carlos Apache Tribal (SCAT) members were facing eviction from their beloved home land down by the riversides. Their federal Indian Service overseers; resident missionaries and even visiting Pima Indians were giving the Apaches all sorts of sales pitches to give up their land for a reservoir of no benefit to them.

When SCAT members spoke up for their ancestors buried in a cemetery targeted for inundation, Lutheran Rev. Alfred Uplegger "pointed out to the believers that just as World War soldiers buried at sea would arise from the dead, their loved ones buried under the proposed San Carlos Lake would also arise."*

Although some cash was provided to help move nearly 500 SCAT members, the loss of valuable farm land and their "home town" yielded practically nothing. Ironically, when the SCAT had negotiated a right-of-way for the railroad, SCAT received numerous benefits and essentially lost very little actual land in the agreement.

The difference appears that the Indian Agent Lt. Sedgwick Rice went to bat for SCAT in 1898 while SCAT appeared to have had no real advocate during the so-called negotiations to give up their land for a reservoir behind a dam on their land.**

Above is one of the San Carlos Apache Tribe Families that traveled to the American Indian Congress at Omha's 1898 Trans-Mississippi and International Exposition.   Left to right: Searching (holding baby), Butte, Woman Whipper, ''Group of Boys,'' Bread Maker, Little Squint Eye, Jesus (Sus), and Brushing Against.
Source: https://digital.omahalibrary.org/digital/collection/p16747coll2/id/794/rec/1

For more photos of SCAT members at the 1898 event see:

https://digital.omahalibrary.org/digital/collection/p16747coll2/search/searchterm/san%20carlos

The SCAT Cultural Center webpage of the Official Website of the Apache Nation Chamber of Commerce states: " The San Carlos Apache Reservation was established on November 9, 1871 is the worlds first concentration camp still existing to this day."  
See: http://www.sancarlosapache.com/San_Carlos_Culture_Center.htm

Source of above photo: https://azmemory.azlibrary.gov/digital/collection/aho/id/654/rec/2

What was once an area rich in ancestral Apache activities and scattered Family settlements was wiped out by the reservoir behind Coolidge Dam, ironically labeled "San Carlos Lake."  The inundated settled became known as Old San Carlos.  Hundreds of Natives were relocated many miles north to New San Carlos.  The photo source is from an excellent website that provides an excellent overview of the few faint remnants left of Old San Carlos. See: http://www.azbackcountryadventures.com/osc.htm

Above is a good map depiction of the Old San Carlos area before it was inundated.

Source: https://www.loc.gov/item/73693046/

**Here is a partial account of the 1898 railroad negotiation.  See link below graphic for full account.

https://repository.arizona.edu/bitstream/handle/10150/623374/azu_h9791_a72_h6_01_03_art8_w.pdf

*Page Four, "Arizona Highways"  May 1963
https://azmemory.azlibrary.gov/digital/collection/aho/id/654/rec/2

"Alfred (circled in red) was resident m1ss10nary at old San Carlos when the government wanted to dam the Gila River to provide needed water for Pima Indian farmers, and Apaches objected. In their largest community at old San Carlos, which would have to be flooded, they lived in houses as well as wickiups, had a cemetery and many of them cultivated fruit trees, gardens and farms. These Apaches had a water problem, too. They were plagued by hot, dry seasons and flash floods that washed out their irrigation ditches. The Apaches did not want to give up their homes and farms or to have their cemetery covered with water. A mass meeting was held.  Representatives of the Gila River Reservation came and appealed on behalf of the Pima Indians. A government representative urged the Apaches to give their permission which would allow the dam to be built. He told them they would be moved to other settlements with new and better irrigated farms and also, for several years during the construction of the dam, many Apaches would have cash jobs.

Reverend Alfred pointed out to the believers that just as World War soldiers buried at sea would arise from the dead, their loved ones buried under the proposed San Carlos Lake would also arise. Then he asked the un-believers what difference it would make to them, any-way. He asked all to have brotherly love for their neighbors, the Pimas, and give their consent. Eventually Apache leaders agreed to permit the dam to be built and those who could not write put their fingerprints on the document."

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