In the early 1890’s the Chiricahua Cattle Company quietly secured permission to graze two thousand head of cattle on Ash Flat. The same report goes on to state: In 1899 an intelligent half-breed Indian, son of one of the first White traders, protested that their [permittees’] cattle were encroaching upon the grounds where he was trying to raise a few himself. (When he inquired of the white outfit who gave them permission, he was told to mind his own business. He proceeded to do this.)
Subsequent investigation showed that the Chiricahua Company was running 12,000 instead of 2,000 head. Rather than move off, the “Three C’s Outfit” agreed to a lease paying a nominal fee per head.
On the face of it, it was a wise and easy, if partial, solution of the problem of how San Carlos Indians were to eat. More and more big “Cow Outfits” moved in, the Double Circle, Bar-F-Bar, Cross-S, the Bryce-Mattice.
During these years that lease-grazing was in effect on the San Carlos Reservation there were a number of increases in the grazing rate. It has been impossible to determine, on the basis of available information, the year in which each increase took place; however, the following list indicates the rates in effect in specific years.