Primarily the Tuba settlement was a missionary effort, with the intention
of taking the Gospel into the very center of the Navajo and Hopi country.
Agriculture flourished a all times, with an abundant supply of water for
irrigation. But there was an attempt at industry and one which would
appear to have had the very best chance of success. The Navajo and Hopi
alike are owners of immense numbers of sheep. The wool in early days
almost entirely was utilized by the Indians in the making of blankets,
this on rude hand looms, where the product was turned out with a maximum
of labor and of time. John W. Young, elsewhere referred to in connection
with the establishment of Fort Moroni and with the building of the
Atlantic and Pacific railroad, thought he saw an opportunity to benefit
the Indians and the Church, and probably himself, so at Tuba City, in the
spring of 1879, he commenced erection of a woolen factory, with interior
dimensions 90x70 feet. The plant was finished in November, with 192
spindles in use. In the spring of 1880 was a report in the Deseret News
that the manufacture of yarns had commenced and that the machinery was
running like a charm. Looms for the cloth-making were reported on the
way. Just how labor was secured is not known, but it is probable that
Indians were utilized to as large an extent as possible. There is no
available record concerning the length of time this mill was operated. It
is understood, however, that the Indians soon lost interest in it and
failed to bring in wool. Possibly the labor supply was not ample and
possibly the distance to the Utah settlements was too great and the
journey too rough to secure profit. At any event, the factory closed
without revolutionizing the Navajo and Hopi woolen industry. In 1900 was
written that the factory "has most literally been carried away by
Indians, travelers and others." Old Chief Tuba took particular pride in
watching over the remains of the factory, but after his death the
ruination of the building was made complete. Some of the machinery was
taken to St. Johns.