[6] In 1859, Steck proposed a reservation for the Chiricahua in the vicinity of Santa Lucia Springs in the upper Gila River.
John A. Clark, Surveyor General of New Mexico wrote to Steck in October 1863, only 4,000 acres of land were arable in the Bosque Redondo reserve.
When he realized the general had misjudged both the large size of the Navajo population (more than 9,000 captives) and the poor agricultural potential of the land near Fort Sumner, Steck opposed Carlton's plans.
In 1867, he was elected to the New Mexico Territorial Legislature from Santa Fe county and served in the house of representatives, 1867-1868 session.
[1] In 1863, Steck's one-year-old son born in July 1862, died August 1862, in Santa Fe and was soon followed by his wife on October 3, 1864.