The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1865-09-23


regard it as the inevitable result of opening
ana settling the country have seen enough
of Indians to convince me of this fact, that
they can never exist in contact with the
whites and their only salvation is to be re-
moved far, far from their presence. But they
have been removed so often that there seems
now no place left for their further migration
the waves of civilization have invaded their
homes from both oceans, driving them year
after year towards the Rocky Mountains and
now that we propose to invade these noun
tain solitudes, to wrest from them their hid
den wealth, where under heavens can the In
dams go? And may we not expect to see
these people make one desperate struggle in
the businesses of the Rocky Mountains for
the maintenance of their last homes and the
preservation of their lives. It is matter
that but too strongly commends itself to the
early and considerate attention of the gene
raj government The Indian is destined TO
disappear before the white man, and the only
question is, how it may best be done, and his
disappearance from our midst tempered Win
those elements calculated to produce to him.
self the least amount of suffering, and to US
the least amount of cost.
The Pend ID Oreille mission is pleasantly
situated on Mission Greek. few miles to the
north of the Jocko reservation, where Fatn-
ers Minetry, Louis Vera Cruz, and Grassi pre-
side, with two lay brothers. They have here
as at the Cmur-d Aene mission, complete
set of buildings for their residences ana
beautiful church here, too, Indian labor IS
employed. The original site of this mission
was on the Clark's Fork, about fifty miles
from Fort Colville, where the lower Pend.ds
Oreille Indians lived but, finding at this
point more soil to cultivate and better site,
they removed hither in 1855, bringing many
of the lower Pend-d Oreilles with them
They have, besides, branch mission at Fort
Colville, visited from time to time ty Father
Josef. They had mission at the present
site of Fort Owen till 1850, when 1t was
abandoned and the property sold to MAJ John
Owen, where be now resides, having pleas
ant home. and the finest library have seen
on the north Pacific Coast.
The next mission is among the Blackfeet !;
but as yet not much headway has been made
towards its permanent establishment. Inc
fathers chose site on Sun River, ten miles
above the wagon road crossing, where they
erected a few buildings but they never en-
closed fields, and lastyear it was abandoned.
| They then held service at and occupied the
site of Old Fort Cam pbell, mile above Fort
Renton. While I was at this point last sum-
mer they were projecting site on the Matias
With A view to there establish their perma-
nent homes the extent of good soil, its mild
climate. its proximity to the homes OF the
/ Rlack feet. and its distance from the line oi
travel. all combining to determine them In
its selection. At present the Superior IS
Father Giorda, who has his headquarters al
Fort Benton. The superior for many years
while was in the mountains Father Con
1 ciato. from whom have received many kfQd-
nesses and courtesies but be being assigned
to the presidency of one of the colleges a.
San Francisco, compelled change. Fathers
Tmoda and Giorda, with two lay-brothers
are at the Blackfoot mission. The country
and the Indians are mainly indebted to tht
Jealous labor of the Reverend Father d.
/ Smet in establishing all these missions, To-
lhe truly is the great father OF all ROCKY
Mountain missionaries. By his travels anf
his labors, and the dedication of his years t
this noble task, he has left name IN tn
mountains revered by all who knew him, AMI
a household god with every Indian who re
spects the black gown. His early work
called-the "Oregon Mission" is replete witt
interesting information, aud from which w
ourselves have collected many geographical
and statistical facts. To him and his cola
, borers in their self-sacrifcing work return
nv thanks for their many kindnesses, witt
the hope that they may liyet see the ful
+ fruits of their zeal and toll amid the last
t lnesses and selitudes of the Rocky Noun
q tains.