The Coeur d'Alene press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1892-1907, 1894-01-06

THE cGuR D'ALxHE INDIANS.
Report Of Iadias Agent Cole N Istsrsstisg
Document.
The report of Indian Agent Cole, who
has charge Of dozen tribes Of Indians
In Idaho and Washington, Is quite In
teresting. In speaking Of the Cceur d.
Alene Indians he says:
"A very large majority Of the Indians
connected with this agency are engaged
In farming and stock raising. The
Cour d'Alene tribe is far in the lead In
farming and agricultural pursuits. They
have large tracts of excellent land,
fenced and under high state Of cult
walton. They are the owners Of many
good American horses, spring wagons,
fine buggies, and all kinds of the latest
improved farm machinery. The half
million dollars they received from the
government, one year ago last spring.
has perhaps made them the wealthiest
Indians In the northwest. They have
taken good care of their money, and
have, as q rule, expended it judiciously
In having new land broken, comfortable
houses and barns erected; besides they
have q great deal of money loaned out
principally to banks of Pennington,
Tekoa and Rockford, Washington.
They had several hundred acres more in
cultivation this year than ever before"
During the year the agent reports that
saw and grist mill was erected on the
reservation as well as dwelling houses,
and that the agency buildings were
painted and otherwise improved. DR..
c. X. Smith, the agency physician, has
the following to say regarding the
health of the Occur d'Alenes:
These Indians are in a comparatively
advanced stage Of civilization, living in
well built and comfortable houses, and
having adopted the modes Of the whites
in the care of the sick, the practice
amongst them partakes very much OF
the nature of that among our own race
They have no native medicine men
among them, and in all cases, except
where some domestic remedy known to
them answers the purpose, they call on
and depend on the physician.
Notwithstanding this similarity be
tween the two races, still it will proba
bly, be acknowledged by the majority Of
those having opportunities Of observa
ton that the present generation o
Indians is physically inferior to thei
fathers. The Indian of today witt
is over 50 years of age is more hardy
can endure more sickness, and has
better prospect Of 20 years more of lif
than one who is under thirty. Will
this may he generally admitted, never
theless, many do no, look at this as tn
, diving out of the race. However,
seems TO be the history Of mankind tina
! nations and races rise, flourish. an
} finally in the course Of time die out an
give place TO other people.
The great plague of this tribe, an
in fact of all Indian tribes, is tuberc'
losis, generally of the lungs. The mi
iority Of the deaths is from this caus
= PROBABLY the principle factor In pr
ducing this disease is the change in di'
= and the change from outdoor life al
Z occupations to the more combining an
J sedentary habits Of those in the schoo
+ and those living in closed dwelling
: II is much more prevalent among chill
c rem than grown persons. Changes
y temperature and altitude as from Z
E. light dry air of the mountains and tab
lands to the heavier and damper air
the sea coast, and vice versa, viii
amongst whites would have little efe'
on the Indian has marked inlurio
;, influence. This fact, speaking from
u medical stand point, would show I
y importance of having the schools
Y education of the children in the local
in which they were brought up a
., where their parents before them ha
= lived.
"rhe facilities for caring for the 81
amongst the school children, both be
r. and girls, is usually good. A regu
10 hospital TO keep the sick in is not adv
" able for the reason that the children
no come homesick. and this has deprt
N. ing effect. Having comfortable hon
es most cases can be most successfr
ok treated there.
pie 1.-THE fact Of the very late arriva
ne the agency Of the medical supplies,
en- the impossibility of estimating
~. ahead Of just what medicines and
les what quantities they may be neet
&c, has somewhat crippled the service.
po- certain instances the agent should
authorized to purchase in open maj
at. such medicines as are positively
md quired.
len during the year, besides minor CO
ms Of which no record was kept, 2ls c
no were treated. There were ~ deaths
md 4s births. This high proportion of bi
ed. over deaths is unusual. 1t cannot
,ok taken as evidence of any marked
UNI crease of population of the Indian
ink race. There was no epidemic Of ser
the contagious diseases during the yea
.as.
ave A Merry New Years Party.
.rd, A merry party surprised Mr..
sale Mrs. John A. Moore on New Years
The party, consisting Of Mrs. job
red Burke, Mrs. Chas. Sweeney, Mrs.
ri. Rule, Mrs. Z. r. Award, Misses Tt
tic and Marie kildea, Mr.. Dan B'