The Anaconda standard., 1895-12-14
anaconda Nez0s.
WARDSOF THENATION
Agent Carter Tells of Flathead Agency
Matters.
WILL NOT BE OPENED SOON
Chief Charlo the Patriarch Chief
of His Tribe-IndIans Like Cat
tie Raising Rather Than
Farming.

In a pleasant chat with Indian Agent
Joseph Carter last evening at the MON,
tana hotel a Standard reporter CLEANED
many interesting facts concerning the
wards of Uncle Sam who are In Agent
Carter's charge on the Flathead reser-
walton.
"The reservation is not, as many sup
pose, occupied by the Flathead ,rioe
only" said he. but by confeoera-
tion of the remnants Of FIVE tribes. the
Flatheads. Pend d'Orielles, Kootenais.
Kalispel and Lower Spokanes, making
a total of about 1000 red men: They
are in a measure self-supporting; no
regular rations are issued by the gov,
ernment to any except the infirm ana
decrepit ones, who are not able TO WORK.
Most of the heads of families have
lands. which they cultivate or on which
their cattle range. The appropriation
for their support Is expended NANNY
in the purchase of agricultural impie.
ments and for the payment OF sklliea
laborers, who conduct two Touring
mills, a saw mill and other needful IN
stitutions at the agency. The lnoians
are naturally indolent-do not take
kindly to agriculture. but prefer cattie
raising, a business in which many or
them have prospered, notably Chariie
Allard, of buffalo fame. Pablo and MI
chel each of whom are wealthy.
"The plan of education is the only
one which brings the Indian to under
stand that in order to eat he must
work. This has been but recently
adopted, but / believe IL VIII be suc-
cessful The children are given course
of schooling which Is the same taken
by the paleface pappoose from the KIN
dergarten to the academy or college:
When the boys reach the age OF 10
years they are taught a trade as part
of their education in a regular training
school, and they give promise OF the
best of results.
"The greatest difficulty experienced
is in .persuading the parents to send
their children to school All sorts OF
excuses are trumped up against It,
old Chario,' chief of the Flatheads, is
one of the most obstreperous. He says,
'Pappoose go to school: teacher cut his
hair: he be Iniun no more. The con-
clusion is really his reason for keeping
his boys at home. He fears that civil
ization will destroy his race. In the
schools the pupils are taught Engiish
only, and the Indian language is ig-
nored entirely.
have but two languages. all except the
Kootenais talking what is known as
the Kalispeh tongue. They have a die
tionary and books I'm that language to
which they cling tenaciously. In their
own nomenclature Flathead Indians
are Selfish, the Spokanes are Sinkomah.
the kOOIendlS are okdlndys Out tnc
name for the Pend dOreiles 1 have
forgotten, though IL means the men
with pierced ears" They are friendly
toward each other, and seldom give
any trouble, though in dealing with
them they must be made TO understand
that a man means exactly what he
says.
'aThe available land on the reserva-
tion is all taken up. not as allotment
but simply as tenants at will I do not
think that the reservation will be
opened for settlement for many years
to come for several reasons. The 1ndi-
ans themselves are strenuously opposed
to It, and secondly there 10 but little to
be gained by such procedure. This
talk about immense mineral wealth on
the reservation is without foundation.
There is no mineral zone there which
is apparent to an observer. The land
which might be supposed to be mineral
is on the water shed which supplies
the sources of the Jocko and Flathead
rivers The other side of that water
shed is outside of the reservation. and
has been prospected thoroughly and
nothing of value found. Mining men
therefore, will easily understand that
no paying veins can be reasonably ex-
pected on the opposite slope, which Ii
Indian land. There are l'Soo. or l.4o'
square miles of land in the boundaries
of the reservation. but not more thar
one-fifth of IL Is desirable for settle.
ment and much of that will require
irrigation.
Another reason why I think II viii
not be opened soon is the fact that only
short time ago a Nez Perce Indian
scout against his own Chief Joseph
applied TO the government for land or
some reservation which should bs
among the last TO be opened for settle.
ment. He could not live among hil
own people manifestly because they
considered him a traitor. He was sem
TO the Flathead agency. The conclusion
to be drawn is apparent"
"Chief Charlo is a stubborn old fel
low, but he has many traits of charac
ter which / cannot fail to admire. II,
was among the last to leave lis hom,
in the Bitter Root valley; he clung q
IL as fondly as the clans cling to tn,
Highlands OF Scotland, and at last wal
driven away only by encroachments O
the white men who practically crowded
him out Yet he was always friendl,
TO the white men. and often boasti
ever killed a white man. which is to tn,
best of my knowledge true.
when Chief Joseph and his bans
sent emissaries to Charlo while on tn,
war path. asking him to Join then
against the whites, he refused an,
Perce ambassador. extended his han,
TO say farewell. on returning from hi
unsuccessful mission. Chief Charlo fold
ed his arms and said:
"'No. go thy way: Charlo never will
shake your hand; IL is red with whit
mems blood
Senator Vest accompanied Genera
Darlington when he interviewed Charl
. at his Bitter Root valley home and urg
ed him TO leave IL for the reservation
The noble old Indian was stubborn,
you may call IL so. and firmly refuse
TO go. The senator interrupted the ar
gument OF the general who was plead
ing with the chief and making him glo
rious promises.
You had better co." said Senate
Vest, and go quietly. or Uncle Sar
will send soldiers and take you (
Jocko by force
Then fire flashed in the chieftain'
eye, he tore of his hat and stamped
under his feet then wraDnin0 III