The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-06-07
allottees are now engaged in the improve

allottees are now engaged in the improve
ment of their tracts.
The greater numbe of these Indians are
living on the Klamath River from the
mouth OF the Trinity down to the ocean, a
distance of about fifty miles. The land
still unallotted is embraced within the
boundaries of the Hoopa Valley Indian
Reservation and consists of about So 900
acres, only very small portion of which
is arabic or available for any purpose ex-
cept for the timber which stands on it and
which has no present value.
The klamath River indians are the
remnants of some of the tribes that for
merly occupied the country further north.
The Hoopas are of the Apache stock, but
have lost all the Apache characteristics
except the language. Both peoples speak
English lntelligently and up to the limit
OF their means have adopted the habits and
customs of civilization. They are prac-
ticaily self-sustaining and amenable to gov
eminent or management by municipal law.
On the Hoopa reservation about 800 acres
are under cultivation by the Indians, and
wagon road is in process of construction
to part of the reservation where about
1000 acres more can be made available for
culture.
Two years ago boarding school for the
children of both tribes was established in
Hoopa Valley with capacity for 12O chill
dren. The school is efficiently conducted.
1t is the policy of the Indian Department
to continue these schools until the Indians
can be incorporated in the civil popula-
ton OF the State, when their schools will
be supplemented by the public schools.
The government of these people is wholly
under the control of the agent, who de-
cides upon and settles all controversies and
disputes among them, and they being en-.
tlrely obedient and submissive, it is I'M
questionably the most orderly and peace
able community in the State.
1t is but very few years ago that these
people subsisted exclusively on acorns and
fish, lived in semi-subterranean abodes
without light or ventilation, and were
without any other occupation than that
necessary to procure this precarious means
of existence. Now every family lives in
weil-constructed frame house, cultiyates
enough of land for comfortable subsist-
ence and has accumulated enough of stock
and personal property to enable it to live
independently and with comfort and de-
cency. In comparatively short time the
reservation, as such, will cease to exist.
The people dwelling within the reserved
limits will then be merged into the pop-
ulation of the State and brought under the
power of the law and the protection of the
courts.
1t is fact worthy of more than passing
notice that crime is almost unknown
among the Indians of this agency. Cap.
tain Dougherty has served some nine
years as agent among these Indians, and
has settled all their disputes and contro.
versies. During that period of time not a
single criminal offense was brought to his
knowledge. The disputes sometimes re-
late to land boundaries and controversies
concerning the ownership of tools and i'm
plements. Four-ifths of the disputes
arise among the women and are trivial in
their nature, but of course are regarded bv
the sex as of great concern. The Indians
are easily governed by the exercise of kind
ness and firmness when they fully under
stand that the agent is working to advance
their welfare.
Captain Dougherty knows every one oil
the Hoopas and nearly all of the Klamaths.
Some nine years ago he gave them names
OF which they are now very proud. Previous
to that time they were named for animals
trees and streams, but each family since
then has been given some American name,
the agent using the names of army Off
GERS and friends to bestow on the nameless
wards of Uncle Sam. The Indians them.
selves are not slow in finding "given
Names" and among the girls there are
Fannies, Julias and Sallies. in honor of the
wives of army officers. Every Indian now
appreciates the benefit of having an indi
vidual name to distinguish him on the
record of fame from other Indians. Ac
counts are kept in his name. When be