The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-06-29
IS A REVELATION
Professor Rakestraw Is Both Sur
prised and Delighted.
ON A TOUR OF INSPECTION
He Will Recommend Extensive Improve
ments for the Indian Schools OF
Montana The Schools Are in
a Flourishing Condition.

Prof. Charles ID. Rakestraw, widely
known from his connection with the
department of the interior at Wash
ington rs supervisor OF Indian schools,
was a visitor 10 Butte yesterday. Pro-
fessor Rakestraw is making his annual
tour of inspection Of the Indian school
Of the West and came to Butte for the
purpose of seeing the worlds greatest
mining camp, of which he has heard so
much. but which he had never before
had an opportunity Of visiting. The
distinguished gentleman arrived in the
city on the afternoon train from the
South. having been to Idaho to inspect
the schools of that state.
Il am surprised and delighted" said
Professor Rakestraw in conversation
with a Standard reporter last evening.
II had read and heard a great deal
about Butte, but ] had no idea o had
so much OF a city or that your mining
enterprises were so immense. / have
not had an opportunity of seeing much
Of them vet, but one only has to look
at the maze of smoke stacks to realize
that your mining development is some
thing We OF the East hear
Of your mining camps in the West. but
we have not much conception of what
they are like until we see them. | have
SttH III vi u the nbAth IA
on my Western trip. but l had never
been convenient before TO come To
Butte. This time ! thought l would
run up, n | nm glad | came. Butte
is a revelation. None of the other min
ing centers / have seen are to be COM
pared with It. i shall try and see con-
siderable of the city before | leave
With reference to matters in which
he is directly interested. Professor
Rakestraw spoke encoura gingly of the
Indian schools in his jurisdiction, those
of Montana, Idaho, Nevada, oregon
and Washington. Montana i'm particu-
lar. and Il is evident his visit will be of
much benefit to the indian schools of
all these states which are supported by
the government, as II is his intention
to recommend extensive improvements
which. he states. he is sure will be
granted i'm a very large part, If not
their entirety. Speaking of the Mon
tana Indian schools, Professor Rake
straw said:
"The schools Of Montana are all in a
nourishinc condition, and are espe-
cially good as compared with those i'm
other states. At Fort Shaw. you have
one of the very best industrial schools
I'm the United States. The schools at
Fort Peck. Belknap. Blackfoot and
Crow agencies. and on the Cheyenne
agencies, are also very excellent insti-
buttons. I have visited the schools of
Washington, Oregon, Nevada and Ida
no. and ] find them very generally in
very good condition. There are but one
or two exceptions. At Fort Lapwai.
Idaho. the school is running down,
owing to the fact that the NeZ Perces
are getting too much money for their
own good in the sale Of their lands and
think too much of drinking whiskey to
care much for education. At Fort Hall
there is considerable Improvement.
You remember they nearly had an out
break there when Lieutenant Ir-
win took charge and decided TO compel
the Indian children to attend school.
Tho old ndian were quickly subdued.
however. when the cavalry was called
out. They decided to let the children
go TO school when they saw the blue
coats, and now the attendance is larger
than ever"
Speaking OF the recommendations he
will make TO the department, Professor
Rakestraw said:
"I shall make recommendations for
repairs at all Of the schools in Mon
tana. | shall not recommend any new
buildings I'm this state for the reason
that they are not imperatively needed.
and owing TO the war congress will not
allow the appropriations that would be
required. but ] shall recommend all
necessary repairs. which I am sure will
be allowed. and the work will be done
at once"
With reference to the Catholic Indian
schools within his jurisdiction. Profess
sor Rakestraw said the greater mum
Der of them would probably be discon-
inued at the end OF his month. as gov
ernmental assistance is to be with
drawn at the expiration OF June, and
as many OF the schools can't run with
out the aid the government has hither-
to extended. IL is expected many of
them will close. Professor Rakestraw
spoke with regret in this connection.
as he said there are n number of these
schools hat are splendid institutions,
which he would not like 10 see discon-
tinued. He said he did not expect to
see any OF these mission schools in
Montana continued.
Professor Rakestraw stated that an
institute is To be held at Colorado
Springs for the instructors Of govern
mental Indian schools. beginning July
Is. 10 which all the instructors of Mon
tana are expected to attend.