The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-05-04

ties on crops raised by the Indians. The
sale of wood and grass and the rental OF
shore frontage on the 300 fertile islands
which the Indians own between Old Town
and Mattawamkeag yielded them from
$4,000 to $4,000 a year. so that between
freedom from taxation and half-fare rates
over all Maine railroads the 300 or 400
high and low grade Indians of Central
Maine were doing fairly well and living
In luxury without being compelled to la
Dor As soon as the shiftless lumbermen
learned how matters stood, squaws were
in great demand In the matrimonial mark
ct. Whenever poor white man was for
tunate enough TO wed "a squaw, he was
taken over to the island where the state
provided home for him and kept him in
food ard clothing for the remainder of his
days. In six years the population of In
dian Island went up from 1926 to moro
than 500.
A Maine Indian Is very slow at arith-
metic as IL rs learned from the books, but
when figures are applied to bread and but
ter and blankets he is as quick as any
body. Though the members of the new
tribe were growing In numbers rapidly
and having an easier time than any other
community In New England. the per
capita share Of tea, tobacco woollen
sweaters and moccasins dealt out by the
Indian agent grew smaller. Thus, instead
of six plugs OF tobacco a week, the allow
ance was reduced to four. Later a similar
deficit in clothing and groceries was APP
parent. Still there was no general up
rising of the tribe until several OF the
squaws who had acquired white hus-
bands had died After half dozen white
widowers had drawn state bounty for a
year or more, the new tribe held a great
powwow to decide their fate. The meet
ing lasted three days, in which time a
number of fervent orators were taken
home and attended by surgeons. The final
vote resulted In a victory for the white
husbands, who had been adopted into the
tribe. No sooner had the decision been
reached then nearly one-half of the new
tribe seeded from their associates and
Joined the old tribe, until 1t could easily
control the island
Since then the two factions have been
at odds. A few Of the transpIanted whites
have been eyicted by force though most
OF them continue 10 draw state bounty
AS a final resort the old tribe proposes to
appeal TO the Maine Legislature and have
the interlopers expelled by law. Should
the old tribe secure the legislation il de-
slres the Abenaki tribe will proba blv
cease TO exist In less than 100 years. as
the numbers are now kept up by an in
fusion of white blood. When the whites
and all below half breeds are barred out
the early death of the tribe seems lnevita-
BILE Meantime the 300 islands in Penob-
scot river which belong to the Indians
are constantly gaining in value. The tribe
to-day consists Of $40 members, who own
land valued az a million dollars. BY weed
ing out such as have less than 50 per cent.
of Indian blood, the number will be re-
duced to less than $50. The average loss
in Indian colonies that are kept TO them
selves is between and per cent. a year.
and thus at the end of forty or fifty years
by which time the islands will sbe worth
100000 or $5,00O,O00 the last Indian is
likely to be the richest man In Maine.
Upon his death the whole property will
probably escheat to the state.