Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1901-07-17

under rent to individuals on long leases
at nominal sum. In 1868 the amount
received from said rentals for that year
and paid into the State treasury was
s227.50. The following year, 1869, the old
time leases having expired, the same
shores that had yielded SO small sum to
the Indians, we're leased at public anction
by the agent, under direction Of the gov
ernor and council, for the highly crafty
ing sum of 4,4s7.ss.
For several years thereafter the sums
so received were added to the trust fund,
until 1873, when said fund amounted to
s73, S2S AS and still remains the same.
That year an act was passed for distribu-
tion OF those rentals to the tribe, per
capita, annually. This mode of distribu-
ton has been highly satisfactory and
beneficial to the tribe.
Prior to 1885, or Whereabouts, no elections
OF delegates to the legislature were held.
The governor and lieutenant governor of
the tribe had been elected for life, and
such delegates were appointed by the
governor OF the tribe. Dissatisfaction
was expressed by portion of the tribe,
who desired a more democratic form OF
government. Quite q good deal of i'll
feeling existed for several years. Agree
ments were entered into by the factions
but not sacredly kept, party spirit ran
high and individual quarrels were FREE
quent. In 1866, the legislature enacted a
law providing for elections by one party
one year, the other the following year, and
80 on alternately, neither party to have
any voice In the others elections. That
custom has been continued to the present
time.
VARIOUS OCCUPATIONS.
Their agricultural pursuits are not so
| abundantiy successful as desired, al
| though they produce sufficient to cover
the "bounty on crops" which the State
annually appropriates for their encourage
ment in that direction. The young and
middle aged members are usually, at
spring planting time, in the employ OF
the lum bermen ON the drives, getting the
winters product OF logs to market,
which, in part, accounts for lack OF in
| terest, if such exists, in farming as live
| lihood.
! The men gre experts in the manufacture
of canoes. Birch bark, which was formerly
used exclusively for the outside covering
for canoes has, Of late, become scarce and
a substitute of canvas is used and proves
to be superior to bark, unless the latter is
OF the best quality and this kind is now
difficult to obtain.
Large quantities of baskets are an
nually manufactured by them, the men
procuring the ash from the swamps
| The sticks are usually from six to twelve
inches in diameter and eight to ten OF
twelve feet in length. These butts, as
they are called, are pounded with the
poll Of the axe until the layers are loos
ened, W hen it is pealed or pulled off in
thick strips, coarse and rough, and IL
restripped and separated to the thinness
OF heavy paper. Scraped portions are
| dyed and packed away to be used by the
MIN BILE fingers OF the female members in
weaving into the pretty and attractive
baskets which are so frequently seen
Sweet grass, obtained from the marshes
is also worked into their basket weaving
| Their new and original designs show
marked ingenuity. About all theil
products are purchased at the agency In
exchange for goods, and disposed OF by
the agent in all parts of the country, az
best he can, sometimes at loss, as they
| must be got rid Of at some price In
| order to keep the members Of the tribe
employed.
| They are inclined to anticipate theii
unearned wages for driving, products
state dividends, etc, and quite an amount
| is needed to meet their requirements
They, at times, owe quite large amounts
which are paid when the logs arrive al
their destination and they are paid fol-
their labor. Their advances are made
and as much reliance placed on their in
tegrity and honor, in regard to payment
of debts, as is usual with the same class o.
w bite Gsieu.
INDIAN SCHOOLS.
Through the fundamentally OF the late
Bishop HeaIy colony OF Sisters o
Mercy was established in 1878, hous'
|
mediation. The primary object was wit {
view to train the girls, teach them sewing
cooking, and other domestic arts, and par
ticularly to instill a womanly modesty tt
which the wigwam was not conducive
Soon after their location, sidewalk wal
constructed from their house to TIT
church, the idea Of which originated will
the women OF the tribe and the expense
incurred was paid by them.
During the winter of '79 and 80, thu
construction of the present convent
which they have since occupied, was com
menced. The advent OF the sisters was
wise provision. Their work has been o
very marked advantage to the tribe
Some one of their number has taught Thu
school Oh Old Town Indian island sine
their settlement and the scholars, unde
their teaching, have advanced consider
ably. The school now compares favor
ably with those of their white neighoors