The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1904-08-19
OUR HAPPY NEIGHBORS

the mountains to the middle Of the main channel Of Snake river
the west and nearly Pocatelo and the Porneu on the
SOUTH Occupied by fourteen hundred Indians this piece Of ter
rtoy presents interesting spot the casual observer
Nine miles east Of Blackfoo the Indian school known Fl
Hail. where the government maintains little town locally known
the school, and where large number Of Indian boys and
girls taught the branches and the white mans ways
Of living and doing all domestic work Twelve miles southwest
Of Blackoo the Oregon Short Line railroad the Indian
agency and railroad station known as Ross Fork Here is an
Episcopal school, and trading post in addition to other
things which make the capital Of the reservation The place
takes from the creek which has its source the can
yons and guches Of Mt Putnam some twenty miles eastward
where the nowbanks beam in the summer sun until some time
August each year mile south Of the agency the govern
building another school, on an enence overlooking
great plain The buildings all stone and steel and glass;
sewerage, and all the substantial good things which will make
easy for the children from the tepees' lay aside their ban
kets and breech cou and their habits Of the camp and learn
the ways of greater usefulness and comfort
water tank hundred feet high furnishes the water sys-
with FIRE PRESSURE and great canal tapping Snake river
forty miles away will furnish water for igatng the great plain
broad boulevard being laid to reach from the buildings
the railroad track quarter Of mile away and the of
the future coming up through 'yhee Precinct will beau
hfu campus front of the school, with rows Of trees blocks
Of fruit and shade great belts Of garden and he
again from may the great slopes Of land above
the school yielding grapes peaches pears strawberries and other
delicious fruits for market while the great plain below takes on
the appearance of we'll cultivated piece of territory in New
Jersey up blocks for irrigation and intensive farming
At present all desert and will require much careful plan
ming and labor The Indian boys and girls may do all this
certainly they will plan it. for when you the post"
raton day. and take the Of their lives you will know
they yet capable. They in from all directions
during the forenoon Indians Of all Sizes all ages two sexes and
various conditions Two three hundred will horse
back riding forty dollar saddle dollar pony Each
brave Tor buc being rugged up suit his
One happs, boots and spurs like any other
stock man. but his hattie may have band Of beads with
worked figures Of arrows the hat may have gay plume
tached Another wears black shirt white hat leather cuffs
and silk handkerchief Of bright coo fastened about
his neck with simple fastener made Of eashe By his side
rides robust fellow wearing cartridge belt shooter
great belt covered with beadwo and blanket Of many coor
hanging loosely about his body The happest the COM
pany the boy Of seventeen years who scarlet blanket
green handkerchief about his neck and head and sumounted by
brown hat with band the hat which matches the scarlet Of
the blanket only has white it He wears moccasns
and short hair and very happy There others who belong
the police force and you know them by their uniforms and
hats with gold cord them AS they oer about the post"
the families that have her spring wagons by the scores
and go and have their share Of business and happiness
One 'squaw' with her smiling pappooe strapped on
her back buckkn sack pomanteau fastened her side
When she leaves the she will probably have watermelon
in the portmanteau and she brushes very ndfereny past the
big 'buck' who stalks wearing his linen duster the girl
r 4 L l.
ty hat and who carne suit case. long row Of young
bucks braces up closer the where the gaudy hand
kerches sold consider whether not they have room
about their heads necks hip pockets for any snowy
handkechief An older buck stands behind the stove to
enjoy his earrings which are an inch diameter with pieces Of
seahe suspended from the rings themselves and when an old
'squaw with old calico 'ng' her body and an
old dusty rag around her head he Indifferent her he to
the others who trailing wearing blankets Of all the coo
Of the rainbow He may have beard the song but he knows
the sentiment nBe careful Of the maiden with the dreamy eyes,