Durango semi-weekly herald., 1907-05-16
IMPROVEMENTS AT
FORT LEWIS SCHOOL,
s35.o 900 WILL BE EXPENDED iMme.
DIATELY.

. iioh. riahcis n. Leupn. commission
er OF Indian affairs, arrived last nigh
. and though worn out by the tediou,
trip and late hour of arrival, he me
the directors o; the board of trade
at the Strater, by appointment.
For several months the board q
'rade has been active in the matter o.
having the new buildings at For
Lewis. for which Congressman Hogs
secured an appropriation of s25. .oO(
two years ago, gotten under way. par
ticularly as the appropriation viii
lapse June 80, unless some provision
is made for Its use by that time.
While Director b. w. Ritter was in
Washington he was requested to in,
vestigate the cause of delay. and was
informed that it was intended to Use
the appropriation OF s25, 900 for new
buildings. and that $4,000 had also
been allowed for general repairs.
The board let the matter rest for
several months, feeling that the neces-
sary steps would be taken to have tie
work proceeded without unnecessary
delay. Two weeks ago. the time re-
naming being but two months. 1t was
deemed best to act at once, and Is
a result of several meetings. IL was
decided that 1t would be best to send
a representative to see the commits.
sioner. which was done last week. but
iefinite information was not obtained
until lase evening, when Mr.. Leupp
assured the board that the appropra.
| tion would not be allowed to lapse.
The delay has been in the archi.
tects office, for plans, which the com.
missioner stated he was doing all he
could to hasten.
Three of the large buildings at Fort
| Lewis school were destroyed by fire
IN March 18th, and as 1t has been a
| question for some time past. whether
| 1t would not be better to abandon Fort
Lewis altogether view taken by
several officials in the service-it was
very gratifying to the board to find
| the commissioner in favor of its pres
ervation and upbuilding.
IL is fortunate for our welfare. as
well as of that OF the Indian schools,
| like the president. of broad, liberal
views, gained by seeing things for
himself. He drops routine work In
his office and crosses the continent
In a rush, characteristic of the way
the present administration does
things" and as side trip goes two
Or three thousand miles away from
Pullman car-goes down into the most
remote part of the Navajo reservation
md rather than waste a few days to
retrace any steps, he pushes on over
he desert wastes to the Santa Fe
railroad in New Mexico or Arizona.
Such is the man, who, routed out of
his berth at a. m. yesterday. com
PEELED to ride all day In straight
backed chair for nineteen hours, then
gave up an hour Of time to the board
Of trade. and at o'clock this morn
ing, left for Shiprock school. having
found time for half hours talk
ut the depot, and during that time
gave one Of our directors many valu.
able suggestions concerning matters
that will be of great Importance to
Is a little later, but of which we do
not think best to speak of now.
Forecasting the future OF the In
dian schools of the country. the com
missioner spoke frankly of the policy,
as mapped out at Washington, as fast
as conditions warrant, the Indian
schools will be gotten rid of by the
government by turning over to the
state in which they are situated, and
the Indian children-superior to many
Of the foreign emigrants-absorbed
by our great civilization. There may
be Indian schools built yet-will be-
but the country school house" or
small schools, near their homes,
where the parents can look after
them. is the coming Indian school. 1t
will take years to bring about these
changes and when finally worked out,
the Indians will be citizens. and the
vast reservations will be disposed Of
and utilized, as they should be in the
| march of progress.
Mr.. Leupp regretted the delay in
arriving. as he always enjoyed Du
range, and expected to have Few
hours in the evening to look around
He Is by no means stranger to this
| section, but on the contrary is well
acquainted with ii, has been twice
through the cliff dwellings. and might
be classed a Durango booster" so
enthusiastic is he over our great re
sources.
Acting Superintendent Haffner OF
| Fort Lewis school, was present and
| Joined In efforts to secure considera-
ton OF tho many needs of the school,
and much good may be looked for
from the timely interview. Superin-
tendent Spear will be home tonight,
and Is anxious to get started as soon
as possible, hoping to have the new
building ready for the opening Of
school this fall.
DURANGO BOARD OF TRADE,
BY Order OF the Directors.
| Sore Nipples.
Any mother who has had expert