The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1909-06-23
WILL OPEN UP
INLAND EMPIRE
THOUSANDS OF ACRES OF INDIAN
RESERVATION WILL BE OPEN.
ED UP TO HoMEsEEKERs.

SPOKANE, Wash, June 2s.-coeur
dAlene Indian Reservation in Idaho,
where 100000 or its 100000 acres of
agricultural. grazing and timberc l
lands Will be distributed among home
steaders by the government lottery
plan at Occur d'Alene, 80 miles east
of Spokane, beginning the morning Of
Augusta, is one of the reserves in the
Inland Empire to be opened this year
The other two are the Spokane in
/, Washington, 5000 acres of agricultural
!>lands. and the Flathead in Western
Montana. with 100000 acres Of agri.
cultural and grazing lands. Those eli.
gible to settle on this land must regis.
ter at either Kalispell or Missouri
Montana, for the Flathead; at Coeur
d'Aiene for the Occur d'Al.ne. and Mt
Spokane fer the Spokane reservation,
Registration will begin on July is ana
continue until August 5. All applca.
tons for registration must be maile,l
in plain envelope, SMxG inches, 20
James W. witten, superintedent Of
opening, Coeur drAlene, Idaho.
The passing of the reservation from
the hands of the historic tribe to
white settlers marks an epoch in the
annals OF the northwest; its settle.
ment next April means home for from
1000 to 10000 persons, probably many
of them from crowded. cities in the
east, aud the development Of the lands
will add several millions Of dollars an.
nually to the wealth production of the
Inland Empire.
] The reservation has an interesting
history, dating from the early 38's,
when French.Canadian employees OF
the Hudson Bay Company stirred IN
among the untotored reds.a desire for
the coming of BLACK Robes" as the
missionaries were known in those
days. Fathers DeSmet, Gregory Men
garini and Nicholas Point, accompan.
led by Brothers Spect, Huet and Claes.
sens. came from st. Louis in 1s41 and
lived among the Indians. They found:
ell their first mission in the Bitter
Root Valley in Montana, near the site
OF the present town of stevensville,
where they afterward erected church
and parish house and cultivated the
land. Several years afterward Father
Josef Joined the band OF workers and
the Co er d'Alene mission was estab.
=. >.
Father Josef later became superior
OF the Rocky Mountains mission,
which, In 1907. was united with the
California mission. It was headed by
the Rev. Father George De la Motto,
of Spokane, whose Jurisdiction now
embraces the States of California Ore.
gon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wy.
oming, North AMI South Dakota and
Southern Alaska, an area OF 100000
square miles.
In the early days some OF the In.
dams, then in their prime, were look.
ed upon as medicine men," endowed
with supernatural power, and, conse.
quently, Of great influence among their
fellows. When the priests began their
work they condemned that superstl.
ton and the medicine men gradually
! lost their power and influence. ola
and young today are deyont alhereuts
Of the Roman Catholic religion. The
men devote themselves to athletic
sports and games between the cere.
monies, being especiallp fond Of base.
BAH and horse racing. Indian oiticers
igpaintainl syigilant police system ana
offenders are punished ~ imprison.
ment in the tail at De snets Drunken.
! mess Is not tolerated.
Subscribe fof ~ We V,tS.iul-ii.