Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1909-06-22
THE LAND LOTTERY
OF C0UR D ALENE
THE DISTRIBUTION BEGINNING
AUGUST g.
A History of the Reservation Running
Back Eighty Years.

Spokane, Wash, June '17,-(Special
Correspondence of The Republican,
Occur d'Alene Indian reservation in
Idaho, where 100000 of its 400, 900 acres
of agricultural, grazing and timbered
lands will be distributed among home
steaders by the government lottery
plan at Occur dAlene, thirty-two miles
east of Spokane, beginning the morn
ing of August 8, is one of the three re-
serves in the Inland Empire to be
opened this year. The other two are
the Spokane in eastern Washington,
5000 acres of agricultural lands, and
| the Flathead in western Montana,
with 100000 acres of agricultural and
grazing lands. Those eligible to settle
| on this land must register at either
| Kalispell or Missoula, Mont, for the
| F'lathead; at Occur d'Alene for the
Occur d'Alene, and at Spokane for the
| Spokane reservation. Registration will
| begin on July Is and continue until
August 5. All applications for regis
tration must be mailed in a plain en-
velope. 81 by inches, to James w.
Witten, superintendent of opening,
| Occur fAlene, Idaho.
The passing of the reserve from the
| hands of the historic tribe to white
settlers marks an epoch in the annals
of the northwest: its settlement next
| April means homes for from 1000 to
| 10000 persons. probably many Of them
] from crowded cities in the east, and
the development of the lands will add
several millions of dollars annually to
| the wealth production of the inland
empire.
rbn hn Mt inc
history, dating from the early '30s,
when French Canadian employees of
the Hudson Bay company stirred up
among the untutored reds a desire for
the coming of BLACK Robes" as the
missionaries were known in those days.
Fathers De Smet. Gregory Mengarini.
and Nicholas Point, accompanied by
Brothers Specht. Huet and Claessens,
came from st. Louis in 1S41 and lived
among the Indians. They founded their
first mission in the Bitter Root valley
in Montana, near the site of the pres
ent town of Stevensville, where they
afterward erected a church and parish
house and cultivated the land. Sew
eral years afterward Father Josef join
ed the band of workers and the Occur
d'Alene mission was established. e.
Father Josef later became superior |
of the Rocky Mountain mission, which |
in 1907, was united with the California |
mission. 1t is headed by Rev. Father |
George De la Motto, of Spokane. whose |
Jurisdiction now embraces the states Of /
California, oregon, Washington, Idaho, |
Montana, wyoming. North and South |
Dakota and southern Alaska, an area !
of 900 900 square miles.
In the early days some of the Indians.
then in their prime, were looked upon |
as medicine men," endowed with |
supernatural power and. consequently, H
of great influence among their fellows. n
When the priests began their work
they condemned that superstition and
the medicine men gradually lost their
power and influence Old and young
today are devout adherents of the
Roman Catholic religion. The men
devote themselves to athletic sports
and games between the ceremonies,
being especially fond of baseball and
horse racing. Indian officers main
tain a vigilant police system and Of
tenders are punishable by imprison-
ment in the Jail at De Smet. Drunken
ness is not tolerated.
Pierre Wildshoe, chief of the tribe.
and successor of Andrew Seltice, who
died in 1902, while not the wealthiest,
is one of the most respected and influ-
entail men on the reservation. Pierre
Moctielma is sub-ehef and John DAY.
who was raised by white mer-
chant of the same name at ColfaX,
WASH is head of the Indian police.
They are respected by all who know
them.
Louis Mitchata probably is the
wealthiest of the Occur d'Alene In
dams He is reputed to be worth at
least $4,000, of which $4,000 is in
money at interest. He lives in house
which would be no discrcdit to any
farmer in the country, and has good
barn for stock and convenient out
buildings A grove of trees surround
ng a large fish pond is pretty feat
Ire of the premises. LO-lo, who lives
near the government sawmill, few
niles east of the mission, has posses
;ions in live stock and cash to the
mount of $4,000. Chief Wildshoe is
worth $4,000 and others have from
Il 500 to $4,000.
The great age reached by number
If these people is a matter of interest.
Father Caruana, of De Smet mission.
;ays that Charles, who died there
ew years ago, was not less than 120
ears old. He was totally blind for
ears before his death, and was waited
N by his daughter, who died later,
leaf and blind, at the age of ninety
ears Coo Na-Cha, a Occur dAlene
quaw, died recently at the age of
inety-six years. and Victoria, of the
anne tribe, is supposed to be In her
inetieth year. Scam tal-am-to,
spokane seuaw, who lives on the res
rvation, is ninety-one years There
re several others past the four score
eriod
The reservation is situated wholly in
.ootanai county, Idaho, and contains
pproximately 625 square miles, or
Of, 900 acres of lands, of which two
lirds is cultivatable and capable Of
ign development The rest is heavily
mbered with white and yellow pine,
edar fir and tamarack, and is subject
entry under the homestead law at its
ppraised value. The cost of these
.nds has not yet been determined.
lille the principal crops produced are
heat oats and haV the soil has DrOV-