Coeur d'Alene evening press. (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) 1907-1929, 1909-06-19
OPENING OF COEUR
D'ALENE RESERVE
Marks Epoch in History of Pacific
Northwest

| OnANh' Wash. June 10
Occur d'Alene Indian reservation in
Idaho. where 100000 Of its 400 900
acres of agricultural. grazing and
timbered lands will be distributed
among homesteaders by the govern
meRt lottery plan at Occur d'Alene.
80 miles east OF Spokane, beginning
the morning of August 8, is one of
the three reserves in the Inland EN-
pire to be opened this year. The
other two are the Spokane in eastern
Washington, 5000 acres of agricul-
tural lands, and the Flathead in
western Montana. with 450, 900 acres
OF agricultural and grazing lands.
Those eligible to settle on this land
must register at either Kalispeli or
Missoula, Mont, for the Flathead;
at Occur d'Alene, for the Occur d.
Alene, and at Spokane for the Spok-
ane reservation. Registration will
begin on July Is and continue until
August 8. All applications for reg
istration must be mailed in a plain
envelope, 3 Y by inches. to James
w. Witten superintendent of OPEN
ing, Occur d'Alene, 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 settle
ment next April means homes for
from 1000 to 10000 persons. prob
ably many of them from crowded ci-
ties in the east. and the development
of the lands will add several mill
lions of dollars annually to the
wealth production of the Inland EN-.
pire.
The reservation has an interesting
history, dating from the early '30s,
when French-Canadian employees Of
the Hudson bay company stirred up
among the untutored reds desire
for the coming of the Black Robes.
as the missionaries were known In
those days. Fathers De Smet, Greg
CRY Mengarini. and Nicholas Point.
accompanied by Brothers Specht,
Huet and Claessens came from st.
Louis in 1871 and lived among the
Indians. They founded their first
mission in the Bitter Root valley 10
Montana near the site of the present
town of Stevensville, where they at
terward erected a church and parish
house and cultivated the land. Sew
eral years afterwards Father Josef
Joined the band of workers and the
Occur d'Alene mission was establish
ed.
Father Josef later became super
ior of the Rocky Mountains 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 en-
braces the states of California, Ore
gon. 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 Ind
ians. then in their prime, were look
ed upon as medicine men, endowed
with supernatural power and eonse-
ouently. Of great influence among
their fellows. When the priests be-
gan their work they condemned that
superstition and the medicine men
gradually lost their power and in
Auence. Old and young are today
devout adherents Of the Roman
Catholic religion. The men devote
themselves to athletic sports and
games between the ceremonies. be-
ing especially fond Of baseball and
horse racing. Indian officers main
tain a vigiIant police system and Of
tenders are punished D! ilnP' 'seH
meut in the Jail at DeSmet. Drunk
enness is not tolerated.
Pierre wudshoe. chief Of the tribe.
and successor to Andrew seltiee. who
died in 1902. while not the wealth
lest. is one of the most respected and
influential men on the reservation. I
Pierre Moctielma Is sub-chief and
John Davenport. who vas raised By
a white merchant OF the same name /
Al Colfax. washington. Is head OF the
Indian police. They are respected
by all who know them
Louis Mitehata probably Is me
weaithiest Of the Occur d'Aiene lad