The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1909-06-24
100000 ACRES OF IDAHO
LAND TO Be DISTRIBUTED
Occur d'Alene Indian Reservation Will Be
Given to Homesteaders by the Gov
eminent on August 9th

are punished by imprisonment in the
Jail at De Smet Drunkenness 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 in
fiuential men on the reservation.
Pierre Moo tielma is sudb-chief and
John Davenport, who was raised by
a white merchant of the same name
at Colfax, Wash, is head OF THE In
dian police. They are respected by
all who know them.
Louis Mitchata probably is the
wealthiest OF the Occur d'Alene In
dians He is reputed to be worth at
least $4,000, of which $4,000 is in
money at interest. He lives in a
house which would be no discredlt to
amy farmer in the country, and has
good barn for stock and conven-
lent outbuildings. A grove of trees
surrounding a large fish pond is a
pretty feature OF the premises. Lo-lo,
who lives near the government saw
mill, few miles east OF the mission
has possessions i'm livestock and cash
to the amount of $4,000 Chief Wild
shoe is worth $4,000 and others have
made from $1,000 to $4,000.
The great age reHhcd by number
OF these people is a matter OF inter
est. Father Caruana, of De Smet
mission, says that Charles. who died
there a few years ago, was not hess
than 100 years old. He was totally
blind for years before his death, and
Vas wasted ON by his daughter, who
died later, deaf and blind, at the age
OF 90 years. Cpo-NaICha, Occur d.
Alene squaw, died recently at the age
of 90 years, and Victoria OF the same
tnibe, is supposed to be In her Goth
year Scam-tal-am-o, Spokane
squaw, who lives on the reservation
is 81 years There are several others
past the four score period.
The reservation is situated wholly
in Kootena6 county, Idaho, and con-
tains Approximately 625 square miles
or 100000 acres of land, OF which
two thirds is cultivatable and capable
of high development The rest Is
heavily timbered with whfte and yoi-
low pine, cedar, fir and tamaTaci;, and
IS subject TO entry under tire homo
stead laws at its appraised value
The cost of, these lands has not yet
been determined. While the principal
crops produced are wheat. oats and
hay, the rOl has proved ilseii tc be
admiral \ adj? TO the cultivation
OF potatoes, sugar lDcets and ;faer
root CT Fps, also tree and vine fruits
The Indian population of the reSer
vation IS 500 Occur d'Alenes, Of
whom 255 are males There are also
81 Spokane Indians. A census taken
early this year shows the sexes are
nearly evenly divided. These people
! each own 100 acres of land and have
$500 head of horses, /, 200 COWS. COO
hogs and Us sheep. The reserve is
traversed by the Chicago, Milwaukee
& Puget Sound railroad and the Te-
koa4Burke branch OF the Oregon rail
road & Navigation company, the lat
,er carrying all members of the Coeur
d'Alene tribe free OF charge between
Tekoa, Wash, and Cataldo, Idaho,
81 miles, as a result OF a contract
made when the Hartman people Sc
cured right of way across the re-
serve in 1889. The main line is reach
ed by steamer on Occur dAlene lake
from Occur d'Alene.