The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1910-02-15
THE INDIAN SERVICE
Requirements That Must BE 4ei
by Those Employed.
Hxa~anations N Vvrating Twice
Year Ter ToaeheRs ana InstFuc-
toRs In the vaRious Depart
nonts-Ageney EnDloyes.

tiers In the vaRious Depart
nents-Agensy EnDloyes.
Charles McNichols, formerly news
paper publisher in Kankakee county
H., now agent for the Colorado In
dian reservation, with headquarters ct
Parker, Ariz., writes the following con-
corning the requirements for positions
in the Indian service, says the Chicago
Record Herald.
Occasionally get letter from
some one inquiring for position In the
Indian service. Such positions, with
the exception OF agents and inspectors,
are all in the classified civil service, and
one must take the examination In or
der to be appointed. l will say, how
ever, that for most places IN the In
dian service one IL much surer OF Sc
curing an appointment after he has
passed the examination than In any
other branch of the civil service. This
IL especially true Of carpenters, black
smiths, farmers, industrial teachers,
Iaundresses, cooks and seamstresses.
For these positions one Is almost sure
to get an appointment after passing
good examination. Teachers and ma
irons do not stand 50 good show I'M
less they pass high. One stands almost
no show of being appointed superin-
tendsnt, as most superintendents are
appointed by promoting teachers who
make good records.
wages are good, but in no case are
they high. Mechanics get from 5000 to
5000 year, room, fuel and lights fur
nished. Their hours are shorter and
they usually do not have to work as
hard as II working in the usual why.
Farmers, industrial teachers. Sc am
stresses, nurses, matrons and teachers
have to take . written examination.
These examina tions are held twice =
year, in April and Oct ober, on the same
day in two or three principal cities OF
each state. like Chicago, Springfield
and Peoria. The teachers examinA-
ton IL little stifKer than the ordinary
county examine tAon. Besides the
usual branches, they are examined In
drawing and the elements Of plane
geometry. The other examinat tons Dc
not 50 much require special educa tiou
as common sense.
''There Il no written examina tion fol
carpenters, blacksmiths, cooks and
Iaundresses. They simply MI out =
trades blank with vouchers from
those who know of their ability a.
workmen and are willing to swear t<
the same. These examinations can be
taken at home at any time. All yot
peed is to write to the civil service
commission at Washington, telling
them what position (trade) you wisl
20 be examined In, and they will sent
you the necessary blanks and vouchers
10 be Allied.
1.-The cook need not think that shs
has to cook alone for hundred o.
more school children. nor the laun
1ress that she has to bend over a wash
tub six days In q week. They are ex
2ected to direct and teach this worl
N the school and see that it is dom
properly. There is = regular detail
" the larger girls to do the laundr
work and detail of boys to run tn
washing machines where they do no
aave a steam laundry. The laundres
merely oversees and inspects the work
sees that each pupil does his share an
hat all work Is properly done. III
lame is true of the cook. The wage
Tor these positions IL from $3.50 to $72
ser year.
"All the clothing. sheets, curtains
to-, used in the school Except boy!
suits) are made in the sewing room
The seamstress rarely sits down to
sewing machine, but she usually ha
% do the more particular cutting an
lifting and to see that all the work
properly done.
1.-The Industrial teacher looks afte
The boys out-of-door work. such a
hardening. care Of the stock. teamipl
cleaning grounds, etc. The carpente
makes repairs, makes tables, closet
and does such building and repairin
u may be required. with such boy a
sistants as he can use profitab.y.
1.-THE matrons look after the chi
1ren when not in school-see that the
are properly bathed, dressed, etc, loo
after the dormitory work, and overse
the cook, laundress. seamstress, etc.
1.-THE farmers and bbacksmiths ar
usually agency employees. and they d
Ill the necessary work in their line
The farmer instructs the Indians
their farming. md sees that they plan
cultivate aud harvest properly.
Altogether there are about 4,O(
employees in the Indian service. A lie
ter of inquiry addressed to the civ
service commission, Washington. 4
yether with a statement OF the exam
nation you wish to take, will bring th
necessary Information"
Monster Chlnney.
At Constable Hook, N. j., there
being built chimney. which whe
completed will be the tallest on II