Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-06-22

carry on the instruction OF the T,
dians in the future
The Indians living in North Carol;n,
Sells '''
Il didn't see blanket Indian amono
them" said Mr.. Sells They n.ariy
all speak English. though the Chero-
kce tongue is in common use One
thing which struck me Is that ,here
are no missionaries among the Indians
lheE are Christians. and practically
all members Of the Baptis, Cburcb
They have preachers of their owr whn
preach to them in the Indian language
Ihey arc peaceable, and crime ia at
minimum among them
Indian Schools.
me government owns some 700 or
500 acres OF land. which Is the Indian
reservation adjoining the property held
pS the Indians themselves. On the
reservation are located schools for tho
boys and girls and for the young men
ana young women. The Superintendent
is James r.. Henderson, who halls from,
the adjoining county. Haywood. and is
OF scotch Irish descent. himself hill
man. MIR. Henderson. who has proved
nimself a capable superintendent. was
the hrst superintendent of an Indian
reservation appointed by Commissioner
Sells after he came into office a wear
and half ago.
When the Cherokees purchased their
iand In North Carolina back In 1892 the
deal was accomplished through w n
lhomas, who had long been trader
among the Indians in that part OF the
country. Incorporation under the laws
OF North Carolina followed. and the
Indians property became communal
affair. To be allotted by them to the
members OF the tribe. A council elect
ed by the Indians themselves is the
governing body. and they also choose
tribal chief and assistant chief The
present chief Is Saunookce, a fun blood
Indian ahou; forty years old, a gradu-
ate OF Carlisle, and. according TO Com.
missioner Sells, m ideal man for the
place. The governing hoard or coun-
Gil. consisting of nine men. is chosen
every two years
The North Carolina Indians. Ike the
white mountainous OF the Southern
mountains, lead primitive lives N
many WAYS They have no bridges
across their streams for wagons.
though they have the old fashioned
swinging footbridges that sway with
every step person takes. Fords arc
used FOR the wagons And their haul
inE and farming is done not with
case with many OF the white mountain
GERS in that section. The scenery III
the mountains there is beautiful
Help nj Little Cost.
commits !oner Sells commented on the
fact that the plans which are being de.
Eeiopcd TO help the Indians TO better
things do not mean a large outlay OF
money on the part of the government;
IN fact. the expense attached to therf
VIII he practically nothing. On the
government reservation itself FIR
sells also planned number Of needed
improvements in conjunction With IN.
superintendent. He is anxious to have
the reservation produce all the but
ter and eggs and vegetables which are
needed 10 feed the $50 or more Indian
children VINO attend the school there
ana hndinE that IL does not. Mr.. Sells
mapped out plan for clearing some
Of the timber to make more land for
crops; he planned for more modern
dairy, and for new hennery and for
a duck farm, new hospital TO care
FOR the Indians also has been planned
by the commissioner.
Alr. Sells spent hours talking over
his plans with the Indians themselves
They are intelligent and dignified and
j found that they were eager to carry
out plans for the betterment Of the
tribe" said Mr.. Sells. At present tho
numbers OF the tribe remain about the
same. changing little from year to
year. though some OF the Indians go
az way TO seek Il living in other parts
Of the cOunlrY