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

WASHINGTON. June 21.--Two thou.
sand Cherokee Indians. for the mos,
part full bloods, are living TODAY in a
corner OF the North Carolina noun
tains, forgotten by the people of the
iIast These Indians. who are n rem
nant OF the Cherokee tribe which many
years ago was moved by the United
states government to the old Indian
territory, now part OF Oklahoma own
b5,ooO acres in Swain County. G.
Ihey bought these lands with money
aiiotted to them by the government
years ago. refused to go West and have
community Of their own.
commissioner Cato Sells of the In
oian bureau has visited these Indians
In recent weeks and has planned THO
establishment OF new industries among
them FOR their own Improvement and
development. 1t is said that he is the
hrst Indian commissioner to inspect
personally the reservation and to dis
cuss with the Chcrokecs themselves
their problems
Chcrokccs to Raise Apples.
While the Indians hold $4,000 acres
OF land. IT Is not all ti!lablc. by any
means. Located in a beautiful noun
tam country, much Of the land Is
rugged. Commissioner Sells learned
that the conditions there are ideal for
apple growing. And right then he de-
Vcloped the first OF his ideas for aiding
the Indians. Much Of the land owned bv
the Indians could be used for ample
orchards; a splendid market for the
apples lies not more than $50 miles
away. ut Atlanta. Ga. So Commissions
Sells got into communication with the
Department OF Agriculture and made
arrangements to have the Indians sup
piled with great quantity Of seed :
lings Tor apple orchards. II Is cstiynat-
cd that the Indians on the land which
~ ~ n ,tol
reap large profits from the prospective
apple orchards.
Much of the Indians land Is wooded
The Indians in most cases are living
to-day in log houses. II occurred to
Commissioner Sells that this condition
could be bettcrcd. The labor was at
hand. the material growing on the hill
sides for lumber. SO he suggested to
the Indians that II would he good
plan TO have a portable sawmill, which
could be moved readily from place to
place. to make the lumber with which
to build themselves frame houses far
more comfortable than their present
habitations.
The Indians caught at the Idea i'm
mediatcly and agreed 10 cut the tim
Der and operate the mill and build new
houses il the commissioner would sec
that sawmill was provided. This viii
he done at n cost Of $4,000. which the
Indians will pay back TO the depart
ment. This was the second Of Mr.
Seils's ideas for the Improvement Of
the Indians living conditions.
Stock Streams with Fish.
Through the valleys Of the Indian
lands run broad streams, fed from The
mountains. The waters are clear as
crystal, but they are almost devoid Of
fish. The government is constantly
stocking streams in various parts OF
the country with fish. and Commits
sioncr Sells called upon the United
states Fish Commissioner and learned
that these streams running through
the Indians lands could be cared for
along with the other streams at Il
minimum cost. Steps are now being
taken TO have the streams stocked.
The fourth big plan FOR the benefit
OF the Indians developed by Mr.. Sells
on his trip To North Carolina is to
teach the Indian women and girls lace
making. They are very clever at maxi
ing baskets and weaving some kinds
of cloth. SO Mr.. Sells took UP the
question of lace making with n wealthy
woman in New, York, and she has
agreed 10 provide a teacher for the
Indians at her own expense. who will
give them instruction for thirty days
and at the same time instruct some
of the government teachers on the In
dian reservation, who will be able to