The Alaska daily empire., 1918-02-05
METLAkATLA AS 1T Is AT THE PRESENT TIME Improved Conditions and Plans for the Year Explained by Rev.
 MarSden. COURAGE IS RENEWED For a Long Time the Pop- ulatiOn of the Place
 Been DWindIing
 Rapidly.
COURAGE IS RENEWED
(By Edward Marsden)


 than that. For a time they decreas ed rather raNdly; but today, on ac count of improved conditions, tht population is increasing again. How ever, it will be some years before they can reach the 1900 mark, theil original number when they first came into Alaska over thirty years ago.
 One is greatly disappointed ir walking through the town to see the dilapidated looks of many of the homes. Many of these houses were built in 1888 and soon afterwards They were built of spruce andn il does not take long for that wood tC rot in Alaska. Only the well-to-dc have been able to keep up their re pairs. Added to this is the fact that for long while under poor management and with a dark future the Metlakahtla Indians were much discouraged. They even talked oi returning to British Columbia where the political status of the Indian was improved and quite hopeful.
 Outlook Brighter
 But, thanks to the persistence oi their leaders, and in spite of blinded and unjust opposition, things are now putting themselves into shape in Metlakahtla today. The repairs are being made both to the homes and to the public works. The Indian: are renewing their courage ant there is no more talk of returning to the old country. During this las year the birth rate has exceeded the death rate and the general healti of the community is very good. Take Pride in School
 The Indians take pride in the biz school building which the Govern ment has erected in their town. It. daily attendance numbers somethin, like two hundred and these are di vided into about eight grades, ex cluding the kindergarten class. Int cirrculum is exactly that of any oth re well regulated school anywhere under the American flag. Thi' Spring will be the first time in Met lakahtla that a class of young meI and women graduate from the school Among these graduates is the daugh ter of the writer If some of then wish to pursue higher studies, as i' the case with our girl, they can thel go to the American colleges in thu States. This course is entirely op tional But whichever way they enc their studies, all that we ask O them is to become useful to them selves to their people and commun ity, and especially to their country and Flag!
 Work of Reattie
 Your fellow townsman, Prof. " G. Beattie, together with his better half and the six American teacher: with him, is doing very good worl for the Metlakahtla Indians. The situation is difficult and it's prob lens are very peculiar and complex ing. A hot-headed man can easily make any kind of an English pud ding out of Metlakahtla. But il takes the calibre and the sound ant sober judgment of person like Prof Beattie to handle the situation wisel, and satisfactorily. The people ap preciate his work as they do Profs Lopp and Hawkesworth-one the su perintendent of Indian Education fol lo c1ya md tLn Southeastern section of the Territory
 Fund is Growing
 Metlakahtla today has a kind O a cooperative and stock company When they first started this over two years ago, they could only raise capital of $3,OOO, from 30 sharehold CTS. This winter, after the accounts were audited the capital was fount to be about $l7,O0O and the share holders numbered over 100. Int company owns a mercantile store ant a steam sawmill plant. The business of the sawmill has been very small but this winter an entirely new out fit has been purchased and 1t nov being installed To say nothing O the store, there is a prospect Of large and paying business for tht sawmill.
 After they were unsuccessful tt attempt the canning of salmon oI large scale the only course seemed open was to advertise for lease O the canning and fish rights on An nette Island. This has brough about a new order of things. Per haps it was wise. perhaps it was no wise. Certainly that seemed to b' the only course for the Indians a the time. The canning of salmon on Annette Island for the next fiy' years will be done by group of mel from Seattle. Under the terms O the lease, the people are to be em plOyed and certain royalties on tn' salmon caught around Anntte are t' be paid to the Natives through thu Government. The accumulated sun is to be used for the purchase O