Douglas Island news., 1919-04-04
EsKIMos ADOPT
 MANY ORPHANS
Continued from Page n

Bureau Of Education for loi6-11 concerning Noorvik says;
 "The establishment of tho Moor yll center, involving as it did the removal Of Eskimos from thc coast
 O a umbered section has been an epoch-maNng event in out manage mont of Che Eskimo problem. The ! Noorvik station is Che biggest pro- | feet our people have to handle in this district. It called for leader ship of the highest order and an un- usual display of mechanical ability. ! Charles Roplogla and his son handle | Che largest school In this district. They also manage and operate a saw mill and an electric lighting plant; they have installed and arc bring ing Co perfection a wireless station that is communicating direct with Nome regularly. and they have or ganized various native industries among others fish trap, managed j. by a native company-a native store Etnrted without any outside help. They have likewise established a sawmill-oporating company, which takes charge of the management of the mill. paying the labor and on- gineer and saving on shares. After ! Che success of the electric lighting system the natives wished electricity in their homes, SO am arrangement was made for the natives to purchase ! the lights. wire, etc.. and Co pay for native engineer Co keep tho plant running. All of this work has been
 maugurated and carried on by our people at Noorvik. and it has an |boen done in addition to tho rcgu- liar school. village, and reindeer
 work that an other teachers have to manage"
 While the final order for thc placing the Eskimo orphans in homes
 Of the northern Eskimos has not yet been given. and probably will | not be until Che opening Of naviga- ton makes possible the transfer it is believed that there is little like Ilihood Of permanent Orphanoges be-
 ing established.
 In the meantime the good people of Noorvik. who have volunteered Co come at once by dog sled for the orphaned children will have to wait until spring, when the transfer Co the Kobuk district can be made by water to Kotzebue Sound and from there Co Noorvik.
 Decimated by Influenza The influenza epidemic. begin. ming last November cast a pail over l the Coast district from Cape Prince Of Wales. not far from the Goth dc. | gree Of latitude. north, to Point Dal. some distance below thc 62nd degree Of latitude, north.
 Important settlements included In | the district are Cape Prince of Wales. Nome and st. Michael, while many Of the smaller coast villages were affected. Two hundred and fifty deaths occurred between s. ! Michael and Point Dall. and 75O oc- cured between Nome and Cape Prince Of Wales
 or the 25O or 800 orphans ninety are at Nome. These will bo among | the first transferred, although it is | probable that the first allotment | from Nome will not exceed fifty, as compared with the 12l asked for by the citizens of Noorvik
 It is expected that the transfer of the orphans will be made with very little expense. although some as- sistance may be acceptable in the purchase of clothing.
 It was not many years ago that | The Esklmos were considered strange and unreal people, who counted their wealth in fish hooks and whose main delight was to eat tallow can dies, soap and blubber.
 Today they are known as an in- tclligent race sympathetic, kindly md docile.- Seattle Times.