Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1919-12-12
SlLETZ

Siletz Valley covered with mantle of
snow. This came a little earlier than
ucual. We don't often get the snow
until about Christmas. The Robin
kcd'Breast came to the window for
his morning meal and we gave him
the crumbs from the table and he
warbled IA thank.you, and when spring
time comes he will again pay us by
his sweet music. 1t is real pleasure
to hear the music OF hundred robins
in the forest near by, about 40 are
trying to excel each other in the
sweetness of their music.
During tho week some five or six
persons have been here looking over
{. the county to see what the propects
are to buy land. The Indians have not
yet received the patents to their land,
consequently there is no land adver-
tdsed for sale When the patents come
no doubt a large port Of the reserva-
lion land will be sold. The Indians
have chance to keep their land and
build up homes and be independent
but If they prefer to sell, 1t will be
their own business; of course 1t would
be better to keep their land and grow
up with the country as prosperous
citizens. 1t is also important that
their children should have homes.
Jim Franks, understand, has sold
his fine farm near the Agency, so acres
for $500. This is tn EIDE Poe Charlie
farm known by most of tho older set
tiers. 1t is one of the finest farms on
the reservation. A gem of fertility
and beauty. Ira Wade negotiated the
sale. Mr.. Franks will still live te
Siletz. He will build a nice residence
on q beautiful plat of four lots near
the Agency and make this his perman-
ent home SO he says.
Mrs. Lee Wade was over visiting
several days during the week but has
returned to her home at Toledo.
Jess Daniels is in charge of The log
gin business for the Wade sawmill.
H, and his wife are living at Siletz.
The sawmill is in good repair and is
saving from 10000 to $4,000 feet of
lumber per day.
Prof. John NJ. Miller was requested
to referee the basket ball games play
ed at Toledo on the 5th. The team
furnished Mr.. and Mrs. Miller a car
TO go to Toledo and paid all their
expenses. The game WIS played De.
tween Newport and Toledo. SO to in
fa"of OF Tc.edo. Toledo girls won 30
to Z. Toledo had some star players.
Prof. Miller speaks of the splendid
treatment he received from the Toledo
teams.
The old jail that was built some 20
years ago with its walls Of timber by
4, laid fiat, and its windows made of
iron bars, is now being changed and
used as a garage. Almost every In,
dian, males, not females, had been in
that Jail at one time or another. On
the walls were written Put in Jail
30 days for drink" On another, three
weeks for walking with the girls"
on another, two months for fighting"
on another, three months for steal
ing and still on another, "G0 days
for going off the reservation without
permission" 1t seems this punish
ment did not prevent crime, but rather
encouraged it. Sometimes the prison
ers were kept on bread and water for
weeks and when turned out would
commit some crime again and have
to be put back in solitary confinement
1t is sad to turn back and look over
the past of this reservation and see
what little good was accomplished |
with the Indian. How he has faded |
out in the process Of trying to civiliae
him. He is a child of nature endowed |
with the instincts of love, hatreo, re-
venge and friendship, same as others,
and when you get his confidence it is |
hard to loose it and when you do it |
is hard to get it again. This is also |
true of the white man. Love is the |
principle that controls the world, net
force. Joe Kosydar now owns the
land where the old jail stands and in |
the future will be used as a garage |
and not as Jail. 1t has many un-
pleasant memories that cluster about |
it but may the use it is put to now do |
more good than when it was used to
make better Indians.
Elmer Deetz, from Aurora, bought |
the Pond farm, consideration, $4,000.
1t contains 40 acres and is a fine farm. /