Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1920-06-14
Chemawa Gets
Equipment Of
Tacoma School

So great has been the growth of
mawa that congress, recognizing this
fact, has abolished the Cushman
school at Tacoma, dismantled it. and
is now arranging TO transfer all Of
I the fixtures from that school to Che
mawa. This became known Monday
noon when Harwood Hall, superin-
ltendent of the Chemawa Indian
School, gave a brief statement of
facts concerning the institution at
the business mems luncheon IN the
Commercial Club.
Four years ago when Mr.. Hall be-
came in charge of the school at Che
mawa, he said, congress seriously
considered the abolishment Of that
school. Attendance had so fallen off,
and the Cushman school was so SUI
perior in conduct and growth that
the Indian department of the Depart
ment Of the Interior took steps to alb
olish Chemawa. Under careful guild
ance of Mr.. Hall and his 6 isistants
THE Chemawa school gained by such
given, and the Cushman school suf-
fered the abollshment instead.
Although the Chemawa Indian
schools capacity is $50 students, dur
| ing the past term 672 were crowded
in, Mr.. Hall said. The institution
40 years old and many of the build
ings are falling in decay and ruin
This fact, coupled with the steadily
growing attendance makes greater
annual appropriations from congress
imperative, Mr.. Hall declared, and ex-
pressed the wish that Salem citizens
bring pressure to bear in Washington
that will spell for greater financial
assistance.
Sums aggregating 100000 a year
are spent in the conduct of the Che.
mawa Indian school. Value of the
the buildings on the site reaches in
excess of a half million dollars, Mr.
Hall asserted.
There are 442 acres of land sur.
rounds the school and under the care
of students there. Dairying, farming
any many mechanical pursuits are
followed by students that come from
S5 tribes in all parts of the north.
west and Alaska. OF this number 25C
students are from Alaska Many OF
them return to their native land each
summer to engage in fishing. from
which many Of them emerge consider
ably enriched.
Courses are taught to the Indians
at Chemawa that are equal to the
studies in public grammar schools
Mr.. Hall told the business men,
Grades as high as the second grade
of the city high school are conduct
ed, following which many of the sutd-
ents attend higher domestic institu-
tions. Last term Is students from
Chemawa attended the high school
in Salem, two Of them graduating last
week. Students are kept at the Che.
mawa Indian school until they are
21 years old when they are then free
to engage in any private pursuit that
they wish, Mr.. Hall said.
Evidencing the need OF financial
aid from congress-, Mr.. Hall said that
the boys building, where about 25(
Indian lads make their home, is fas
detefiorating, and that the building
should be RACED and another structure
that would cost approximately $70,
900, should be erected in its place
Many other big improvements ar,
needed, he said
Girls attending Chemawa ar,
taught, in addition to the regular
studies, home economics and nursing
eminently fitting them as caretaker.
OF homes. Boys are taught tailoring
blacksmithing, carpentering, ant
many other occupations.
indicating the productivity of tn,
school, MIR. Hall said that last yea
he sold 24O tons Of hay that had beer
raised by the Indian boys on a SO
acre tract of land.