The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1922-07-03
GOVT SAWM|LL
BENEFITS INDIANS
Whites Do Most of Work In
Hope of Interesting Reds
i'm Business
OPERATE TRACT
OF 227,0O0 ACRES

Has Put Over $2,0OO,OOO Net Profit Into
Tribal Fund Indians Encouraged
to Undertake Business Operations on
Own Responsibility
MENOMINEE INDIAN RESERVA-
TION, KESHENA, Wis, July 3-(As-
sociated Press. The federal govern
ment operates, on this Indian reserya-
tion, complete northwoods logging in
dustry, including a saw mill valued at
a quarter of a million dollars.
1t is a successful, money making in
dustry, which since about 1914 has put
more than 100000 net profit in the
tribal fund of the Menominees. Its pur-
pose is not primarily to make money,
but to afford an opportunity for Me
nominees to learn business.
This government lumber camp works
in tract of 227 600 acres of timber
land, with about 90 miles of railroad
to haul out the logs, and the rail head
at Neopit, in the heart of the reserva-
ton. The work is conducted by white
men, under the general supervision OF
Edgar A Allen, superintendent OF the
reservation, and the logging operations
under q. A. Clutches, manager of the
operation, University OF Michigan
man. White lumberjacks and contract
ors have done the largest portion of the
work, for the Indians have not taken to
numbering readily.
Several indian JObbers
The Menominees are encouraged not
only to work in the camps and the mill
for wages. but to undertake operations
as jobbers on their own responsibility.
Comparatively email tracts are assigned
for this purpose, where an Indian Eun-
dertake to clear the logs and deliver
them to the railroad, hiring his own
help, and furnishing teams and equip
ment. This requires capital, skill and
business ability. Its not necessary
for the Indian jobbers to have capital tc
start. If they can convince the superin-
tendent of their responsibility, the gov
eminent advances the means for them
to try to make good and to become in
dependent. There are several Indian
| jobbers now at work. One of these
camps Is conducted by a Carlisle gradu
/ ate, who was a notable ball player in his
! college DAYS. and who now plays sum
mer baseball with the Neopit Indian
| team
Learns Farming from Book
| Among the staff of white men in the
! lumber camps Is a former New NoFI
/ state theatrical man, who retired aftel
making some money, became interested
| in doing supply work for the camps
studied farming out of books, and thi;
summer has thirteen or fourteen acres
under cultivation about the camps tx
| supply fresh vegetables.
Washington maintains an active su
pervision over the entire establishment
| At one of the wood camps a pine lo
was used to make a watering trough
Charges were flied that good pine log
were being wasted for watering trOuglls
and an investigation was held.
Congress determines how fast thes
Menomnec forests shall be cleared. an
reservation officials estimate that at tn
present rate, sixty years viii b" requires
| for CLEARING. Congress also determine
how often and how much money froT
the lumber profits shall be distribute
among the Menominees. One year thi
amounted to about $500 a head, Will
on other years it has been as low a
$40 each, and on some years nothing a
all.