The Chemawa American, December 01, 1926, Page 4, Image 4

THE CHEM AWA AMERICAN
PAGE 4
FROM THE FAR NORTH
(Continued from page 1)
with food. The cooking was done out in the hallway.
The pot they had was made out of clay and little rocks.
They lit their fire by rubbing little rocks together with
moss.
The natives kept their time from the sun and by the
moon and stars. They could read the moon. There
were many stories about the moon. From it they
could tell when it was going to be bad or good weather.
And they could tell if they were going to have a good
year hunting. And they said there was a big bird in
the middle sea that made the bad weather and every
time this big bird made a move a big storm came.
When a family had too many children they would
throw some away alive. This was done when they
traveled in winter. A story is told of a man who was
traveling in winter who had a son aged eight or nine.
This little boy was tired from traveling and he wanted
to sit on the sled and have a ride. His father got tired
of him; he made a hole in the ice and put this little boy
in and drowned him. This old man is still living, but
he has changed now and has become a Christian.
While this hard life was going on among the young
people, white people came to them. The natives were
so scared they ran to hide. Later on they understood
the white people wouldn’t hurt them, but wanted to
be friendly. They could not understand where they
came from and about the wonderful things they had.
Later more white people came. Among them there
was a certain man who was always interested in the
natives and began to live with them. He had a book
he used every day. The natives would laugh at him
because he always talked to himself. It was not long
before he learned how to talk Eskimo and began to tell
them about God. Many came to listen and spread the
news to others. They turned from their beliefs and
wanted to learn more about the white people’s books.
The white people gave them food and other things.
Before they learned to use flour, beans and rice, they
would throw them away for they did not know how to
use them. Later on they discovered that they were
good to eat. When the little girls played house they
used them for making-believe cooking. From that
they discovered how to use these foods.
In 1890 Dr. Sheldon Jackson started mission work
in Barrow and also brought the reindeer from Siberia
in the year 1892. The reindeer of today are said to
be descended from the wild caribou that were domesti­
cated in northern Europe and Asia centuries ago.
Over one thousand reindeer were brought across
Bering Straits.
This saved many people’s lives.
Now every man owns reindeer, even the women and
children own them. They use them in many differ­
ent ways. Their skins are used for coats and boots.
They trade the meat for anything they want in the
stores.
Mr. Stevenson was placed in charge as school teacher
in Barrow. And later on a manse and a church was
built. Dr. Spence was there from 1915 to 1920. He
worked faithfully for the natives. In 1921 Dr. and
Mrs. Greist were transferred from Cape Prince of
Wales. They also have helped many person’s lives.
In 1920 the new hospital was completed. The first
nurse to work among the natives was Miss Florence
Dakin.
Since the white people have brought churches,
schools and hospitals, the life of the native has been
changed. There are more good houses built; women
use sewing machines and steel needles; the natives are
getting away from their old superstitions and most of
the children are going to school. Parents are taking
care of their children and urging them to live better
lives. Many are saying, “We should not treat the
white people badly who have done so much for the
natives.” They are thanking them for their help.
THE CRANBERRY
We believe in doing all in our power to assist in the
promotion of new industries in Oregon. We feel it a
duty, especially when the industry is a worthy one.
There recently came to our notice a sample of cran­
berries raised in Clatsop county, this state, and we
can truthfully say that the berries are by far the finest
that we have ever seen. At this season of the year the
great majority of us eat cranberries, but few realize
that the berries are grown so near us, nor do we have
more than a confused idea of the industry. The Dell­
moor Cranberry Company of Astoria, Oregon, is father­
ing the industry in this state. A little data will prob­
ably be of interest to many of our readers:
The Dellmoor cranberry marshes, located in the
northwest corner of the state, can be designated as one
of the show places of Oregon. There are 40 acres
planted to the red berries, 30 acres of which are now
in full bearing. It takes five years to bring a marsh
into full bearing. This year the crop harvested at
Dellmoor was over 9000 bushels, about a trainload of
berries. The banner acre yielded 750 bushels. Four
acres on the project gave a net return of 2634 bushels.
This was on a section of the marsh over 12 years
old.
Growing cranberries cannot be called a poor man’s
game. According to the U. S. Department of Agri
culture it is the most highly specialized of any farm
product grown. It costs about $1500 per acre by the
time you get your first crop. You have everything
to fight that the ordinary fruit raiser has to go up
against with a lot of extras thrown in. Owing to the
nature of the low-lying ground on which cranberries
are produced Jack Frost is the biggest enemy that the
cranberry grower has to face. Frost is fought by
flooding the marshes where it is possible to get water.
In fact, a marsh without a plentiful supply of water is
a very poor proposition. Smudging is being resorted
to but this work has not been carried far enough at
Dellmoor to know whether it will be successful or
not.
A large amount of capital has been invested in this
industry in the northwest in the past 15 years. Like
other new enterprises owing to lack of experience, cost
of upkeep and neglect many of the plantings have
deteriorated and a great deal of money has been lost.
On the other hand, cranberry fields that have been
scientifically handled, like Dellmoor, have proved to be
a fine investment. The marshes at Dellmoor during
the summer months are a beautiful sight and the public
generally is always made welcome.