Weekly Chemawa American., October 03, 1902, Page 8, Image 8

THE CHEMAWA AMERICAN.
THE SILETZ AGENCY.
Neither pen nor bru-di woul J be adequate
h (he task of describing the beauties of the
Siletz Agency. The first view frOid the
load down to the valley is captivating.
The neatly painted government buildings,
standing on a Utile plateau between the
heels of a great horseshoe bend in the riv
er, and back of them, hill after hill find
ridge after ridge clothed with stately firs,
go to make up a picture to defy the skill
nf a master. Later on, when you have
forded the Hroad rippling stream, and fol
lowed the laneB until you have gamed the
plateau and stand beHide the buildings,
looking bick over the valley, the picture is
moat delightful. At your feet lies the lev
el horseshoe plain cut up into fields where
cattle wander at wilt over the stubble of a
bounteous harvest. Beyond this the Unlit
green fringe of willows mark the seven-,
mile bend of the etreim and farther stilt,'
rising in a grund amphitheatre of verdure,
Is the cresoent mountain that marks the
sky line. A wide streteli of the imagina
tion added to this feeble effort at dictlp
tio.n would yet give the etrai.ger a vague
idea of the scene. There is a cnanu in the
blending of the brown fields and the green
forests and l he ethereal blue of heaven,
that, ad.led to the pastorial sounds, Alls t he
Roul amUtill the senses. The repose of '
the scene in o much like "Sleepy Hollow"
thnt no one 'would longer doubt Kip Van
Winkle Steep.
Here, on the Agency Iteserve of one.
hundred and eighty-acres. Superintend
ent D. D. McArthur and an elllcient corps
of helpers are safeguuidinur the interests of
such of the Indians hi need assistance and
endeavoring to educate their children.
Since the beginning Mr. McArthur's ad
mi uist ration, many improvements have
been added for the convenience and better
appearance of the buildings aud grounds.
Jsew tliors have been put into almost all
the buildings, and wap and water and
paint and pappr have done wonders in im
proving the appearance of the walls. Lin
oleum adorns I he hull ways and carpus
and rugs brighten the floors. A large wood
shed and a porch leading from (he dormi
tories to the dining room hiv added
much to the comfort of the children. Un
blghily buildings are being renewed and
areas tool with weeds and brush are bning
cleared and put into Bin h 1 1 fruits tor the
school. The ofllee, building which Btumli
at the foot of the plateau and at Home dis
tance from the school is to he near Ih4 dnr
iniiories. Every tff rt is being made to
make the school and its surroundings a
model of cleanliness, good order, and good
taste. About forty children are now at
the school and when l he hoppickers return
this number will be almost double.
The discipline of the school is good, and
to the credit of t he children and those who
set lire it, it may he said that it 1h easily
maintained. Hupt. McArthur tliiik tlixt
the progress of the pupils will compare fa
vorably wilb ttiat of white children. 1'hey
readily learn reading and the same may tie
said of writing. Literary exorcise alter
nate by half-days with industrial training
Girls who attend school in the morning,
f-pt-nd the afternoon in practical domesili!
employment under competent teachers of
cooking, -ewing, etc. Boys hpeml half the
day nmlertbe direction of the industrial
teacher. .One of the praneworthy acts of
the present administration is the leasing of
the sawmill to competent persons. Under
the leaa it is provided that all Indian
may hav logs converted into lumber at a
low cost. This will mean much toward
needed improvements in the way of fences
and buildiuga. 1 here 4.re three stores at
Sileiii. One, a racket stire kept by Chun.
Montgomery, and two general inen-lian
dise stores operated by Mr-. C- G, C
land, and McDonald & Hall Jims. Tho
latter merchants have the postoltice.
There are besides a blacksmith simp, a
photogtaph gallery, a butcher shop, htiI
tlie saw mill operated by Hal Bros.
Aside from its isolation there ianotamnre
desirable place to live nor better opportu
nity for home-bull ling than can befniiinl
in the beautiiulSllelz Valley. The Toledo
Reporter.