The Flathead Courier 1916

              THE   FLATHEAD COURIER.
HMwkri *M '^"^
'POLSON    DOES   THINGS'
VOLUME 6
POLSON, FLATHEAD COUNTY, MONTANA, THURSDAY, JANUARY 7, 1916.
NUMBER 40
tANDS ON FLATHEAD
,  SUBJECT OF REPORT
\S~
Washington, Dec. 29.—The disposition of lands on the Flathead Indian
reseivation in Montana is discussed in
some detail in the annual report of
Land Commissioner*Clay Tallman,
made public today. He cites the fact
that the reservation was thrown open
in 1910 and that there has been a
heavy demand for lands suitable for
\ certain unappraised tracts that were
not thrown open in 1910, and these
tracts, since found unnecessary for
allotment, were appraised in 1913.
Settlers who went on these lands in
1910 and 1911 insist that the appraisal
was too high, and.asked that the lands
be sold at the original price fixed in
the apraisement of 1909.
At the last session of congress a bill
was introduced to grant relief to these
settlers, but it failed of passage, and
the commissioner states that action
on the applications of these settlers
is being deferred, to afford them further opportunity to secure legislation
this session. Further discussing the
X Flathead re-crvation, Commissioner
/Tallman says:
i "A number of settlers located on
* Flathead lands, classified as timber
lands, and there have been numerous
homestead applications for these timber lands. These applications have
all been rejected for the reason that
these lands are not subject to home-
sead entry until after all the timber
has been cut and removed. The act
of March 3, 1909, provides for the
sale of the timber on these lands, and
that after the sale and removal of
the timber such of the lands as are
valuable for agricultural purposes
shall be sold and disposed of under
regulations to be prescribed by the
secretary of the interior. On Aug. 4,
1915, regulations covering the subject
were approved by the department. It
was provided therein that after the
timber has been sold and removed the
lands are to be re-examined and the
agricultural and grazing lands will be
appraised and opened to entry under
the homestead laws, the appraised
price to be paid as provided Ih said act
t)f April 23, 1904. No rights are gained by settlement or application until
these lands are opened in accordance
with the regulations. This office has
not been advised by the Indian office,
which office has charge of the sale of
this timber that the timber has been
sold and removed rVom any specific
tracts.
In Kalispell District.
"Section 13 of said act of April 23,
1904, provides for the sale of lands
■classified as agricultural lands of the
first and second classes and grazing
lands undisposed of at the expjration
of. five years from the taking effect
of the act, and pursuant thereto notices issued of the offering on Aug. 10,
1915, of 15,963 acres in the Kalispell
district, and on Aug.. 23,1915, of 62,153
acres in the Missoula district.
"Certain of the lands in the Flathead reservation were classified as
barren, burned over, or as containing
small timber, by the original Flathead
appraisement commission. The act of
April 23, 1904, made no provision for
the disposal of these lands, but their
disposal at not less than the appraised
price was authorided by section 29 of
he act of congress approved June 25,
1910 (36 Stat., 863). Under euthortt;,
of said act regulations wf.re issued on
July 3, 1915, for the offering for sale
of the lands thus classified the land in
the Kalispell district, aggregating 5,-
710 acres, to be offered on Aug 18,
1915, and the lands in the Missoula
district aggregating 40,925 acres to be
offered on Aug. 25, 1915.
Flathead Villa Sites.
"The act of April 12, 1910, provided
for the sale as villa sites of lands
around Flathead Lake. These lands
are situated along the south half of
the lake. The lands adjoining the
north half of the lake were disposed
of many years ago, and numerous
homes and fruit orchards have been
established thereon.
"Tracts for sale at public auction,
beginning at Poison July 26. The sale
was adjourned to Dayton on Aug. 6
and concluded at Kalispell on Aug. 7.
1915.
"There were 889 parcels of land, not
less than two nor more than five acres
in area, fronting on Flathead lake, and
under the regulations could be sold for
the minimum of .$10 per acre. All the
lands, however, brought far in excess
of that amount, except about 05 acres,
sold for the benefit of the Grand Army
cf the Republic at the minimum pries.
•"Purchases were made by residents
rf many of the states and by civic and
in behalf of   patriotic   organizations.
Not one of the tracts remains unsold.
"The land, having a minimum valuation of less than $35,000 sold for approximately $125,000, some tracts
bringing about $300 per acre.
"Aa population increases the demand
for villa sites, summer homes, hotels,
sanitariums and health, i:ecreation or
y.'wtsure resort" will become more
and more urgent, and a general ia\v
should be enacted authorizing this in-
try of public lands for such purposes.
"Approximately 185000 acres within
the former Crow Indian reservation,
withheld from settlement since 1910,
were restored.to homestead entity in
320-acrc tracts in October, 1914."
LOOKING FOR TWO MORE YEARS
OF BIG CONFLICT
Bozeman, Jan. 2.—Dr. Clark Smith,
formerly of Bri.dger and Kalispell, returned to Bozeman yesterday from a
six months' stay in France, where he
acted' as a member of the Royal Army
Medical corps of England in a base
military hospital near Ypres, Belgium
Mr. Smith was one of a group;of 33
American doctors and 75 nurses who
have secured an enviable reputation
for the number of wounded treated as
compared with patients handled by
British and French hospitals during
the same period. A total number of
23,000 wounded received the attention of the American specialists during the half year in a hospital the capacity of which was about 1,500.
Within 30 miles of the battle line
from which the wind brought the
noise of conflict and the signal lights
of the rival forces could be discerned
at night, the^surgeon depicts in vivid
colors some of the conditions existing on the western front, and gives
from first-hand information the attitude of Germans, French and English toward each other and toward the
United States. In the British hospitals German prisoners receive the
same careful attention as the wounded of the allie§. The average British
soldier thinks that he is fighting the
battle of the United States as welas.
that of England, and believes that this
country is shirking its duty in not
joining the allies. German prisoners
thought that the original expressed
intention of America to uphold the
rights of all neutrals was ridiculous,
and the plan was beyond the jurisdiction of this country.
"At least two more years of war
will pass before peace is made is the
belief of most of those interviewed,"
said Dr. Smith. "The French and
Russians are now well supplied with
ammunition and large field guns, and
for the first time since the beginning
of the war are on a par with the Germans in his respect. Indications are
that the Germans are running short
of both food and ammunition. The
projectiles taken from the bodies of
wounded are no longer largely of copper, but scraps of cheaper metal are
used. It is thought that the British
forces will be withdrawn from France
and sent to the Balkans as the allies
now feel that the French can hold
their line of trenches without aid.
"About 75 per cent, of the war-
munitions being used by the allies
comes from the United States. Each
side is confident of ultimate victory.
The British place much reliance upon
the 4,000.000 men which they will
have in the field next spring. There
is not the same difficulty in securing
recruits in England as existed a few
months ago. The,, New Zealanders,
Australians and Canadians have proved to be England's best soldiers ,and
have been bearing the brunt of the
fighting. German prisoners .taken recently indicate that the age limit for
enlistment has been reduced, as many
mere boys were among the captured.
"The head surgeon of the American
hospital squad was James MsNeff of
Spokane. The hospital system of the
French and English starts with the
emergency dressing of wounds in the
trenches, the casualty clearing hospital two or three miles back of the firing line, the field clearing quarters
farther back, which take in about four
casualty hospitals, and last the base
hospital, where the delicate surgical
operations are performed. Nearly
all wounded who reach the base liospi-
tal survive."
Mr. Smith was accompanied to London by Mrs. Smith who is a daughter
of Mr. and Mrs. J. N. Van Zandt of
Bozeman.Military rules forbade women entering the war zone, and Mrs.
Smith remained in England until the
scare from German airship raids led
her to go to Paris, where she remained until her husband's return. Attorney. Justin M. Smith of Boaenian is a
brother of Dr. Smith
Spokane Chamber of Commerce Boosts For
Flathead Appropriation
To the President, and
Congress of the United States,
Gentlemen:- „ ....
This communication is addressed to you for the purpose of securing remedial legislation for the allottes and unit
holders occupying lands within the Flathead Project, situated in Flathead, Missoula and Sanders counties in
Montana.
If we are correctly informed, this project is the largest and most comprehensive   Indian irrigation scheme   ever
undertaken in this country and involves the   reclamation of practically   152,000   acres of land, the    ownership of
same being about equally divided between the Indian and the white man.
We are advised that the completed cost of this project will be about $6,500,000,00 and after more than five years of
construction work less than $2,000,000.00. has been actually expended. The project is now about 25% completed and at the present rate appropriaionc are being made will require 25 years to complete this project.
The Indian and white man alike went upon these lands in good faith expecting the government to carry out its
■express and implied pledges and promises made to them at the time they made entry. We maintain that the
treatment accorded to the settlers under this project hasbeen manifestly unfair, and in as much as the irrigation
scheme nas been properly auhorized by la*-v it is clearly the duty of the government to push this work to a speedy
completion and   make the water   available at the   very earliest possible moment.
All the funds used in connection with the construction of this project are re-imbursable either to the Indian or to
the government. The settlers have pledged their lands and very lives for all construction and maintainance charges;
and we would like you to especially bear in mind the fact that no gratuitous appropriations have been made in connection with the Flathead project. The lands will amply stand for the expenditure, providing the work is carried
forth in a business like, expeditious and   economical manner.
The people of Spokane are particularly interested inthe speedy completion of the project, as this district is within
a 250 mile radius of the city and is a part of the great Inland Empire of which Spokane is the logical and geographical center. Our jobbers and manufacturers are serving the merchants on this project and there is therefore a
large community of interests between us and our relations are reciprocal to the last degree.
In view of ihe foregoing we respectful)? n. quest' that an appropriation sufficiently   large looking   towards the
speedy development of the Flahead Irrigation Project be passed by the next session of Congress.
Spokane Chamber Respectfully submitted,
of Commerce President, Jas. S. Ramage
Secretary,  G. C.  Corbarley
BASKET BALL TEAM
MAKES GLEAN SWEEP
MARONEY ON VISIT
BUSY YEAR AHEAD
T. T. Maroney came over from the
coast a day or two ago to attend the
annual meeting of the stockholders of
the Montana Aeroplane and Exhibition
company at Anaconda reports the
Standard. He returned yesterday
morning to Seattle but before leaving
gave put his plans for the coming
year, in which Butte will be much interested. Since Maroney has come to
be known all over the country, and in
other countries, as one of the most
successful and progressive of bird-
men, and all his financial backers are
Butte men, his doings are of particular
interest here. Every dollar of stock
in the company behind him is owned in
Butte. The principal shareholders are
Thomas Boyer, Howard Pierce, J.. K.
Hesle't, T. J. Casey, Al Green, Jorduft1
brothers, C. M. .Goodenberg, Western
Electric company, Al Beers, R. L.
Rhule and T. T. Maroney. The president of the company is T T. Poore,
and Mr. Maroney is general manager.
Not a share of stock is for sale at any
price, but those who did secure it are
well satisfied. Since the company
was formed, dividends amounting to
65 per cent, have been declared, and
the assets increased more than 100
per cent. There is in the treasury
enough of a surplus for another dividend amounting to 60 per cent., but
this will be invested in new machines
and in putting on one of the greatest
amusement features tha air men have
attempted. Mr. Maroney will offer
Butte the opportunity to see this feature before it is presented elsewhere,
and it may be seen here as early as
May of the coming year.
"I have flown in every part of the
country from New York to Frisco, and
from Calgary to New Orleans," said
Mr. Maroney. "I have never had an
unsuccessful flight, and never failed
to make good on our contracts. . Every
place where exhibitions have been
given it is known that we are from
Butte, and Butte has been more widely advertised through our flights than
is generally known. I have been fortunate so far as accidents are concerned for I have never so muc'.i as
broken a wire in all my flights."
Lately Mr. Maroney has been on the
Pacific coast. Describing the feature
which he originated and which will be
shown many places throughout the
country this season, he said:
•'I have picked up a young aviator
who is going to be one of the best in
the business, and taught him to not
only fly, but to take care of his machine while in the air and on the
ground. We have secured a young
woman with experience, who-will go
up in one of the two machines as high
as we can be seen from the ground.
Then she will jump from the biplane
and descend with a parachute, and
while she is floating earthward the
other biplane will loop the loop and do
spirals and fancy stunts of all kinds
around her. It is an act that has
never been attempted, and will be
spectacular in the extreme. It is my
hope to give Butte the first chance to
see this feature."
Mr. Maroney has developed by gradual stages from a plain flier to one of
the most daring of spectacular aviators. In the five years that he has
spent in getting acquainted with the
upper air strata and their peculiarities
he has seen aviators come and go,
companies formed, flourish for a while
and go to the wall, and thousands of
dollars spent and misspent, while he
has gone on quietly and successfully,
making a, reputation for himself and
money, for his backers. He says he is
in the game to stay, and .that the
"game" is still young and offers unlimited opportunities fcr inventors
anid nervy, cool-headed young men
with ambition.
SELLS INTERESTED
IN FLATHEAD JOB
Says Legislation Will Be Put Before
Congress at Present Session.
Cato Sells, commissioner of Indian
affairs, in a letter to the chamber of
commerce, tells of interest of the department of the interior in the Flathead irrigation project and that legislation has been introduced into congress in the interest of this work. Mr.
Sells says:
"Receipt is acknowledged of your
letter of November 30, 1915, for the
purpose of securing remedial legislation for the allottees and settlers on
surplus unallotted lands within the
Flathead irrigation project in Montana.
"We have known for some time that
remedial legislation would be necessary to secure the development of this
project in a businesslike, expeditious
and economical manner. Draft of
such legislation has been . prepared
submitted to congress with estimates
for appropriations for the fiscal year
1917, which it is hoped will be enacted."—Spokane Chronicle.
MAY ORGANIZE
MILITIA COMPANY
s
A move is on foot to organize a
company of state militia here. There
is a vacancy in the state regiment
now and it is thought that thera are
enough young men in this vicinity to
form a good company, taken at this
time when the move to increase the
fighting force of the United States
is receiving so much attention it in an
opportune time for Poison to get a
company in the first Montana regiment, for it is very likely that this
session of congress will be something
that will make the National Guard a^
very desirable branch cf the service.
Only in the last few days the Adju-
ants office at Helena has received
complete equipment for tha whole
regiment. This equipment is the
same that is issued to tha regular
army from rifles down to entrenching tools, wire cutters and other instruments that the present war in
Europe has shown were necessary,
and it is the first time in the history
of the National Guard that the government has recognized it as a real
branch of the army. It is to be hoped that the company can be organized
at once.
RIGID TESTS FOR
NEW CITIZENS
Judge T. A. Thompson inthe district
court here yesterday left no doubt in
;the minds of his hearers as to his opinion with reference to the admission of
new citizens during the present international difficulties. After putinig
two candidates for citizens through
an exceptionally searching examination to disclose their knowledge of the
national and state government, Judge
Thompson explained that he had node
aire to grant the rights of citizenship
to any alien until the later had learned
enough about this government tol now
|, whether or not he would like it.
"Being admitted to citizenship in
the United States is, and should be, no
longer a mere question of coming into
court and taking an oath," he said
"Unless you know how this countryjs
governed you are in no position to say
whether or not you care to place yourself under this government."
One of the applicants, Kxistian Tei-
gen, a Norwegian, was refused admission until a further examination at the
next term of court. Among the questions he was unable to answer were:
"If the president and vice-pi esident
should die, who would become the head
of the government?" "How many
members are there in the U. S. supreme court?" "Who is lieutenant-
governor of Montana?" "What are
the governor's duties?"
The other applicant, Nicholaus Sch-
erer, managed to answer nearly all the
questions, and after he had declared
that in case trouble should come up
between this country and Germany, he
would have no desire to side with the
latter country, he was sworn in as a
citizen.—Western News.
ROUND BUTTE SCHOOL READY
The new Round Butte school is now
completed and ready for use; it will
be properly dedicated som<? time in
January. This school, like thy Leon
Equity building, was built by means
of cooperative credit. It is said to be
the largest country school in the
state.
The school board recently let contracts for four wagon routes, with a.
combined carrying capacity of 100
children which will serve the country
tributary to the new school. The
names of the drivers, their territory
and their salary, follow: .
Mrs. Hanson, Fairview, route No. 1,
$50; J. F. Olson, Mud Creek, route
No. 2, $55; V. A. Buchanan, Hillside,
route No. 3, $57.50; J.Miranda, Grand-
view route No. 4, $50.—St. Ignati.is
Post.
EIGHT    GRADE    EXAMINATIONS
Schedule of Eighth Grade Examinations.
First  Day-
Jan. 12th
Last week the basket ball team of
the Poison High School completed a
very successful trip in Flathead and
Lincoln counties. The team left Pol-
son on Tuesday and was scheduled to
play in Columbia Falls that night but
were unable to get farther than Kalispell due to excessive snow. .
The games at Whitefish, Libby and
Eureka were played as scheduled.
The scores; Whitefish 11, Poison 29;
Libby 29, Poison 40; Eureka 11 Poison
19.
By winning over all the northern
teams and playing a close game with
Kalispell it now appears that the local
team has an excellent chance for the
championship of the district to. be decided by a tournament to be held in
Kalispell Feb. 29-25
The Poison team arrived home Saturday on the Bigfork.
On Friday Jan. 7 at 9:30 the basket
ball team of the Poison High School
will meet the team from the County
High School at Stoughton's Hal). This
game is expected to be the most exciting game of the season and will probably draw the largest crowd of any
game this winter.
The local team is fresh from their
victorious northern trip and should
put up a classy game of backet ball.
The game will be called immediately
after the Hewett show and is scheduled to start at 9:30.
Poison has    defeated    Kalispell in
base ball and   foot   ball and is now
striving for    honors in basket    ball.
Admission will be 25 and 15 cents.
SCHOOL NOTES
School opened Monday after a two
weeks vacation.    The grippe seems to
have nearly    disappeared as the at
tendance was normal in all rooms' except the primary.
Mabel Hanson has moved to Dixon.
The Freshman class is sorry to lose
her from their membership.
Lisle Wood, Joe Irvine and Milo"
Kneer reported to the high school
Monday on the basket ball trip.
MASONS AND EASTERN
STARS INSTALL OFFICEHS
One of the most enjoyable events
of the season was the Masonic and
Eastern S.tar joint installation on
January 4th.
Mrs. Bickford was installed Worthy
Matron, of the the Eastern Star Chapter and Mr. Thurston, Worthy Patron;
Mrs. Evans, associate Matron; Mrs.
Williams, Secretary; Mrs. Meek,'
Treasurer; Mrs. Steele, Conductress;
Mrs. Sturtivant, associate Conductress; Mrs. Mathews, Chaplain, Mr*'
Rakoman, Marshall; Mrs. Lowary,
Organist; Miss Fast, Mrs. Long, Mrs.
McKelvy, Mrs. Marsh, Mrs. Silver,
fill the five points of the star; Mrs.
Brcckmvn, Warder; and Mr. Long,.
Sentinel. 'j
Mr. Myhre was installed Worshipful Master in the Masonic Order, and
Mr.Evans Senior Warden; Mr. Thurston, Junior Warden; Mr. Marsh.. Secretary; Mr. Hansen, Treasurer; Mr.
Meek, Senior Deacon; Rev. White,
Junior Deacon; Dr. Ero::kman, Senior Stewart; Mr. Fleming, Chaplain;
Mr. McDonnal, Tyler . .
Dr. Brockman was installing Officer; and Mrs. Marshall was Marshal,
for the Eastern Star Ceremonies.
Mrs. Hansen and Later, Mr. Lowary
were installing officers for the Masons
and Dr. Marshall was Marshal. These
officers conducted the ceremonies in a
very beautiful and impressive manner.
The refreshn-.ant committee served
delicious refreshments, consisting of
sandwiches, escallpped potatoes,
pickle, fruit, salad, cake and coffee.
The remainder of the evening was-
spent in dancing and visiting. About
one hundred were present, quite n
number  being  visitors  from    Uojr;n
:v.I
pciirts.
DIXON    BANK    ROBBED
.Late Saturday night, or during the
early hours of Sunday morning last,
j an entrance into the Dixon bank was
effected by the breaking of a window
in the rear of the buiklmg. The thief
or thieves, however, were not successful in securing anything of value, all
the cash being locked up in the vault.
| Petty robberies are quite common
these days on this end of the reservation and stiff sentences are awaiting those who a.e caught.—Dixr.n
Herald.
A. M.
9:00 Civics
10:15 Recess
10:30 History
12:00 Intermission
P. M.
1:30 Grammar
3:00 Recess
3:15 Reading
4:15 Close
Second Day
Jan. 13th*
9:00 Arithmetic    1:30 Physiology
11:00 Recess 2:30 Geography
11:15 Spelling 4:00 Close
12:00 Intermission
These examinations are to be held
at Kalispell, Whitefish, Somers, Pol-
son, Columbia Falls, Daytoir, Bigfork
and Bigarm.
ACCIDENT AT LIBBY    PLANER
The sudden tightening of a belt
when the machinery at the planing
mill last Thursday morning was cold
and brittle, resulted in the breaking
of a driving shaft four Inches in diameter. The big rod of steel, 75 feet long
snapped in several places and parts of
it fell on the planers, smashing castings and playing havoc generally.
Fortunately the workmen who were in
the place had time to escape before*
they were endangered, and the trouble
is already largely repaired.—Western
News.