No.^Tir' ^^^' EASTERN CHEROKEE GROUPS — KUPFERER 319 



tribe will receive 3 percent of the gross receipts which have been 

 estimated to be between $2 and $3 million a season. Apart from the 

 monies which will indirectly accrue to others in the tourist business, 

 250 Indians will be employed during the operating season and between 

 35 and 40 are to be employed on a year-round basis. Construction of 

 the buildings within the park will utilize Indian labor, where possible. 



A project sponsored by the Indian Agency with tribal council 

 approval is the fish management program. By stocking controlled 

 streams with adult fish (trout) each week during the fishing season, 

 it is supposed that fishermen can be induced to remain longer in the 

 area. A dollar fee will be imposed per day on each angler. Present 

 plans are to use these funds to build a civic center suitable for con- 

 ventions and athletic and theatrical events. 



Industry.— Despite the real reliance on visitors, tourism alone is 

 insufficient to support the people the year around. At the time of 

 this research there were two industries operating at Cherokee. Both 

 of these have been enlarged. Saddlecraft has made a $50,000 ex- 

 pansion in its facilities and has added about 30 more employees. Its 

 yearly payroll is estimated to be about $200,000. The Harns Company 

 payroll is now over $500,000 per year. Of its total work force about 

 70 percent are Indians; the average number of Indian employees is 

 120.*^ Construction work has begun on factories for two additional 

 plants. The Vassar Corporation — America's third largest manu- 

 facturer of women's hair accessories — is planning a 45,000 square 

 foot building on the reservation. Funding for this facility came 

 jointly from tribal resources and Jackson County Industries, with 

 the tribe assuming major financial responsibility. Current plans 

 provide for the employment of 200 people, most of whom will be 

 women. Of this figure 70 percent are to be Indians — if properly 

 qualified — the remainder will be Whites from Jackson County. The 

 fact that the bulk of employees are to be women will pose some 

 difficulties in respect to family life. However, a Day Care Center 

 for children is now being operated by one of the Baptist Churches. 

 At present, 24 children are accommodated. A new facility is planned 

 which will have a greater capacity and will take infants as well as 

 children from 2 to 6 years. 



A furniture manufacturing plant is to be located just off of the 

 reservation. The location was occasioned by the need for railroad 

 service. Since both the Jackson County Industries and the tribe 

 were instrumental in procuring the company, and both issued loans 

 totaling 5 percent of the cost of the factory, Whites and Indians will 



** Project OflScer, personal conference, December 10, 1963 



