Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1873-12-05
FROM THE JUDITH HAs1s'
Axp on TEnvr tsEEy.
JumTH gAaIs, N
S.,vrnl.,vr II, 1873. ]


CAMP on IEnsr s,HEKs,
.J,TntTH gAaIs, NJ. 3.
November II, 1873.
Editss. ksdsst couraxr.
DRAR SiR: According to my promise
will giss you feWnotes OF shs ee''bafy w
have travelled tlruuyll from the cro"
a geney i, this plsre. fon know that tue
object 1T this expeJitlon Is 70 exainlhe Tue
basin and the route to it, and 10 mi. = pos
sil,l-. an eligible site for TIE future Agency
10 Be erected next summer. # Ire senate
rati.ios Mr. Brilaot,s treaty with the houn-
tain Crows.
We started from the Agency THURSDAY.
Soycaa5cr 4tl..s The exploring parry proper
consists Of Capt. Cr3ss. observation-disclosures
M-. Countrynan, engineer; Mich Buoyef.
guide; tea,nsier and cook. The writer
aud another man arc simply camp-!.llowsrs,
without auy recognized position.
The road passessby DR.. Hunters springs.
and runs within Jew miles of the fe'iow-
stone as far as tine mouth of Big Timber
creek. With the exception OF harrow bot
TEN along the river, the country Is broken,
and telerabEy we'll erased. Big Timber " a
stream OF about the size OF the East Gallatin
Al Fort Ellis; has abeautitnl, well sheltered,
but narrow valley, with fire groves OF cot
.onHood 81. tie banks If the creek. Follow
ing up this VALLEY ten miles, we struck ncross
a,oling prairie, traversed by numerous lit
tie streams, towards Sweet Grass. Itisratller
larger than Big Timber; has a wide valley
with considerable timber. Towards tic east
ard north open gen.ly-rolling rraiiies
stretch as far as the eye can reach. The soil
is mostly gra2e:.y and rocky, but is covered
with a fine growth OF bunch grass. Across
.hs country, east of the Porcupne Butte,
runs the road to the MtMcleshell. Where we
crossed this stream it is sparselv wooded,
WIKI a narrow valley. The same apparently
beundlcss prairie stretches east on both sides
Of it. From this place we Went up a gentle
between tils Belt and the Big Snowy NOUN
taias. Entering the Basin We fouad it con-
sisting OF low, level table lands, separated
by the different streams forming the judith
RIVER. The soil is splendid; one mag ride
for miles "ithou. seeing stone. A fine
turf of short, curiey buffalo grass covers the
soil, with good growth of short bunch
grass. On the hills, nearer the surrounding
mountains, the high, waving bunch grass
indicates that the SNOW lies deep during the
winter, while the greater portion OF the val
ley is evidently free from snow most OF the
winter
The great want Of the country is sufficient
water for irrigation. Many OF tile streams
sink. But fer all kinds OF stock and especi-
ally for sheep, m superior country could be
found,
The boundaries OF tie Basin are well de-
fined By mountains. On the south arc the
Snowies. eonnccted by Il low range Of hills
with the Buffalo Head mountains, forming
tie eastern boundary; together with the BID
lands, running down TO the Missouri. The
Belt mountains, with their continuation i'm
the Highwoofy, shut tie valley in OF the
west, while the Square Butte marks its north
ern limit, although the open com try con-
tinues Oh that side to the Missouri.
Tie best location we have found for an
Agency is Oh Trout Greek, where W. are
cainprd, just where 1t leaves the hills. II
heads in the eastern part Of the Suowi les;
carries nearly t.0co inches OF water, Miners
measure; has tinc farming valley OF cansld-
cradle extent. with excellent pine ti.aoer,
near aud easily accessible in the foothills OIL
the Snowy us We'll as the Butfaio Head IA.
taias. II Is 4 rapid stream; ne. er freezes and
appears To carry very nearly the same vol
i,'nc OF w3ter s: all seasoas lhe year. |.
il the very paradise for the huatcr. The
waters abound III fiae, large speekled trout.
Geese, aach and CHICKENS without Eu;aber
frequent its banks; numberless white tail
deer have their home in the brush OF the val
ley and the pine-koolies of the hills. while
black tai, elk and mountain shnep IRE nu-
:aerous IN the morntains. Buffalo cover the
valley at times, although they ale all driven
out now hy the Indians, who have been
ca:Epea Oh thii stream until recently.
The distances from tins point are, to the
Grow Agency about 140 miles to Esazcman
about l55; to Helena $50; to Benton so; to
Camp Cook 40 al.l to Mouth OF tilc Muscle
eac!. 50 ...,,es. These distances are MI esti-
mated. bnt toierably correct.
II The nr.ino' treaty isratif'-. the Indians
will here gst a fine couatry, and If the Y are
eyer i.diced TO give up their rowing lie and
engage in farming and stock raising, no bet
ter portion of Montana could b. set aside for
thsm, willie the boundaries 81 the new reser-
ton are such that no white settlements can
be formed near them.
~ Yours eruly, p. Il.
at the Crow AgeEicE