The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1873-03-29

people Of Montana, it will he Of interest to
them to know of such matters q transpircd
here during the recent session OF Congress,
affecting their interests, rs also the final fate
Of tie different bills INTRODUCED by myself
n which their attention has been called.
PRE.ExPrIoN LAW.
A bill prepared by the Commissioner of
the Land Office became = law. This law
practically sbolishes oil pre- emptio"s. and
substitutes homestead entries instead, with
the right to commute the homestead claim
after the expiis ion Of . certain time. 1t
also does away with all of the incOngruities
and imperfcctions IF the land laws, the re-
suit of fragmen.ary legislation from time to
time, and makes Of those laws . detailed
and we'll diges,ed codc. which any one will
readily understand. 1t Is an exceedingly
valuable law for the settlers upon the public
lands. The
COAL LAND BILL.
also passed both houses. This law pre-
scribcs the manner Of holding and obtaining
title to coal lsncs on the public domain,
and supplies . defect long and previously
felt. My
B,LL TO PROMOTE EDUCATION IN THE
TERRITORIES
was unanimously agreed to by the House
Committee on Education and Labor, aud
unanimously reported by the Senate Com
mittec on Territories. The House Cons
mittee failed to get chance to report At this
session, and the bill having been reported
in the Senate and placed on the calendar.
vas not reached for want Of time. 1t will
doubtless become law at the next session.
10 the members of the two committees are
warmly enlisted in its behalf. ami have
promised me to push It through 1t the ne xt.
the long session, Of Congress. My
BILL TO SECURE MORE EFFICIENT AID.
MINIsTRATIoN OF INDIAN AFFAIRS
pessed the House but failed To he reached
in the Senate for the same reason rs men
toned above. although favorably reported.
Ny
BILL FOR THE SURRENDER or THE GROW
introduced last year, passed both Houses.
and the commission u negotiate for such
surrender will he appointed this summer.
This will doubtless result In throw ing near
" the whole Of the Yellowstone valley open
10 settlement. and to relieve the miOes III
Emigrsnt Gulch Ut their sOmew hat anon
.lous position. besides rendering the settlers
in the Galla.in Valley mere secure by push
ing the line of settlement further eastward
ruE GENERAL RAILROAD BILL
introduced by me passed the House. Th'
Senate Committee ON Public Lands subs,i
tute,l modified edition Of what Is known
- 1.-The Stewart Bill" ~ an amendment Il
my bill. In this form il was reported BY
that Committee, placed ON the calendar, ant
was not reached for the same reason q
above stated. The Delegates feared tina
this course BY the Senate committee wouli
defeat the House bill and their fears wcr,
amply realized. Their only hope after thi'
ac,i"n by the Senate Committee was that III
bill would pass the Senate - amended, snt
bc sent back To the House when it could b,
sent 10 conference committee. - the Stew
art bill in their judgment s.ooI no cbanc,
of passing the House unless forced through
BY the report Of y conference committee
no special law incorporate & or granting ,
right of way to rsilroad in any Territory
passed both houses at the last session.
send you herewith y copy Of =. stsse,nen
adopted and signed ~ the Delegates setting
forth matters connected with railroads .
the los, session.
n. r. \. \. CO.
Al appropriation Of to00, 100 was obtained
with which u build two forts west Of til,
Missouri river on the line of the N. p r. X
for the purpose of protecting the employee,
! Of that road in its construction westward
from that river during the coming summer
Twelve hundred cavalry have also bcer
ordered to, and are DOW en- route for Dsk0i,
to carry out this plan. This prompt actor
by the War Department and Congress ~,
caused by the fact that the N. p. r. II. Co
intends To push the road vigorously west
wsrd from the Missouri river this summer
The intention Is to Thoroughly open the en-
tire route aud clear II Of hostile Indians. L
10 estimated by we'll Informed parties her,
that q. O00, 600 will b. spent by the govern
ment this summer in carrying out tn,
necessary military operations, much u
which will doubtless be expended IN Mon
lama. The 49,. o..
BITTER ROOT VALLEY LANDS
have not yel Teen arranged for ssle, becaus,
the law psssed last winter provided thai
fifteen townships only should he sub)ec, 4
the provisions of the bill These ownsbipl
have not been selected BY the Commissioner
| Of the Land Office for the reason that thu
plsts of the whole valley have not yet bee,
transmitted to the Office here - that tn,
selection can be made. This will be don,
~ soon ~ the rest Of the plass arrive. viii
zee that the necessary rules are adopted u
carry the law into effect before leave here
il have time to do 20, and will try to have
. rule adopted sllowing the settlers to prove
up their land ut AissOuls Instead Of requir.
ing them " 30 to Helena, ~ this will save
over Que hundred dollars 20 eNch settler.
ORDER OF LAND CORNERSTONE WITHDRAW
ING LAND IN MONTANA FROM AGkl.
CULTURAL ENTRY. ........
This order wss made pursuant tn gen.
cral rule adopted BY the Department iu con-
sequence VI numerous frauds committed Ia
other States and Territories in entering
mineral land = agricultural. The hardship
Of the order on our farmers needs no sx.
position. On January 18th . letter vel
written BY the Commissioners 10 the oGicerl
of the Land Once q Helena suihunzing
them tn certify such Of the townships end
parts Of townships % Withdrawn q On
undoubtedly agricultural 70 the Land Once
here When Theses lands are % certified
they will q ones Be excepted from the
order. A nearly oil Of the townships with.
drawn are Of this character. this hardship
will without doabs be speedily oblisessssd.
TaH PL1AsANT VALLEY COUNTRY
was added 70 Montana ct The session OF
Congress just closed. This increases the
arm uf 0ontapa opma mo euuafo milea