The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, D.T. [N.D.]) 1873-1875, 1874-09-02

some parties have talked of tax ing.
do not think it feasible rou e or Que
likely to be adopted. It canr 4ot be com
pared with the direct route have sug-
gested, running southwe. ..sterly from Bis
marck, crossing at ne.arly right angles
the following strer4ms: Little Heart,
Cannon Ball, Battle Greek, Grand River.
Owl River and Cherry Greek, striking
the Cheyenne at its forks. These
streams are all small, and excepting
one or two, affsrd good water and every
facility for camping.
Reporters there danger of inter-
ference on the part Of Indians on the
route suggested.
Custer = The country is neutral
ground, and is not occupied by them,
though small war or hunting parties
pass over it occasionally. 1t is urques-
tionably the safest route; the Indians To-
Gated at the agencies south and south.
east Of the Black Hills are very liable to
give trouble to Immigrants. Many out
RACES have occurred in that locality of
| late. while not single outrage has oc-
/ Cured ia aay district during the past
/ season except two cases of stock stealing.
! Reporter-What is the probable policy
of the military toward persons seeking
to enter the Black Hills this fall?
! Custer-The government has entered
into solemn treaty with the Indians
whereby they agree to keep ofiall tress-
passers. This is law of the land, and
should be respected, and Gen. Sheridan
has already issued instructions to the
military to prevent expeditions entering
upon the reservation and parties contem-
plating going have been warned to keep
off. -- ,..'. ...'.r 49,. 5&
Reporter-But, General, you are
aware that you have a long line to
guard and small parties may slip across
the line and enter the reservation while
the military is powerless to prevent it.
Custer is true to some extent
but until Congress authorizes the set
Element of the country the military will
do its duty. When the Indian title is
extinguished the military will aid the
settlers in every way possible. I shall
recommend the extinguishment Of the
Indian title at the earliest moment
practicable for military reasons.
Reporter-What are those reasons
General?
Custer-The Black Hills region is not
occupied by the Indians and is seldom
visited by them. It is used as sort of a
back-room to which they may escape
after committing depredations, remain
ing in safety until quiet is again restored.
1t is available in keeping up communlca-
tion between the agency Indians and the
hostile tribes located in the buffalo region
northwest Of the Hills, and if the Black
Hills region is wrestcd from them this
communication will be broken up and a
fruitful source of trouble will be re.
moved. The extinguishment of the In
dian title to the Black Hills, and the es-
tablishment of military post in the Vi
cinity Of Harney's Peak and another at
some point on the Little Missouri will /
settle the Indian question so far as the
Northwest is concerned.
Reporter region as valuable as the
Black Hills are for agricultural purposes
it would seem ought to be- open for set
tlement. Their agricultural worth
alone ought to be enough to cause the
extinguishmeato of the Indian title were
there no other reason.
Custer-Too much cannot be said in
favor of the agricultural worth of the
valleys in the Black Hills. No country
in the world is superior for stock
growing-the grazing is unsur-
passed, the valleys are sheltered from
driving storms, the snow fall is evidently
light, the rain fall abundant. Think of
those brooks in which the water is pure
as crystal and only twelve degrees above
freezing the warmest days in summer in
connection with butter and cheese max. I
ing. The valleys are not wide and yet
Az 2 4 ~ 4 4