New-York tribune., 1874-03-28

NORTHERN PACIFIC RAILROAD LANDS.
A RESIDENT OF MONTANA REPLIES To GEN. HAzEN
FORT BUFoRD MANY MILES NORTH OF THE
RoAD-IRRIGATION ONLY NEEDED TO PRODUCE
ENORMOUS CROPS.
TO the Edftor Of The Tribune.
SIR Having just read in your issue of Feb
ruary IL the views Of MaorGen William B. Hazen
mapdant at Fort Buford Dakota Territory, to the
utter worthlessness OF the Northern Pacific Railroad
lands desire to review one or two points and to state
few facts that have under my observation relative
to thus "God-forsaken country"
Ihave no interest in these lands tho road further
than as private citizen OF Montana but this letter
does great injustice TO the citizens OF Montana, Idaho
and Washington well as to all who have invested in
North Pacific bonds we claim that private citizens have
a right to be heard Those owning these bonds
gravey advised dispose OF them at only
means of saving themselves from their total loss"
say gentlemen don't fool your bonds on the state
ment of a Major-Genera or any other man, but come
out and examine for yourselves the lands OF these Terri
tories west OF Dakota and then you can act understand
ngly
The General says the site OF this fort Buford) is sup
posed to be exceptionally fruitful" We not told who
supposes IT, but are led infer that II is tho Assnbones
and half breeds referred TO authority for OF his
statements He then goes to say that one Ander-
son moved over 2,iO0 square miles OF this ex
ceptonaly fruitful" portion of he N. p lands to pro-
cure sufficient hay for the post This little patch almost
400 square miles larger than heate of delaware and
perhaps three sraws to the held forth
to world being the best Of the N. r. lands But
unfortunately for the Generals purpose, this celebrated
meadow long way north OF the line Of the road and fur
nshes just good comparison would the desert Of
Sahara. There ID principle too prevalent In society
that says might ia right" and. when Is down
keep him down" The spirit prevails with refer
corporations well individuals. ana sbhor
1t equally with that other principle that seeks TO elevate
by exaggerated statements and uninerited puffs. OF
this latter the officers OF the road accused aud
haps they guilty We ask nothing but bare justice.
considerable portion or the lands Ia Montana Will not
produce good crop Of grain or hay without irriga
lion, but with 1t they produce crops that would asonsh
God designed these great plains as a perpetual
hunting ground for the Indians to be guarded by mill
tary posts and To remain isolated from the OF the
world, Gen. Hazen seems TO be that He did. III
He had 40 designed He would not have allowed so
many rivers to flow through them, the water TO
near tho surface aordng such facilities for
Yankee ingenuity To make them the productive OF
lands predict that the day Ia not far distant when.
by OF rrigating canals thousands OF OF the
plains of Dakota W III DO made to produce wheat
TO the and better hay than OF tho
cultivated lands OF the States. We are willing 10 leave
It to the solution or time and Yankee skin say who
right. But the railroad line through plenty OF
good lands that can be cultivated without waiting for
this. part OF this Territory has sufficient rain, and
there Is no lack OF It over IN Washington; but
farmers who have tried the irrigAting process
have no lesire " migrate " a ralnv teglou.