Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1874-03-12
the NEW NORTHWEST.

Delegate Maglmnts Replies % General
Rlaxcn's Statements lM Regard 10 the
Northern Pacific Railroad Lands-
Fertility 81 the SOIL In Montana and
0daho--A Railroad Needed 20 Dc.
velop Their Vast Resourccs-Tke
Rig0rs Of the Climate Said 70 be Ex.
agyerntcd.
TO the Editor of the New York Tribune
S,R:-While most of the army officers since
the commencement of the Government have
been among the first to appreciate the capa-
biltles of the ever Wcstward-mOving front
icr along which they have been stationed, it
is strange fact that in every successive age
of our country's progress there have been
found few officers who could see no good
in the new country in which they were doing
duty, and who condemned every step of that
progress as foolish stride into q worthless,
sickly, or an uninhabitablc land. These
statements were not often born OF malice
or ,nendacity, but generally were conceived
in the peculiar fancics OF dissatisfied men
who regarded their term of service on the
frontier as IN exile from the joys OF civii-
zation, and who naturally hated the country
the defense of which rcuqired them to be
absent from the easy life and social enjoy
ment of garrisoncd towns or the forts which
guard our Eastern cities As these malcdic-
tions have successfully been uttered over
every spot in the new, wealthy and blooming
States of Ohio. Indiana. Illinois, Wisconsin
and Minnesota, il is not strange that these
dismal croakinys, although forever rctutcd
by the successful march Of emigration and
, empire. should still family echo from the
new frontier which now faces our new
Northwest, and that we should still tind one
Of the germs alive in the person ct General
VIM. g. IIazen. cOmmantlalt Ot the mclan-
cholv, Sioux surrounded anu Sitting -bull-bc-
sicycd Fort Buford, on the plateau which di-
yidcs the most northerly portion of the Mis-
souri, River from the Saskatchewan. in the
middle of the wind-swept plains and the CEN
tire of the arid belt. If he had confined his re-
marks in late number of the Tribune to the
vicinity of his unhappy domicilc, neither t.
which nor to any place in the vicinity of
which does anybody propose to build rail-
road. he might peacefully vent his spleen.
nourished as it is by exclusion from mn Eastern
home. where wealth might make life enjoy
able, and dccpened by the disgust which hc
feels at having Gen. Crook put over his head
for hcroism and activity among the Apaches,
| which Gen. Hazcn might with credit to him.
self initiate among the Sioux.
But our doughty warrior, who has not
been over successful in shifting the heather
with the sword. appeals to the pen as .
mighticr weapon with which he can denol-
ish the whole country, from the led river
west to the Paci.ic-lndians, whites and all
and more especially slay those who arc en-
deavorng to develop its capabilities by the
construction of the Northern Pacific Rail-
road. so far rs General Hazen's letter in the
Tribune is concerned. we might rcfutc 1t
from facts recorded in its files by its faithful
correspondent, Richardson. who also could
scarcely in his book find words to express his
admiration of the larger part of the country
which COL IIazcn condemns rs whole; or
from the correspondence and the book Of
Col. Alex. X. Mcclure. of Philadelphia. or
| from the reports of the Governors and Sur
vcyor&-Gcncral of Montana, Washington and
Idaho Territories, or the records OF tho Land
Office in Washington City. or from the tax
lists of the Territories named, or from the
census returns: but as this martial aSsevcra-
| tor announces in advance that all who dare
to contradict him are liars. perhaps We had
better leave ont all the testimony of civilians,
and merely quote military witnesses in re-
buttal. Leaving out Stevens, whom he classes
as an enthusiast unworthy the attention of
any sober minded man, let us refer to the
opinions of L. =. Grant, and of Phil. Shcri-
dan; of Gen. Hancock, late commander of
that department; of General John GibhOn,
District Commander Of Montana; and of
Gen. Sulley, late Superintendent Of Indian
Affairs. and of Gems Ingalls, and Hardee, all
Of whom have placed themselves on record
in direct and positive opposition to the state
mcnts now made by the infallible Hazen.
True, these gentlemen Travelled over and knew
the country which Gen. Hazen does not; for
he admits even his ignorance of the vicinity
of his own fort by quoting % authority the
letter of . hay contractor, who plays on the
General the nearly worn out frontier trick OF
complaining of the scarcity of hay In order
to enhance the value of what he delivers at
the poet. So far a. Montana, which he is
pleased to include In his denunciations, 10
concerned, any contradition of his gro
tesouely absurd statements II unneeded by
the Informed.
A Territory that has in the ten years OF its
existence produced <160, ,0O0, 900 In gold,
nearly enough TO redeem One-half OF all our
greenbacks; that has paid into the National
Treasury nearly three-Quarters of million
in Internal Revenue taxes; that has taxable
property of $4,000, 900 in goods. houses.
lands and cattle-the mining property Is not
taxcd-where in the year just passed 620.00O
acres of the public domain are reported by
the Governor, from the Land Office records,
as having been taken up; where 1oO,OOO
head of horses, cattle and mules, and 20
GOO sheep are now in the middle of this win.
ter. rs they have been for winters past roam
ing in fatness on her hills, unshetered, un-
housed and nnfct. save Us they shelter and
feed themselves on their ample winter graz
ing ranges-this cannot be the arid country
in summer or the frieid country in winter
which Gen. Hazcn misreprcscnts it to be.
The reader has only to look at the reports of
our Surveyors General to see that We have an