Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1876-03-10
BELkNAP.
The Way Post Trading ]
Managed in Montana.

I ST. LOUIS, March 5.
The Times to- morrow will publith 0
the authority OF men who have been eT
g.gG II ironf.er fr,d,ng Tor the pa
eigh cen years som" v-ry interesting fac,
connected with this tusim 81, viii s at
that Orvlile Grant, brother Of the Pr+si
dent, has been interested with Beiknap j
disp">ing of trading posts tor none,
Grant. shortly alter the appointment {
Belknap as Seer tary of War, vi.,te
most OF the posts on the fro, tier and ca,
celed all the licenses issued BY Sccretar
Rawlins
Duriee q Peck. extensive governmen
treigh,ers and merchants on the frontier
held the principal sutltrships a, this time
and were astonisled at tnis unexpectc.
change. Mr.. Peck investigated .he ma
te' and found that Orvi,le Grant had ,ul
4uthority from the See fetary Of War I,
DISPOSE Of all the trading posts a. h,
thought fit. Mr.. Peck applied to Gran
Tor authority TO retain certain posts where
his firm had invested rye sums of NOSE,
in buildings and goods and he woL:.
agree to 1t only on I. rms OF so much casl
town and Z certain share OF the profits
Practically the same arrangtm. nts tha,
existed between Marsh and Evans s Go
at Fort Sill. T. OK refused to comply viii,
these terms. and 9th, rs received The ap
pointmrnts q Fort Buforl and Fort Peek
a. Z. Leighton was appointed >u,ler upon
the terms proposed by Orville Grant.
The bonus Was 50 large that he lost
money, and subs, qu-ntly offered to sell
TO Duriee end Pick. The Iatt, agreed to
huy. bul Leighton had first 10 OBTAIN per-
mission to sell from Grant. This Gran,
r fused, and made easier the terms will.
Leighton. The Fort Sui!y Trad, rshi,.
was taken from Dnri.e 4 Pick and given
70 John Athey. Athey paid all thu mon,
ne had 10 G.. the post, aud was obliy
to make terms with Dur1te s. Peek 10 ru.
u. The latter finn IL SD tom him .,id
rarrlsd on the business for year, when
The Profits a.cruing to Athey enabled
him 70 run The business himself.
Dnrtct & P K I'D leadership II Fort
Sill. but 1t was given TO Evans s Co.
Durfee & Peck .Aptrd TO carr, on bust
ness n opposition 10 Ey Us s CO.. but h.
pllc"rs Of the post were forbidden TO i've
soldiers orders on any firm but Evans i
90, ana they were torceu to abandu.
heir post, Orvlle Grant went SO TAR il,
MS opposition to Durfee s Peck that il.
oroiu those t. whom he gave appoint
gents 10 purchase the goo.is or builuiny,
'elonglng TO that finn. Grant also
lad IN arrangement with tie Interio
department. by which he controlled
many OF the Indian trading posts.
lh' Sc he disposed Of in the same manner
8 tue SUI .erships-to the highest bildtr.
Ir"nt was in the habit of visiting the mil
tary posts and the Indian trading stations
very ,earsto collect The money due h,r,
nd his partn' r, Belknap, and for this
purpose he had au' hority from Secretary
'elknap to draw upon any military posts
or ambul,nces, leans. and such aid as lie
aight require. HIS authority was gcner /
lly recognized aud he WIS greatly feared
II along the frontier.
The authority for these statements is
'r. Terry. who for many years past has
cen actively connected with Dur,ee & 4
eek, and who has spent much Of his life |,
y the frontier. He says the Co .gIession-I
Committee will open Of rich lead if
hey will investigate the affairs at For,
.uford.