Rocky Mountain husbandman. [volume] (Diamond City, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1878-05-23

" hlINiL " INV VIII 4 - A' w "a
Eastern Montana, after being reduced to
500, 900, has passed from the Senate Com
mittee with it's recommendation. 1t is yet
uncertain whether Or not it will become a
law, since Congress has the retrenchment
fever strong-generally beginning at the
wrong end-and is the therefore most liable
to in the Territories, where it
it will be felt most and works the greatest
hardship upon the people. Should wisdom
govern it's councils in this case, and the bill
pass, the question Of the location of the new
post will become one OF great Importance.
There is a vast extent of country between
Fort Keogh, on the Yellowstone, and the
northern boundary, which this post is re-,
Guired to protect, and as it is impossible,
under the present state Of rigid reformawhich
pervades our National Legislature, to get an
appropriation tor two. it will be necessary
to select the point which will best.accom-
MEDIATE this entire section. Aposition near
the north line has been spokensof, but the
scarcity of building material, and the diff
Guilty of transportation necessary to the
maintenance OF a garrison sufficient for any
emergency for years to come, is so great
that it is thought best. and is recommended
by eminent army officers, that a point on the
Missouri river be chosen. The argument in
favor of this is not only the economy in
building and maintenance in after years, but
it is believed thatsuch a post would subserye
the interests of the whole country best.
The great peninsula of the Yellowstone
and Missouri, with the exception of a mar
row strip of bad lands from twenty to thirty
miles in width, is wonderfully adapted to
agricultural and grazing purposes; in fact,
that region stretching from the Yellowstone
to Fort Benton has no superior as a stock
range, winter and summer. as we'll as being
remarkable for its cereals, and is now at
tracing great attention and needs protec-
ton. The mouth of Milk river, one of the
points spoken of, is too far east to be OF any
avail as protection to this region. The
mouth of the Muscleshell, which was also
highly recommended by General Miles in
his report, is about midway between Keogh
and Benton, or Keogh and the north lines.
and is the only point that could be, chosen
which would serve the two-fold purpose of
watching and checking the movements of
the hostiles beyond our border and affording
the necessary protection to the settlements
of our eastern frontier. Being familiar with
the topography of the country, we are con-
iident that no river point can be selected
that would offer the same protection as this.
Farther down he river would leave the
broad fertile valleys of the Muscleshell and
Judith exposed to m%araudlng bands from
either direction. These valleys are rapidly
filing up with herds of. cattle and. flooks OF
sheep. Though our stock men have stood
their own guard and fought their own bat
ties for years, they move eastward along the
base of the Little Snowy mountains with
great reluctance, notwithstanding it is a re-
gion as rich with natural advantages as heart
could wish, for prudence forbids men with
herds and fiocks worth from So, 600 to $50
600 moving them where they will be. subject
to raids, and it does seem to us that these
hardy adventures are entitled to the same
degree of. consideration from the general
government as the people>o of other parts Of
the country.
The boldness and audacity of the Indians
in raiding upon our. settlements in broad
daylight on the Goth inst, and the fact that
but six soldiers could bemustered to pursue,
is evidence that more protection is needed.
We trust that the appropriation may be
made, and that when the time for the loca-
ton of the post comes these things may be
well. and. Justly. weighed, for upon it in 8