The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1881-05-18

| Agency should make known to the lndlans
the purpose for which the surveys are to be
made. and should assure the Indians that the
lands necessary for the right Of way granted
BY Congress will not be taken until an agree
ment therefor has been entered into between
the Indians and the United States, and the
Indians are fairly compensated tor the same.
The Secretary gave directions 70 have these
views carried into operation. lie recognizes
at present simply the right Of the railroad
company to make preliminary surveys ID or
der to determine whether it will construct It's
line south Of the Yellowstone through the
Reservation.
The Secretary of the Interior addressed q
letter to the Commissioner Of the General
Land Office relative to the right OF railroad
companies to take timber from the public
lands by virtue Of the law Of 1875. The law
referred to provides that any railroad COM
pany organized IS therein provided shall have
the right to take from public lands adjacent
to the line of railroad, material, earth, stone
and timber necessary for the construction or
said railroad. The Secretary says that this
law refers exclusively to contemplated or IN
constructed roads. The companies have no
right to take timber under this act for repairs
or the further improvement or railroad CON
struction.
The Panama canal scheme has ever pre-
sented so many characteristics akin to the
floating Of 8 wildcat mine, and now comes q
report that the treasurer of the company has
run away with $50. 900, 900 in gold. The
New York Times says that to induce public
belief in the story il will be necessary to pro-
| duce the man and the money. There is either
an error Of several cyphers IN the amount
named, or De Lesseps is preparing the pubic
for q grand explosion. Nobody ia this CHI
mate can be persuaded to believe that DE
Lesseps has $50, 600, 900, and it is still more
Incredible that he would have 1t lying around
where somebody could steal it. It requires a
stretch Of credulity to believe that any man
could carry off seventy-fve tons OF metal.
The Austrian papers give lengthy particu-
lars Of the coming imperial wedding festiv-
tiles, but the official programme has not yet
been issued. The Belgian royal family will
arrive at Salzburg on Thursday, May S,
where the Grown Prince Rudolph will meet
them. Princess Stephanie and their royal
majesties will proceed to the chateau of
Schonsrunn, where they will remain until the
wedding day. The Municipality Of Vienna
is making arrangements for the decoration
of the town, and the inhabitants will contrib
ute largely toward the brilliancy of the fes-
%tiyities. A popular fete in the Prate7 will be
one of the principal attractions. The Crown
Prince and his bride will arrive in Pesth on
May Goth.
The question is asked along the Pacific
coast: What is to be the future of Nevada,
az it seems more than likely the Comstock
mines are wholly exhausted? The State has
a population Of scarcely SO, 00o, and offers
few inducements to new settlers, especially if
her mines are used up. Only 8 few patches
and streaks Of the land IS it for agriculture,
and not much IS good for stock raising. Even
the small population now possessed by the
State is diminishing, many Of the miners
about the Comstock migrating to California,
Arizona and Colorado. The expense Of, con-
Quoting q State government is very burden
some under the circumstances, and it is
thought that 8 return to the condition Of q
Territory will be considered an Imperative
necessity before long.