The Benton weekly record., 1881-09-15

ent boundaries removed, By next year.
There iss no possible use OF y reservation
that extends from the eastern boundary OF
the Territory to the Summit OF the Rocky
Mountains and from the Missouri river 20
the International boundary line, em1iae;-
ing an area of q, 900, 900 acres Of land
Moreover, tI1e present reservation esh1-
braces within It's limits the very finest agrs
cultural and grazing lands IN Montana.
great mineral wealth, vast coal fields and
valuable timber forests, yet this magnift-
cent tract Of country is resergea exclusive
II for some 5000 roaming Indians who,
two-thrGls of the time, are elsewhere fn3n
within its boundaries and who when they
do confiue themselves to IFS }inlitlcss area,
hang about the reads il war parties tes mo
lest white travellers passing through. ine
fact Is well known that when the Indian
want to hunt buffalo they Sc south OF the
river, The wake Of cattle carcasses thai
marks their trail from the Musselshei TO
the Canadian side Is ample proof ct where
| they went last winter surely, and the reso-
| lutions Of our stockn1en OF where they are
expected to come this season, too.
| Again, by preserving the reservation IN
tact, settlers are denied the right OF pre-
emption OF homestead in the Milk river
valley-the most fertile bottom In this Sec
ton Of the Territory. In its eastern and
western course the reservation Is almost
traversed by this stream, while lJ Is the
route selected aa.tlTe probable one to reach
| lis by the coming railroads otsl Territory
| The whites are In need Of the lands anc
every effort should be made 70 open the
reservation to settlement at the earliest
possible clote. No single act Of Congress
would help Choteau county so mitch a'
opening the Bear Paw and Milk River
country to settlement Let Major Magln'
mis- recollect how unanimous the people
are In this matter and we predict sonic gool
will come Of it.
/ We need extra appropriations for tit
Upper Missouri. Some specific appropri
alton should be obtained TO remove thi
Shonkin bar. Had the river been as /
should be at that one point this season
] boats could have came to Benton for three
weeks longer than they did. Every dolla
! expended on the Missouri below BenOl
and above Rufori is q great help co TIL
town and the interests Of tbs countrI
about us.
We readily understand how foolish 1t !
! to enumerate too many wants without SAT
istactory grounds for our requests, but il
the above matters the residents are OF on
9 opinion and are anxious to have the atten
ton OF the proper persons drawn.
Choteau county ought to comprise a Sep
arate and distinct public land district, witt
the office at Benton. There would neve
be the sightest danger Of its being close
up for lack of receipts, and it would be
great convenience to our continuously in
creasing population. We call the atten
tion Of Major Maginnis to this and hope h
will make IN effort for us.
One great error We must avoid Is, s1ot t
fall behind the prdgfess Of the day. On
Territory and town are just attracting ani
versal attention. Immigration is on
+, steady increase. The class OF people tha
are coming III is a most desirable one to re
T tain. Our mineral wealth is=only now be
ing ascertained and seems to be inestima
BILE. Railroads are counting on our trad
+ as sources Of wealth. Manufacturers vii
come to ug as will every industry that help
make country great, provided we NOV
on and take advantage Of our opportuni
ties. National legislation IS always mecca
sary and great stimulant of private en
terprlse. We are improving, but we as
further aid from Congress. First we as
for the removal OF obstacles impeding on
present progress and then we will seek til
encouragement Of generous public appro
priations.