The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1881-05-11

| oAAHAa sSA AAAA1l1Sio oA boNiAs HuIUauys LuaL
must depend On the civil authorities to pro-
tect even when the entire population Of the
territory tributary is outnumbered two to
one By starving savage tribes The very
nature of the stock interest is perpetual In
yitation for Indian depredations; settlers scat
tered thinly over a wide expanse of territory,
with only occasionally sparse neighborhood
even; the stock scattered SO widely that only
the certainty of severe punishment causes
even the partial respect for such property
that now exists, and which will wholly dis
appear when the only apparent source Of
power is withdrawn; and Benton, the entire
pot Of so much valuable property, and the
center around which clusters such great in
terests, is left without even the shadow
power or source from which may be drawn
force for protection or punishment while
| Fort Shaw, on line that has lost every yes
| tige of strategic importance and which is so
far removed from the exposed parts that &C
ton from that point would be useless and i'm
| practicable, receives three companies for no
other perceptible reason than to preserve the
old rotting sheds and the f1oWec-gardens of
| the officers wives.
| We do not think that the war department
errs Intentionally il this matter, it is more
reasonable to presume that it partakes Of the
popular idea that the whole OF Montana is q
savage waste, and that the same reasons ex-
/ se+ fcw .y, nwto 1o+I, 1,o
lieve that its action is due to lack Of know
ledge of the strategic points Of defence, and
the points from which hostile force can be
manifested. Assinaboin lies nearly in the
admirably situated for the control Of civil
lied and compactly organized people. But
for protection from Indian depredations it is
nearly useless. IF the whole of the indian
force of this great reservation was unit, the
force stationed at that post would be better
able to act against them from that point
than from any other in the north. But the
Indians of this reservation are not unit, and
their depradations do not consist in regular
movement, as of an organized army. On the
contrary, they are scattered along frontier
| of several hundred miles, and make their
operations in bands Of from three or four to
twenty, and over great extent Of Territory
and which great unit of force, like that of
| Assinaboin is poWerless to either prevent or
avenge. It is obvious that the only method
to meet q warfare conducted on such princ-
pies is not by single compact, strong orga-
nization, but by numerous small ones, dis
posed SO as to be within supporting distance
and organized for quick movement.
The reservation comes to within only 9
few miles to the north of Benton. To the
east and south nearly as far as Arrow creek,
are series of stock ranges, interspersed with
fine agricultural valleys, and well filled with
stock men and farmers. To the west is the
entire range between Sun River and the Ma
rias, extending nearly to the Rocky Noun
tains, embracing 5000 square miles, and the
most Of this occupied with cattle and sheep
men, and parts Of it developed to high ca
paclty; and large country to the south of
US. On the north the Indian reservation pre-
cludes settlement, but leaves the Indians free
to carry on their depredations, and the only
point where protection can be available, Ben
ton, is LETT exposed to their ravages. Eigh-
teen thousand square miles IS q reasonable
estimate to place on the Territory looking to
US for support, and which looks upon this as
the only point where support can be made
available for any actual use What we need
| in or near Benton is not one company but g
permanent post of four or more. We do not
need the soldiers quartered right in the very
center Of the town, where they come in di-
rect contact with the citizens and are exposed
to all the yileness of town life. Directly
across the river, is military reservation
which If it had been designed solely for the
purpose of military post could not have
been made more convenient or applicable.
There are other suitable camping places
within mile or two Of town, and that is
close enough for all the purposes of the mill
tary. At some convenient point they should
be stationed, and suitable buildings erected
AOI lA6ll 4uaitc1e. but VIC ueeu tue 1OUpS
and need them badly, not only for the protec-
tion Of Benton, which in emergency might
protect herself, but for the protection Of the
outlaying settlers and interests which are
dependant upon Us, and whose veal or woe
is our own.
This whole Indian question is assuming an
alarming phase, and we do not make this