The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1882-04-05


road companies carry the ingredients but not
the manufactured powder.-Neao North Vest
st&@ra.l sN-sa.----
LETTER ERDM MIR. MaLNER.
In Which he Touches up the StocK
Interests of Northern Montana.
A few years ago the name of Montana was
scarcely mentioned at the East. So remote
it seemed that people quite willingly relega-
ed it to the savages. OR so uninvitlng 1t was
thought to be, because of its high latitude,
that like Alaska, it was considered only a fur
producing country. The advent of railways
is changing all that. Marvellous tales are
being circulated here about the richness and
beauty of the Yellowstone and other valleys
Every where people are eager for information
about Montana. Especially is this the case
among people of the useful class-those with
small or moderate means, who have both
energy and Drawn, and who desire to migrate
to some newer country where they can more
rapidly accumulate worldly possessions.
The dread of Indians more than all else de-
ters them from coming in large numbers with
their families and household goods. You
will perceive the truth of what | have al
wavs asserted-that the governments dis
graceful policy works tWofold INJURY. IL
consumes the substance Of the people IN the
support of the Indians, and the terrorizlng
influence they exercise by roaming about
comparatively unrestrained, prevents the de-
yelopment of the territories that would add
greatly to the wealth of the whole country.
I notice from certain statistics that an
army expense of swo@AaAdred and twenty
three million dollars his been incurred the
past ten years to perpetuate the present or
der of things in the West. So much for the
| mixed stupidity and design of our legislators.
| We need not expect a settlement of the In
dian question until the frontiersmen arise IN
| their might The present system offers ad-
vantages for speculation equal to the star
routes and it will be fostered by officials,
post-traders and agents, aided by sentlmen-
ta.ists at the East.
| Apropos of agent, the synopsis published
in the Independent Of my interview With Col.
Gardner was too hurridly written to do JUS
tice to either party. Previously Col. Gard
ner had conferred with stockmen OF the
upper Teton and Ft. Shaw and also with
Mr.. T. G. Power.
He desired particularly to see Hon. Gran
Vile Stuart, than whom no other man can
advance more intelligent views on the Indian
question. The inconvenience OF travel and
absence of direct instructions to visit Benton
deferred him from proceeding there.
The recommendations in his report to the
Department of the Interior were such as an
Inspector of Indian Agencies (his official po.
sition) could take upon himself to make.
From the maps and papers in his possession
was learned the absurdity of Kirkwood's as
serton that the Indians have the same rights
az stockmen upon the ranges. | traced bis
map, and will obtain copies of the various
treaties for future use by stockmen.
He also committed himself to the assertion
that the Indian reservations in Montana are
much too large; that twenty agents could no
exercise proper supervision over that OF TIT
| Blackfeet, and consequently it should be re
duced to such dimensions that by holding th'
land il severalty one agent could supervise
all. 1t was thought by Col. Gardner that th'
great difficulty lay beyond the control Of th'
Interior Department. The British Indian
are advantageously situated for committing
depredations, and are correspondingly inso
lent and aggressive. Their presence upol
the ranges affords pretext for like depreda
tions by Agency reds. He most earnestl.
recommended his department to call the at
tention of other departments to this fact
and gave me to understand that militar,
post would soon be established at Cut Banks
above the Blackfeet Agency.
J With Col. Ilges at Assinaboine Eanchme
J may experience greater security for thei
property, yet I can not but think that the
, must rely chiefly upon themselves. TT
present organization of the Stock Protectiv
Association should be strengthened an
made more military in character. Barbarou
notions are never amenable to moral suasior
Only display of force, and resolute actio
on occasion will restrain their predatory il
stincts. nj. 3. MHMER.
Chicago, March Gath, 1882.