The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1882-12-08
THE WESTERN ,xvAsloM.


s"s WI ~" SS~Ss~"s
We published . couple Of weeks since the
telegram Of Peter Roman, Esq, Agent 1t
Jocko, to the Commissionsr Of Indian Az
fairs, notifying him Of the approach Of Hal
let's army Of Northsrn Pacific railroad
buildsrs. with the camp followers, and ask
ing Instructions ~ to admitting the traders
and riff raft on tho reservation. We noticed
In some Of the Eastern papers incrsdulous
and jeering remarks anent the statement Of
force. sto., but we have good authority that
Hsilets he'd actually In his employ and On
the pay rolls recently 5000 Chinese and 80
whites. There arc probably 1000 loose
women and men hanging on - ths ragged
edges Of this army, and We are glad Agent
Roman has received instructions that, with
Dunn q Benefits extension OF work, will
probably keep the whole outfit, except few
hundred bridge builders and tracklayers, be-
yond the MissOula county settlements. We
can not conceive Of . greater calamity to the
Territory than that the roughs, male and fe-
male, who are following up that construction,
oO ouuPCu INV NV 0Aohs9u~ SossAo
ments this winter.
In response to the following ebuilition Of
smartnsss which appeared in the Pioneer
Prea. General Gibbon made . prompt re-
joinder:
Agent Roman, the Flathead Indian guard
ian, Il all tore up in his mind ~ TO what no
shall do when the Northern Pacific army Of
1000 men shall enter upon their great work
In the limits Of the reservation. The suffers
corps appears to be what worries him. The
real trouble Is that IL may interfere with bis
business. To protect his own interests he
would have the whole United States army
detailed to serve him.-Pioneer-Press.
GENERAL oIBBoN's REPLY.
To the Editor Of the Pioneer-Press:
FoRr SMELLING, November IA para
graph In your paper on Peter Roman has AZ
tracted my attention. Extraordinarily 1t
does an honest Indian agent very great
wrong,
Mr. Peter Roman enjoys In Montana, where
he Is known, . high reputation for honesty
and integrity, and In one Of the best and
most reliable agents in the employ Of the
Government. His apprehension In regard
to the effects on the Indians Of the arrival Of
/, q large force Of laborers on the Flathesd res
srvation, attended n snch bodies always are
BY the liquor traders, gamblers, and despera-
does Of all kinds, are perfectly well founded.
Even those who have not witnessed the ad.
wilderneSses, can readily imagine the effect
Of introducing such demoralizing crowd
among . tribe Of only partially civilized
| savages.
Agent Roman Is doing nothing more than
his duty In seeking instruction As to how TO
| avert the evils which threaten his charge,
| and to imputs selfish motives to him not
only does An honest man great injustice, but
it undertakes the results which he, - .
| faithful agent Of the Indians and the Gov
| has ~nnI VA IN annrahund
JOHN GIBBoN.
This v,ndication Of Agent Roman will be
fully endorsed throughout Montana, and
most especially on the West Side.
In addition to the teiegraphic instructions,
which we also published, Major Roman has
received the following, showing there Is no
disposition on the part Of the Government,
a. there was none on his part, to monopolize
legitimate traffic with the constructio nists.
These instructions, with the detail Of mill
tary force ordered when required, and the
fact that the force will soon DO largely re-
duced, probably relieves Montana Of what
threatened TO be disastrous invasion.
DEPARTMENT or THE 1NTK RIoR,
| OFFICE OF INDIAN AFFAIRS, !
| WARRINGTON, November II, 1882.
Peter Roman, Esq, U. s. Indian Agent Flat.
heed Agency. Montana.
SIR: Referring to that portion Of your
report for the month Of October last, relative
to . crew Of railroad contractors now NJ
work west of tn. reservation In charge OF
one j. L. Hallstt, and consisting Of 400 men
with camp followers, gamblers, ex-convicts,
iewd women, ETC., that are rapidly advancing
to the borders Of the reservation accompan.
led by portable saloons and trades Of all de-
riptious, i have to say that by letter Of even
date here with the attention OF the Honorable
Secretary OF the Intsrior II called TO the mat
ter, with the recommendation that the Hon
orable Secretary Of War be requested 10 de-
tail sufficient military force to cooperate
with you in maintaining such orders aud In
structions N are given you from this ONCE.
The large force connected with the cen
struction party appears TO make Il 'impracti-
cable for the regular licensed traders to sup
ply the sudden and unexpected demandi
from their stock On hand and In order Il
meet the emergency you will ut once notify
the party In charge of the construction partJ
that limited number Of vendors Of leGiti
mate supplies. auch n food and clothing
will b. admitted t. the reservation undel
license allowing them to sell goods only Il
the railroad men, but Ia no event and unde
no circumstances will the introduction o
whisky or other iEtoxicating liquors b
allowed; and II any licensed vendor or othe
person should violate this instruction In tn
slightest particular, he will be Immediate!
removed from the reservation and not allow
cd to return.
You will at once report the names Of thos
who desire special license - aforesaid, An
be ~ careful ~ possible that none but dscen
and respectable persons are recommends
> for the positions. Very Respectfully,
e. l.. STEVENS,
Acting Commissioner