The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-01-02

Wo-STCRY BRICK BUILDING.
we were easily discouraged. No doubt
if left to ourselves the boulders and
quicksand would have been overcome,
but a far greater obstacle stood in the
way. A regiment of infantry (the i8th)
appeared upon the scene, and we were
incontinentlythustIed off the reservation
after a stay of about three weeks. A
few stayed long e lodging the military
and the Indians, but the fact remains
hat neither of the creeks upon which
gold was found was ever prospected SO
as to determine whether they would a
or not.
A number of leads were discovered,
both gold and silver bearing, but no
time was allowed to reach below the
groupings. -
Commencing at Cow creek the pros
pector may travel around the Bear Paw
mountains and he will not find a single
stream or gulch in which he cannot get
a fair prospect.
The Sweet Grass Hills has not been
prespected much but enough is known
to convince those who have been there
that it will pay to prospect further. The
Bear Paw and Little Rocky mountains
follow the general direction Of the Mis-
souri, river, and is nowhere more than
twenty miles from it, thus affording
cheap transportation for ores, bullion,
machinery and camp supplies. "
To those who contemplate a raid into
that country, before they can lawfully
do so it may be well to say that in 1878
there were about three hundred men in
the hills, and the 18th infantry proved
amply sufficient to send us home. The
same regiment is there yet, and are
much better fixed for quarters, supplies,
etc.
So much fpr the mineral attractions,
which, compared with the agricultural
and pastoral of that country,
are, in my opinion, the least. For this
as for all o.her Indian reservations the
best land has been selected. No where
in this or any other territory can there
be found such a vast tract of land in
body, scarcely an acre of which cannot
be utilized either by the farmer or stock
raiser. The mountains, which cover
but a small portion of the reservation, is
one Of the finest of stock ranges I ever
saw, being generally covered with grass
to their SUBMITS. This has been always
known as the favorite feeding grounds
for all sorts of game, and stock men
have learned that their cattle and sheep
will seek a game country for their range
if left to themselves.
The BIackfoot reservation embraces
four times as much land fit for grazing
and agricultural purposes as all other
similar tracts Of land in Montana put
together, and is capable Of sustaining a
larger population than can find place in
all tho rest of this territory.
Tie Milk river valley extending from
the Bear Paw and Little Rocky noun
tains ard the bluffs Of the Missouri on
the south to the Milk river ridge on the
north will average thirty to forty miles
in width, and runs through eight degrees
Of longitude, forming with its innumer-
able tributaries by far the largest tract
of agricultural land in one body to be
found in any of the territories. With
this tract, or a considerable portion of it
thrown open to settlement, Benton q
afford to wait until railroad companies
get ready to come to us.
AndfnoW q word i to where the lines
to be- drawn. The proper plan
would be to divide tile reservation SO as
to leave all the Indians together. But Il
suppose this would be asking too much
At once, 50 Twill only refer to the pre-
posed plan Of making two reservations.
As I understand It, Major Lincoln pro-
poses the 109th meridian for the west
Iineof the Gros Ventres and Assinaboine
reservation If this isadopted II uilIbe
8 great mistake, and will lead to endless
difficulties. The Tooth meridian cuts the
mountain range ia two, leaving what lei
called the Little Rockies and 4 part Of
the Bear Paw still in the reservation.
With the opening will come 4 rush Of.
prospectors, and their ez ,erience will at
lead them oYer the line, as d mum