The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-01-02
MAGNIFICENT MONTANA.
Some Excerpts From Gov. Crosby's
Report to the Secretary Of
the Interior,
Setting Forth the Greatness and Grandeur
of the Territory as Well as Some
Wise Suggestions to the
Powers that be.

for q copy of his recent report TO the sec
retary of the interior from which we
take the following extracts of interest to
every reader of the RIVER PRESS, with
in and without the territory:
POPULATION.
At the time Of the census of 1880 Mon
tana had less than 40 900 inhabitants.
That same year witnessed the entry of
the first railroad within her borders.
During the ten preceding years the pop
ulation had barely doubled, but within
the stthree years it has advanced from
49, 900 to upwards of $4,000, according to
the most careful and reliable estimates.
In a territory SO vast as Montana, being
exceeded in area by only two states and
a single territory, the accession of q
million inhabitants would still leave it
sparsely settled. While it is true that
much of it's surface seems adapted, SO far
as yet known, to a scanty population
engaged in pastoral pursuits, other sec
tons, covering probably a fourth of its
area, creviced and underlaid with min
eral wealth, is certainly destined to give
homes and employment to a dense pop
ulation at no distant day, furnishing a
home market for a large share of its ag-
ricultural products. Bearing in mind
the fact that the railroad has only been
completed for about two msnths, too
late to accommodate the immigration
of the present year, it is quite within
reasonable bounds to predict that the
population of Montana will swell to 2OO,-
600 within the next three years. There
are some things interfering with the
rapid settlement of the territory that de-
serve the attention of the general gov
eminent for their reduction or removal.
INDIAN RESERVATIONS.
Nearly two-fifths of the entire area OF
Montana, as large as the entire state of
New York, is covered by Indian reser-
vations. Yet the highest estimates of
the number of these Indians do not
make more than $4,000. These reserva-
tions, as is usual, cover the most desira-
BILE portion of the territory, the best wa
tered, most fertile, and desirable valleys,
while the vast continuous reservation
lying north of the Missouri river, and
stretching from the eastern border to the
crest of the main range of the Rocky
mountains, upwards of %, 0o0,0 acres,
is almost entirely a high, rolling, grassy
plain, we'll adapted for grazing, and
much of it for the growth Of small grain.
The vast herds of buffalo that ence,
ranged these plains have been destroyed
or driven off, and the poor Indians, who
are the nominal possessors Of this rich
grazing country, capable OF furnishing
meat for a nation, are actually in a starv-
ing condition, and would only be too
glad to exchange lands worthless to
them for some of the comforts n nee
e~ssaries of life. AS a committee of both
houses of congress has been visiting the
borders of these reservations the present
season, it may be reasonably expected
that their report will fully represent the
necessity of cutting down their enor-
NOUS size, and settling the Indians in
severalty on what they can make use OF
in a civilized and peaceable way Of life.
I am of the opinion that now the terri
tory is traversed by n OF the main
transcontinental lines, able and eager to
throw out branches tarOugh every prin-
cipal valley, and advertising for imni-
grafton as a private enterprise, the de-
mands for the immediate future OF set
tlement are not at all to be Judged OF by
the slower growth of the past twenty
years.
LIVE STOCK
A few figures compiled from the audit
or's office from most recent returns will
shew the rapid growth of another lead
ing industry Of this territory-stock-
growing. Last year the number of cat
tie was returned at 2s7 ,21O, of the value
of $4, 699, S12. This year the same item
figures at ATS 900 head, valued at $l4,-
$50, 600. Last year the sheep were re-
turned as numbering 362, 776, of the value
of ST., O18, 124; this year at 100000 OF the
value of So, 100000. The number OF
horses has increased in the year from
$1,000 to 80, 600, and in value from 3d.
1877. 02y to So, 7s7, 900. The increase has
not been more in quantity than in qaal-
itv. The expense of raising stock in !
Montana is as little as well can be in any
part of the world. Very little shelter or
feeding is found necessary, even in win
ter; the average loss is very light, rarely !
over 5 per cent; and the annual profits