The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-12-03

on the range. But even now, When
supplies are doled out in liberal quantl-
ties at the agency, a nice fat calf in some
secluded coulee would greatly tempt the
red man and fall a certain victim to any
| of the numerous war parties that cross
the country.
The valley of Birch creek from Sulli-
vans to Robert, a distance OF six or
seven miles, is one grand stretch OF
| meadow, we'll dotted with 1enantless
cabins and hay stacks. The valley, We
would judge, has been pretty well COB
bled up, but it is not as yet settled to
any considerable extent. We learned
that a number Of parties of the Missouri
valley and other points in Meagher
county had pooled their small herds of
cattle, organizing a company, and in
the spring will locate in this valley.
Barring the Indian nuisances, there is
not a better stock section in America.
Robert, named after an old-time and
we'll known citizen, who lives, and
has long lived near by, is assuming vii
lage proportions. Kipp & Upham are
the sole proprietors of the town, and
this is their principal store and head
quarters in the upper Marias country,
with Hiram d Upham in charge. u
ing the past season they have built a
fine frame store building, a neat resi-
dence, mammoth barn, warehouse, and
other outbuildings-all frame structures
which present a good appearance as
n approaches. Mr.. Upham, the man
ager, informed us that their business
during the year had been excellent, far
ahead of anything they had expected,
and with the rapid increase in settle
ment in that region it is certain to grow
in proportion. Kipp's bull train was
then daily expected to replete the stock
which had evidently been badly demon
allied by the unexpected demands upon
it.
It is fourteen miles from Robert to the
gency but as it was storming when We
were at the former place we did not ZEN
ture to make the trip. We learned,
however, that the Indians We're faring
sumptuously, the grub pile at the agency
being of ample dimensions. They are
also we'll fixed for horse flesh (stolen),
and will sell a good American horse any
day for $40 or SIS, the purchaser taking
chances on the rightful owner claiming
the animal. But few, however, are
willing to take such chances and the
Indians usually dispose Of them at more
distant points, or trade them to their |
northern cousins.
Indian Agent Allen has made him
self quite popular with the residents in
the vicinity of the agency. All are
ready to admit that he has done I'M
wonted rustling in the way Of securing
supplies for the Indians and the change
from the administration of that veneer
able old fraud, John w. Young, is so
great that a comparison is out of the
question. Birch creek is a democratic
precinct and the only evil consequence
of Cleveland's election feared in that
quarter is the supplanting of Major
Allen by some mossback democrat who
will not be one half as efficient as ruler
of the Piegans. During the fall the
agency herd of cattle, including beef
cattle, got scattered in every direction
and for the past month the EN-
ployes have been out gathering them
up. Major Allen was in the saddle, at
the head of his cowboys, and rode con-
tinually for two or three weeks, which
is a good indication of what kind of
material he is made Of. Young would
have let the last old squaw kick the
bucket before he would have gone out
on the roundup, or put himself to any
particular trouble. During our stay III
that vicinity D. 6. Brownies teams
passed Ell route to the agency with the
last of 100000 pounds of flour he had
contracted to haul from Helena and we
learn there are abundant supplies at the
agency to take the Indians through the
winter.
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Public Debt Statement.