The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-03-19
THE NORTHERN RESERVE.
A Large Part Of It to be Opened to
Settlement.
The Bill Introduced IN the House by Ma
Maginnis and in the Senate by Vest.

Walton bill introduced simultaneously in
the house and senate by Maginnis and
Vest, respectively. While not altogeth'
er satisfactory to our citizens, it opens
an immense area OF valuable country
that will be tributary to this town, and
if it becomes a law the present session
of congress-as we firmly believe it will
Fort Benton will have abundant cause
to rejoice thereat. We will review the
subject at length elsewhere:
Whereas the congress of the United
States did, on the fl teenth day of April,
ammo Domini eighteen hundred and
seventy-four, pass an act providing for
hunting grounds Tor several Indian
tribes, in terms as follows, to-wit: "That
the following described tract Of country
in the territory OF Montana be, and the
same is hereby, set apart for the use and
occupation of the Gros Ventre, Piegan,
Blood, Blackfeer, River Crow, and such
other Indians as tie president may,
from time to time, see tit to locate there
on, namely Commencing at the north
west corner OF the territory of Dakota,
being the intersection Oh the forty-linth
parallel Of north latitude and the one
one hundred and fourth meridian Of
west Longitude; thence south to the
south bank OF the Missouri river; thence
up and along the south bank of said
river to "a point opposite the mouth OF
the Maria's river; thence along the
main channel of the Maria's river to
Birch creek thence up the main chan
mel OF Birch creek to its source thence
west to the summit Of the main chain
Of the Rocky mountains; thence along
the summit of the Rocky mountains to
the northern boundary Of Montana;
thence along said northern boundary to
the place of beginning J" and
Whereas the buffalo and other game
for which this region was noted nave
now become practically extinct, and 10
longer furnish subsistence for these
tribes, and it has become necessary to
permanently settle such of these tribes
as still roam over this tract, and to as
sist them to become 'self-supplying by
other means than the chase: Therefore,
Be it enacted by the Senate and House
OF Representatives of the United States
of dn1ericn IN Congress assembled, That
all that portion of the territory describ-
ed in the act of April fifteenth, ammo
Domini eighteen hundred and seventy
four, which lies west Of a line drawn
due south from the national boundary,
at the western extremity Of the Sweet
Grass hills, to the Maria's river, shall be
assigned to the Piegan, Blood, and
Blackfeet Indians belonging to the
Blackfeet agency; and the president
shall cause the land herein described to
be held in whole for the occupancy and |
benefit of such Indians, Or to be patent
ed to them in severalty, if congress shall
SO direct hereafter. !,
Sec. 2. That there is hereby assigned
and granted to the various bands Of AS
sinaboine and Gros Ventre Indians De-
longing to the Fort Belknap agency
all that portion of the territory reserved
in said act of April fifteenth, eighteen
hundred and seventy-four, which is de-
scribed as follows, to-wit Inside a line
beginning at Milk river, at the mouth
of south below the foothills Of the Bear
Paw mountains to the Three Buttes
from these to the western extremity of
the Little Rocky mountains; thence
e~asterly along the dividing ridge of this
range to the head of Beaver creek
thence down the channel of Beaver
creek to Milk river, and thence up the
channel of Milk river to the point of
beginning. The lands within these
boundaries shall be held by the presi
dent as a whole for the occupancy and
benefit of these Indians, or shall be
patented to them in severalty If congress
Shall SO direct hereafter.
Sec. g.. That in order to enable these
Indians to give up the chase, and to
assist them to become an a~grlcultural
and pastoral people, and to become self
supporting. the sum OF seventy-llve
thousand dollars q year, hereby grant :
II to the Indians OF the Biack1eet
and a like sum Of seVenty-flve
thousand dollars a year IS granted 20 the!
at the Fort Belknap agency, It
or the term OF fifteen years from the !
,assage of this act this money TO be {
expended bv the direction Of the secre-
ary of the interior in the purchase of
agricultural implements, seed and other Z
agricultural necessities, or in the pur- j
,hase ofcattle or sheep, or otherwise Tor
he benefit of such Indians, and to help :
hem on the way to civilization and
el~f-support and, in addition, the gov +
shall issue such rations to these =
as NAV be necessary, in addition
@ what they produce, to their comfort
BILE subsistence for three years after the i
,assage of this act.
Sec. 4. That the government shall
.ause to be erected such new agency
mills, and blacksmith, car
center, and wagon shops as may be p
necessary, and maintain the same. 1t 9
hall assist the Indians to build houses v
nd enclose their farms, and shall cause
O be maintained such boarding and S
Industrial schools as may be necessary II
8 educate the Indian boys and girls, t.
teach them how to labor; and a
ongress shall appropriate for the same a
il the basis Of estimates furnished by d
ba oooratary 0f the interior. Ss