The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-04-30
THE RESERVATION.
Major Lincoln Gives His views ana
proves Groundless Certain Charges
Made against himself.

rpnreSen ntallNt ic" u"J7 "SO'
srdn, Washington, in which it was stat
- that "Lincoln has again reported
roinst the reservation bill. X The
Commissioner opposes on Lincoln's re-
nort, The secretary has over-ruled the
n,missioner Lincoln wants COM
,,i.gion 70 make a treaty, and wants the
T,aions TO have all the land from Milk
ri,,o,, to the Missouri, taking in the Lit
1e Rockies,n and more to the same
sF,ct BEING informed by good author
49,, that such were not Major Lincoln's
,,iovs we asked him to state the facts
:, the case and the following is his re-
ply u,, ., 100,
,Leyyv collins, Esq, Fort Benton, M. T.:
S1R:-Your telegram reached me on
t,o 10Th and hasten to reply thereto,
and know of no better way to give you
@l,r o,l,, vinyys than to send you my report OF
inSt October to the head of the Indian
h',roan l'',2 and although my views are
n,ouhot modified since the date of
+Iat ranort in the main L believe the
views therein expressed are about right
7 have been led to alter my views some
1,Lot from the occurrences OF the past
winter. The SHOWS have been SO deep
in the lower Milk river country this
mast winter that [ am convinced IL would
NOT he a good range for cattle; therefore
am pretty we'll satisfied with the loca-
tion described in the bill before congress,
although | believe it might be modlled
TO the benefit of both Indians and
whites. to-wit: The first ten miles on
the west end from the mouth OF Clear
creek east, would only be from one-half
TO three miles wide. think that part
of it should be opened to settlement. AS
70 the rest of the reservation the main
objection is in an imaginary line on the
southeast side, which will, [ am afraid,
lead TO trouble between the whites and
Indians. AS far as [ am personally con-
cerned the lines are perfectly satisfacto-
ry, in fact they could not have been laid
ont TO suit my individual interests any
better if I had done it myself The oil
gives the Indians all the land they need
and the provision made for them is
ample.
| will state that the copy OF the report
which herewith hand you is the only
communication which | have made to
the Indian bureau on this subject since
the date of the council at Fort Assina-
boiDe, so that if the bill meets obstruc-
ton at Washington, those distractions
have their origin in some other party
besides myself.
7 wish in conclusion to state that | am
in favor of the opening OF the reserva-
ton. and have always been so; but it
has been my aim, as [ have considered
it nv duty, to protect and advance the
interests of the Indians under my
charge, and by doing the Indians JUS
tice, subserve the interests Of the white
settlers. [ am, Sir,
Most respectfully yours,
w. l.. LINCOLN.
p. ST. did, twelve months ago, re-
commend a commission to treat with
the Indians, but I hardly think that can
cut any figure in the matter now, as
commission was here last September, as
suppose in reference to that matter,
w. l.. j..
The following is the report made by
Major Lincoln to the head of the Indian
bureau last October, Immediately after
Senator Vest and Major Maginnis had
had their conference with the eros
Ventres. But after the experience OF last
winter, as bearing upon the question OF
best stock country Major Lincoln thinks
the bill now before congress has given
the Indians just the portion OF the res
ervation they want, and he gives the
bill his hearty approval, nor has he, as
was reported, made the slightest objec-
ton to it:
FT. BELKNAP, M. r., Oct. 13, 1883.
TO the Hon. Commissioner OF Lldadn
dfdirS, Washington, ID. O.:
SIR:-I have the honor to herewith
report the action of the subcommittee,
the Hon. Senator Vest and the hon.
Martin Maginnis, of the senate connllt-
tee, to confer with the Indians under
my charge. looking to the relinquish-
ment of part of the territory now
claimed by them. The council or con-
ference was held on the 10th OF Septem-
ber, 1853, at Fort Assinaboine. Iaklng
the statement of the Indians as gulde,
there appears to be no doubt but what
they are ready to relinquish large part
Of what they claim as their territory IN
consideration of benefits they expect TO
receive, but not from what the commit
tee promised them, for they promised
them nothing except in a general way,
but gave them to understand that tney
should be literally provided for-What
that may be will be, presume, deter
mined by congress at later day.
| deem it my duty and will herein
state what I think should be done Tor
them, but will first describe the bounda-
ries asked by the Indians. They De
sired the western boundary to be little
creek called the Bull Hook by the In
diapc hu fb N ubitac RupEmanyS creek.