The Bozeman weekly chronicle. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1883-1889, 1884-01-16

OASDOy AVPOAS W VIC OCCAS.
tary of the Interior sets forth in admira-
BILE style the resources, wealth and great
ness Of Montana, and contains as well
some valuable suggestions, he predicts
that the population of Montana will swell
to 100000 within the next three years.
He calls attention to the fact that 1900.
Indians occupy by reservations about
two-fifths of the area of Montana and that
this vast domain, capable of furnishing
meat for Nation" are held by these In
dams as nominal possessors and not
utilized by them sufficiently to keep
them from starving condition and
would only be too glad to exchange them
for some of the comforts and necessaries
of life. The increase in the value of cat
tie during the past year has been nearly
$40 100000. The increase in value of
sheep over sl,0OO,OOO; of horses, over
100000. The increase has not been
more in quantity than in quality he
says: "Last year showed total assess
ment Of $33, 2l1 ,3l2, an increase of s9,17O,-
81 over the preceding year; but the
increase of the present year, not yet COM
pleted, is greater still and already shows
a total of SAG, $4,000. This is greater
than the assessment returned by Col
orado in 1881 by nearly four millions,
and nearly double, that of the State of
Nevada last year. But handsome as this
showing is it fails to do the Territory
justice, for it does not include adollar for
the mines whose net income alone is
taxed, but whose market value would
exceed $50, 100000 and carry up total
wealth Of SlO,OOO,0OO." In this connec-
ton he says: "The Territory does not
owe d liar and the aggregate indebted
ness of her thirteen counties is under
81, OOO,OOO, mostly incurred for the cree
ton of court houses and other public
buildings, and for the construction of
roads and bridges" In conclusion he
says: Montana has no cause to envy
her sister Territories in any respect. She
is bettered watered, has a more health
full and equable climate, richer mines and
of greater variety, and home market
for all her bountifll soil can produce.
Such confidence have her people in their
ability to support state government
with an early prospect of full quota of
population to entitle them on that
ground to admission as State, that the
last Territorial legislature authorized a
call for Constitutional Convention, with
a view to submit the constitution framed
to the vote of the people in November
1884. The people of
Montana are earnest in their desire to
exercise the full rights of citizenship by
effective representation in Congress and
the participation in the choice of
chief magistrate of the Nation. There is
no wish of reduction of Territory, but
on the contrary a very strong desire to
expand is practical area by large and
reduction of the Indian reser-
vations within its borders. The condi-
ton of the Territory is peaceful and pros
porous and the resident population have
a kindly welcome tor immigration from
the old States and Europe. Murders and
and robberies are of rare occurrence and
the hardships which met the early set
tiers at every step are among the things |
Of the past and in no part of the Ameri-
can Continent are greater inducements
offered for safe and profitable labor and
the investment of capital than in our
great, grand and progressive Territory.