The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1884-04-30

ern boundaries as before described. This
| wonld make their reservation approxi
mately one hundred and fifty (150) miles
long, east and west, and about fifty go
miles wide, north and soulh.
Mr.. Maginnis did not particularly OBJ
ject to this, but thought that the west.
ern line should be placed further east
His object is. I think, to include the
Little Rockies in the part thrown open
to settlement. hardly think that
would be treating the Indians fairly, as
those mountains would be needed by
the Indians in the near future for the
timber that grows there and for grazing
purposes. l should hardly be willing,
on the part of the Indians, TO place the
western line but little if any east Of the
present site of Fort Belknap, certainly
no. farther east than Snake creek. fif-
teeQ (l5) miles east of Fort Belknap.
MajSr Maginnis also spoke of running
the southern line of the reservation on
the crest of the Bear Paw and Little
Rockiess That would be, [ think, en-
tirely impracticable, as it would make q
line SO crooked that it could not be de-
fined. Besides it would defeat in part
the objects of opening the reservation,
viz: the rights to prospect the Bear
= d" lOl LIC Dl CClOtS
[ say, by all means the Missouri river
on the south for the boundary line.
These lines as indicated leave all of
the land east of the Bull Hook creek
open to settlement, and also all north of
Milk river, strip about forty (40) miles
wide between Milk river and the British
line open 20 occupation by settlers, thus
leaving on the north side of Milk river
a splendid route for railroads, ETC., with
out interfering with Indian lands. [
think the Indians are very reasonable
in their demands, and [ think, also,
that if the Indians are to be furnished
cattle for stock raising purposes that the
amount of territory they claim is none
too much. It will take just as much
land for indians stock as it would for
the white mans.
/ am clearly of opinion that stock
matters, as between the whites and the
Indians, will in the course of few years
breed interminable trouble. The cattle
will certainly mix where there is but an
imaginary line, and it is certain to give
trouble, from the fact that among whites
everywhere, and especially on the from
tier there is always quite number OF
people that have but little regard for the
rights of others, and that kind Of people
will have infinitely less regard for the
rights of the Indians or their stock.
In relation to what the Indians should
have, state: For the first five (5) years
they will need at least sixty thousand
dollars $3.50 000) in subsistence stores.
For the next ten 1O) years not less than
forty thousand dollars (S40,0 ,000) per year.
That. however, might be determined at
the expiration of the five years; also
the first five (5) years they should have
at least ten thousand dollars ($10,000)
per year for annuity goods. Sums
should also be appropriated for the OBJ
iects specified below, for building new
agency buildings at new location:
For building one saw mill and
One grist mill,
For building hospital and boarding
school,
Building, and for support of school
therein,
For building three hundred 1900 log
houses, and for breaking 5, 10 or Is acres
of land contiguous thereto, and a stove
Cooking to each house.
For farming tools and seeds,
For the purchase of stock cattle and
other domestic animals.
I am aware that these several sums
make pretty large aggregate, but 1t
must be borne in mind that this is start
ing almost from the ground up. Also
that in the matter of subsistence that
they have got to ba fed and clothed al
most entirely for number of years, for
there is no longer any game upon which
they could subsist themselves, and it is
the sheerest nonsense to expect Indians
to work and advance in civilized pur-
,pfu nnlU q Hatf-tlifR6
stomach.
Nv object in recommending the build
ing SO many houses is to divide them up
into small communities as much as pos
sible, giving to each one who will Till
the land, which the government will
break up for him, the house and all he
can raise, and the amount of land should
be increased as fast as the owner would
utilize it.
1t is my opinion that in most cases
where the head of family is given
house and land to till, that he can call
his own, and can be sure of the fruits OF
his labor, that will be an incentive and
will go long way towards settling the
Indian labor question. Under the old
regime an Indian could work faithfully
ali summer to make little crop, and in
the fall some chief would come along
and claim-and get-the major part of
the proceeds of his toll and labor. Such
things would still occur to some extent,
but it would gradually cease until each
one would enjoy the fruits OF his own
toll. / am, Sir, most respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
w. i. LINCOLN,
U. S. Indian Ag't.
Five for the Penltentlary.
From Thursdays Daily:
Col. r. A. Johnston, district attorney,