Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1885-1890, 1885-12-05
JOURNALISTIC REFLECTIONS.

We notice that the Townsend
Tranchant has already commenced
booming the county division schemes,
and in the current issue shows con
cI1sively by the assessors figures that
Meagher county is perfectly able to
stand being divided into several new
counties and still be able to look after
herself in q decent manner. There
seems to be no question bl1t that the
next legislature will be called upon to
divide several of the larger counties.
Regarding the proposed county OF
Valley, it says: We cannot, at pres
ent. give the exact assessment of the
entire proposed Valley county, as We
have not the figures for the jefferson
county portion Of it. However, we
expect them before 1ong, and can
speak more advisedIy on the matter
We venture that the total figures for
Valley county viii reach s1,70O,o00
this year.
The Inter Mountain say General
Howard has been making a careful
examination Of the military necessi-
ties Of the northern Nebraska frontier
and gives it as his judgment that
Forts Niobrara and Robinson should
be made permanent and large posts.
He recommends the entire rebuilding
~
reached by the railroad. But why
these elaborate precautions IN north
ern Nebraska, which IS not exposed to
one-tenth the extent as Montana? It
is true, that is the range Of the Sioux,
but they are now no more than any
one of Montana's hostile tribes.
The St. Paul Globe takes this COM
Portable view Of the war in Asia:
SsThe Asiatic war fires are burning.
It is not our fight. But we have sup
plies to sell for cash. The more war
on the other side cf the big waters
the more demand for our meats and
breadstuffs. This may sbe selfish
view to take Of the conflict, but that
is just the extent Of the interest this
country has IN it."
General Sheridan's recommended
ton to the department concerning the
much mooted Indian problem, are
sensible, and meets with the approval
Of all who have given the question
any thought or consideration. Il his
suggestions ace acted upon, It will be
a boon for Montana, where over 3o,-
100000 acres of its lands are given
over to the occupancy of handful OF
thriftless savages who care nothing
for it. The Chronicle says by this
move large tract Of the valuable
| land now withheld from those who
| would become actual settlers, cult
yate and cause it TO blossom as rose.
Nothing has retasded the growth Of
Montana to such an extent as the lack
of government land open to settle
ment. One-fourth of Montana. com
prising the very best farming land in
the territory, is held by Indians and
military reservations. One-slxth of
the land SO held would be more than
enough for such purpose, while the
opening to settlement Of the remain
der would bring a food of farmers
and stockgrowers to our domain that
would soon increase our population
tvo-fold. Then again, the Indians
encompassed by white settlers could
not rove at will and be a constant
menace to the stockmen The emf
nent general is absolutely correct in
his views, and not until they are car
ried out will the vital Indian question
be satisfactorily settled
X ~
The Helena Herald says it "would
like to see our very suspicious Com
missioner of the General Land office
concentrate his zeal for the public
service upon the methods employed
by the Mormon church to secure all
the land of any value in Utah. We
have an idea that he might open up a
worry rich lead by prospecting dill
gently IN that quarter. It is the gen
eral impression that the Mormon
church uses its alien material to Sc
cure titles to itself, by vast and reg
ular system Of fraud and perjury.
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