Daily Yellowstone journal. [volume] (Miles City, Mont.) 1882-1893, 1886-02-17
Wednesday, February II, 1886.
IDAHO's PETITION.

tween Montana and Washington ter
ritories, and north of the +7th degree
of north latitude. fearful that the
proposition to attach the strip named
to Washington Territory will receive
the sanction of Congress, have adj
dressed strong petition to that body,
giving number of excellent reasons
why the annexation to Washington
would prove a hardship to them, and
a number Of equally cogent ones,
showing material benefit TO be deriv-
ed from annexation to Montana; in
addition TO this the leading citizens
have Joined in an address to the peo-
Pile Of Montana, which is too long for
republication, but the gist of which is
given below.
On Feb. 6, 1856, "a mass convention
of the people of the Ceur d'Alene
mining region was held at Murray 10
consider the whole subject of annexa-
ton, whether we desire to remain in
Idaho, and ii not, whether we wished
to b. annexed to Washington or Mon
tanl. In the call for the convention
all persons who had the interests Of
this section at heart were invited to
attend, i'm order that full and free
discussion might be had and the scnti-
nient Of our people conclusively ascer.
tanned. The convention was largely
attended and was composed of citizens
representing every camp and settle
ment In the region. No one desired
to remain in Idaho, and after pro-
tracted debate the following resolu-
tions were adopted by an overwhelm-
ing majority:
Resolved, That all the material in
terests Of the people OF Idaho living
north Of the Attn parallel of north lati-
tude imperatively demand that the
portion of Idaho norih of said parallel
be annexed to the territory Of Montana.
Resolved, That Hon. John Haley,
delegate from Idaho, he earnestly re.
quested to take all proper steps to Sc
cure such annexation during the pres,
ent session CT Congress, and that Hon.
tana, be requested 10 extend his aid in
accomplish ing the same.
The territory with which We seek to
endow you is that portion of Idaho ly-
ing north of the 47th degree of north
latitude, which parallel Is almost iden-
tical with the course OF the Clearwater
divide, which separates the waters Of
the st. Joseph from those of the Clear
water river. Its area embraces nearly
1000 square miles. Its white popula-
ton is not less than 5000 and Its total
vote now not less than $500. 1t in
cludes the whole of kOotenai and the
nOrtherly one-third of Shosbone coun-
ty, Idaho. 1t consists of three great
mountain basins, of which that of the
Ceur d Alene is the most prominent.
IL contains three large lakes, each of
which receives the waters of its appro-
pirate basin. Near the Bitter Root
mountains il Is filled with multitude
OF small and fertile valleys, while
around and slightly back from the
shores of Lake Cpur d'Alene (the
most beautiful of all inland lakes the
country spreads out into rolling prairie
lands of unsurpassed fertility plenti-
fully watered by small streams and
perennial springs, not sparsely covered
with bunch grass, but carpeted with
continuous turf, with an alluvial soil
twenty feet deep resting upon a sub
soil of clay dotted with groves of trees
and capable of supporting a very large
population.
The weather and climatic changes is
then dwelt upon and after an exhaus-
tive review of the mining wealth of
the district the address concludes as
follows:
Our county affairs are economically
and honestly conducted. the commits
sion OF crime Is almost unknown
among US, and In spite of the large
drain upon our revenues in the con-
struction of roads and the numberless
expenses necessarily incidental to the
opening up of new country to settle
nient our county debt Is only So, 900,
one-third of which existed when the
Ceur d'Alene country was first set
tied. Considering the difficulties
under which we have labored, we are
satisfied with what we have accom-
plished. No people of the same num-
bers and under the same circumstances
could have done more. Our dark days
all lie behind US. We are a solvent
and thriving and will soon become
wealthy people. Our annexation to
Montana will be as beneficial TO you
as to ourselves. Our interests are
identical, and we need similar lepisla-
ton. These and many other consid-
erations Of public policy have con-
strained us to resist the pleasing and
persistent wooing of our brethren in
Washington and seek an alliance with
you. A majority Of our people are
from your territory, and these espec-
tally In joining In our united re-
quest for your aid IN securing such
Congressional legislation, a. will make
US an integral part Of Montana, not
only rely npon the commercial bond
Of intimately associated interests, but
appeal also to the ancient and tender
ties Of friendship and consequently.
Alex. E. Mayhem, Chairman,
Warren Hussey,
Thoe. T. Singleton,
Albert Allen,
Richard A. Pomeroy,