Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1885-1890, 1886-08-21

ceptlon OF the extent and quality OF
the lands from which the white set
tier is o completely shut out by
possession Of a few scattered bands
ofIndians. They comprise the north
ern section of~Montana, including
nearly all the arabic land IN the terri
tory, save the valleys Of the southern
water courses. A vast domain, some
$50 miles in length by an average of
70 miles in breadth, an area Of $4,000
square miles, or more than that ofthe
state eff Indiana, is now assigned to
the occupancy Of about 5000 Indians.
And this discrepancy tells but a part
Of the story. For this land is the
most desirable Of all that is now left
inappropriate upon the continent.
Northern Montana is a continuation
Of the fertile prairies Of North Dakota
with a soil Of unsurpassed richness
and a climate that IS tempered to
mildness as the Rocky mountains are
approached. It is the southern skirt
Of the great interior plain Of the
Northwest, richly endowed by nature
with all that answers the wants OF
man. From the fertile valley Of the
Milk river there stretches away to the
westward this great. garden land,
waiting for the coming people. Not
only is it admirably fitted for agricul-
ture, but it is abundantly supplied
with coal and iron and wealth of use
ful minerals, Where its western Dor
der touches the Missouri arc the great
falls which furnish a water power five
times that of Minneapolis. Itisquite
impossible to sketch even III imagln-
alton the results which a few years OF
free development would work on such
material as this.
The way to this magnificent terri
tory is now barred by Indian possess
ion Of the country. The st. Paul,
Minneapolis & Manitoba railroad
stands ready to supply the means of
communication. but e%ntrancei is forbid
den. The bill permitting it to build
through Northern Montana was veto
| ed because Of its. assumed conflict
with Indian rights, and it may be
safely asserted hat this bountiful
country cannot be ven approached
by the settler until it has been sur
rendered by the Indian. When this
is done ST. Paul and Minneapolis will
be enormously the gamers thereby.
One glance al the map shows that
this territory, more emphatieally than
any other spot in the Northwest, must
be forever tributary to these cities.
It is shut of from the south by the
impassable ranges of the Rocky noun
tains. It's outlet must be to the east
ward, its wealth poured into the lap
Of these two cities and all its require
nlents satisfied in their markets. In
this great reservation, including t4e
best part OF the territory Of Montana,
there is alone the material upon which
to found a great city. It is of the ut
49,
most moment that this region should
no longer be condemned to lie useless
and unproductiye at the pleasure Of
the savage. It has now become posi-
Die to give it to civilization without
encroaching upon his most jealousy
guarded rights. In Pursuance of the
policy which dictated the appoint
ment Of this commission, the indians
of Northern Montana may either be
removed to the Sioux reservation OF
Dakota, as recommended in the re-
port Of Commissioner Atkins, or they
may be bestowed, in small bands
along the minor W~atercourses, where
the best lands are to be found, with
lands in severalty, sufficient for al
ample support. All the rest of the
imperial inheritance should be acquir
ed by the United States government
and opened to the development thai
is knocking at its doors.. The open
ing Of this territory will be better fol
these cities, better for the Northwest
than the discovery of rich stores O
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