The Livingston enterprise. [volume] (Livingston, Mont.) 1883-1914, 1888-09-08

settled community, such as has rarely
been witnessed in the history of the
west. Just below town the traces of
few graves are still descernible which
are the last camping grounds of some of
Montan's first militia. They were
pretty hard lot of citizens, though they
were all brave, energetic and adventur-
Gus men and among this number were
many who improved their oppor-
tunites and are now prosperous and
respected citizens of our territory. The
very qualities which led them in those
rroublous times to serve in the frontier
have led them to be come pioneers in
trade and enterprises of all descriptions.
The militia was sent 600 strong in the
summer of 1867 by Gen. Meagher to
protect the settlers who were fast set
tling up the Gallatin valley, they
crossed the divide and the following
winter went into camp on the present
townsite of Livingston. They were
all men accustomed to act and think for
themselves and men who revelled in
personal freedom. Among the number
were many outlaws, renegades, horse
thieves and others who were to glad to
seek shelter from the law by enrolling
under it's protection. AS the winter
went on however, provisions COM
menced to get scarce. None were forth
coming from the Governor and no pay
could be obtained. The vouchers is
sued by the territory were worthless.
A mutinous spirit grew apace and raids
on the commissary by hungry men be-
came daily occurrence. All discipline
soon came to an end and mutiny was
soon in full sway. Whole squads of
men deserted taking with them what
they could. Officers found themselves
without men and many a member of
the organization was killed in the nu-
merous quarrels which prevailed in the
camp 1t is said by some who were
| there that more men were killed among
| themselves than were ever killed by the
Indians during their whole organiza-
tion. A strong guard Of the TRUSTEES
tried to preserve the scanty commissary
from marauders, but it was almost use
less. Capt. Hart was killed in defending
the stores, and others whose names are
long since forgotten. What was left
of the regiment gradually dwindled
y l><,io n q
ever not waiting for that ceremony to
be compete, but quietly went away and
engaged in other business. It is claimed
by some that the territory owes these
men their pay yet and that it could be
collected up to the present date, but we
think that most Of them were so glad to
get out Of the scrape that they have not
thought twice ebout the matter of pay
since they left the old camping ground
at Livingston.
Public Lands Disappearing.
The debate on the Oklahoma bill in
the house last week was made the occa-
sion for several of the house speakers
to declaim on the rapidity with which
the public lands were disappearing. Mr..
Nelson thus forcibly reminded them of
the fact in speech on that subject:
''Such state of things had existed when
the homestead law was enacted that
rapid disposal of the public lands was
justitiable. 1t was essential, and espec-
tally in view of the devastations of war,
that the western country should he filled
up, and this free distribution Of the
public lands was entirely justifiable.
But it was time to stop. The western
country was filling up too fast; too
many people were coming to it, and it
would be good deal to stop in some
degree the steady flow Of immigration.
The remaining public domain should be
cherished and preserved, and if settled
it should be with people who would
know and appreciate the value of it.
He referred to an amendment offered
by Mr.. Holman, making any person
owning or having owned piece Of real
estate ineligible as settler upon the
land to be thrown open to the public
domain. This provision would prevent
any poor working man in the east who
may have happened to own few square
feet of ground alongside his cabin from
selling that cabin and securing for HIM
self home on the public lands. Speak
ing of frauds perpetrated under the
homestead laws by spectators, Mr..
Nelson showed that large quantities of
land were yet to be obtained upon sold
iers' additional scrip. 1t is true that
the law did not make this transferable,
but by a system of powers of attorney
| it could he made so practically. He
knew of valuable pine lands lying upon
the Mile Lac reservation in Minnesota
that had been secured in large quanti-
ties by spectators with soldiers addi
tional scrip. He showed that every bill
reported from the Indian affairs COM
mittee to open to settlement land in In
dian reservations provided that the set
tier should pay the price secured to the
Indians by the agreements throwing
open the reservation. It was little
enough and it was guarantee against
speculation. The bill passed by the
house throwing open 1908, COO acres In
the Sioux reservation in Dakota and an