The Bozeman weekly chronicle., 1888-07-25

dIh o"iCb thhp VIVIAN s'~ RNo -
the valley. 1t is surrounded by all the
advantages necessary to build up and
maintain twelve. company post of cav
airy cheaper than any other post IN the
United States. And this must be read.
ily conceded when we consider that to
the east, and within short distance
Ito wit five to ten miles,) lie immense
coal fields, now being rapidly developed,
and at present furnishing Helena, Butte,
and other cities in the territory with
fuel; likewise supplying many of our
reduction works with coke. As work
progresses the quality OF coal improves,
and it becomes more apparent that the
mines are inexhaustible. Thus cheap
fuel for such post is assured.
Aside from this, to the east and south,
and within easy distance, with good
roads, there are large forests Of timber
suitable for building and other purposes,
and situate on the said reservation are
as excellent stone quarries as can be
found in the far West; likewise fine
brck-clay.
The Northern Pacific railroad runs
within one hundred yards of the old
barracks, and few steps on is tribu-
tary of the East Gallatin,a never-failing
stream that furnishes an abundance of
pure, limpid water, such as only pours
down the gulches of the Rocky noun
tains.
The climate in this locality, is healthy
and unusually invigorating, for. notwith-
standing the extended period the troops
were located there, there Is hardly q
stone in the cemetery that marks the
resting place of a soldier who died Of
any disease.
1t is situate in the very centre of a
great cattle.g growing district, where beef
can be furnished as cheap or cheaper
than at any other point.
Last, but not least, as before MENTION
ed, it is situated at the head of the great
Gailatin' valley, where experience has
taught that The production of every
species of grain, hay, and vegetables fal
exceeds the demand, and consequently
could, and would, be furnished the posi-
cheaper than at any other point in the
far West,-if not in the United States
Conclusive of this we have only to refel
to the fact that oats have been furnished
this post for less than 81 per cwt., ant
everything else in proportion. If ou
memory fails us not, the contract prict
for the came year at Fl. Leavenwcrtf
was So 80 per cwt.
With these advantages, it is unques
tionably the fact that Ft. Ellis is th'
best point in the far West for suppl!
post. Garrisoned by twelve uompanie
of cavalry, which could move at |
moments notice when needed, by raj
or otherwise, we cannot think that tn
old fort is permanently abandoned. w
do not believe that the Government AM
War Department will overlook thes
facts so far as to allow the restoration Q
said military reservation to the publi'
domain. Whom would it benefit? Tn
Government? No. The people of Gal
latin county or of the territory? NJ
Why? In the first place, not one-sixt
(if 80 much) of said reservation is a,
able land, situated as 1t is at the base c
the mountains. Save beautiful site for
large post and the gardens of the soldier
: there is no arabic land. Certainly tn
sale of this little batch of land will nc
enrich Uncle Sam's Golfers much. an
will not enrich the Government.
On the other hand, if the post wer
re-established, would it not contribute t
the emolument of the Government, ow
ing to the cheapness with which 1t coul
supply Its troopsP 1t would also affor
the farmers market ito some extent
Q for their products. And further, ther
are no "dead calms of life" in the fa
West, If the coal fields develop as raj
idly in the future as in the past, it
very probable that at no distant da
! they will engage hundreds--nay, thou
ands-of men in working the mine
T. Strikes may occur where the civ
authorities would be powerless to que
l. the same.
Why Congress is considering
n measure to throw said reservation ope
= for settlement we cannot tell, but mut
: believe it is under misapprehension I
the facts, and that the bill introduce
il for that purpose was 80 done with
: like misunderstanding of the matte
J. We believe that correct statement lai
y before the Department, and an effort
s the part of those concerned, is all thi
8 is necessary to resuscitate old Fl. Eli
= X.