The semi-weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1890-1891, 1890-05-28

The Helena Independent of Sunday
contained the following telegram:
Power is uncompromisingly opposed
to an office at Great Falls. but is anxious
to get one located at Fort Benton. He
claims that 1t would be more central and
would accommodate twice the number of
people that an office at Great Falls would.
We have already demonstrated in these
columns that Great Falls would be the
most central and convenient place for a
land office designed to accommodate all
northern Montana settlers who are not
embraced within the limits of the Lewis
town district. The prospects that an
other land office will be created either
here or at Fort Benton are dim. The
general land office, which determines
such matters is averse to adding another
district to those already created. But
Tom Power should not disparage the
just claims of Great Falls in the interest
of Fort Benton.
We feel that if railroads and stage
routes are taken into account, as they
should be, Great Falls is more Central
than Fort Benton as regards the large
area of public land in the counties of
Cascade and Choteau and the northern
portion of Lewis and Clark. Benton NAV
be nearer to places tributary to Chinook
or Glasgow, but the Great Falls and Can
d railroad now graded as far us the
Teton, will give easy access to Great Falls
to the settlers in that vast stretch of coun-
try which extends from here to thu Rocky
mountains and is bounded on the north
by the British line. When that railroad
is completed it will be easier for the set
tier at or near Augusta, Choteau and
even the Sweet Grass hills to come here
than it would for him to travel to Benton.
In addition to these northwestern dis.
tricts are the sections east and south of
Great Falls. For all these places this
city is the most central" The lust
claims of such districts more thar offset
the few hours railroad journey that
would be imposed on the settlers east of
Benton in coming here.
Mr.. Power makes an unwarranted
statement when he asserts that a land Of
flee at Benton would accommodate
twice tbs number of people that an Of
fee at Great Falls would"
The correctness of this statement can
be determined by actual facts. For the
past two years-even since the opening
OF the reservation settlement has been
entirely in this direction. The Choteau
county Journals have contained few no.
tees of "6nal proof" compared with the
large number published in this CITY.
While section after section has been taken
in Cascade county by actual settlers,
the unoccupied lands of Choteau have
remained so. because they do not present
the combined inducements that Cascade
county claims afford. No one will assert
that the current of migration will change.
Settlers will continue to follow the track
of the Belt mountains railroad, and to fill
up the vacant lands along the Great Falls
and Canada line.
Jhese remarks should not be construed
INTO an attack on Benton; with the land
office in the dim distance, there is naugh,
to hight about, and We have no relish fol-
qulxotic combats, Butthe animus of Mr..
POWER has SO blinded him as to the actual
facts that we have deemed it proper to
put them plainly before the public.