The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1890-05-24
The Burlington Road Building the
Casselton Branch Into
Montana.
Decision In the Sioux Script Cases
Again Postponed In
definitely.
Preparing for the Final Contest Over In
dian EnOch's Land-Stanford Advocates
Government Loans ON Farms.

0E1R&6y 6tCOtney IOr tn0 GfAuO 16lAnO q
Wyoming railroad, branch'of the Chicago,
Burlington d Quincy, who is in Washing
ton, informed Senator Moody to-day that
his road had one thousand men at work
building branch from Cheyenne to Dead
wood, 8. D., through Hill City. There are
106 miles to build and it must be completed
by the first Of November. They cannot get
men enough now, and can employ all that
come. The Casselton branch of this road
will be constructed through portion of
South Dakota for 800 miles and will then
be pushed into Montana. II will not be
built to Helena, but it is the intention to
build to some point to tap a road which will
reach Helena.
The long delayed decision in the Sioux
half-breed scrip cases, involving many ex-
ceedingly valuable lands in Minnesota and
other points in the northwest, is to be still
longer delayed. Secretary Noble will give
no decision until after another hearing to
shed light on some points which have arisen
and which were not made clear at the time
of the hearing almost year ago. The
hearing will be had ON May %. On the
validity of title of lands located with this
scrip depends the ownership of valuable
property near Duluth, Minn., Devils Lake,
N. D., Glendive, Mont, and other places
in each of these states. A large part of the
townsite Of Glendive was located with this
scrip. A decision in the case has been ex-
pected daily for long time, but the order
for re-hearing will postpone decision in
definitely.
A group of six prominent men were busy
for several hours at the interior depart
ment to-day looking up evidence to assist
in the hearing tomorrow on a case involv-
ing about 100000 worth of property in
Spokane Falls. They were Senator Squire,
Representative Wilson, James w. Glover,
A. A. Newbury, w. II. Taylor and E. B.
Hyde, of Spokane Falls. The case has
aroused great deal of interest, owing to
the great property involved. The hearing is
to determine the status of tract of land
formerly occupied by the Indian Enoch at
the time the Northern Pacific fled it's map
af defnisa location. The Northern Pacific
purchased the improvements he had made
for $1,000. The land was within the limit
of the company's grant and whether or not
it was excepted from the grant depends on
the facts as to Enoch's standing. If he had
renounced his tribal relations and was enti-
tied to settle as citizen, it was ex-
cepted. The Spokane men declined
to say just what evidence they
have on the question in advance of its pre-
sentation to the secretary. They appear
for the property holders. General Solicitor
McNaught, with Hon. A. H. Garland will
speak on behalf of the company. At the
department several points have been in
vestigated. The fact that the Northern
Pacific company paid the Indian $4,000 for
his improvements was made subject of spe-
cial note in the annual report of Indian
Commissioner Pierce in 1873 and that Off
cial regerds that the Indian had no valid
title. The report says: ''This company de-
string these lands offered to pay Enoch for
his improvements, notwithstanding he had
no valid title" 1t was further stated to
day that in treaty made two or three
years before the date of filing the map of
definite location Enoch signed it as
chief of his tribe, so at that time he had
not in his own mind given up his tribal re-
lations.