Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1896-07-20
ANOTHER RUSH SOON.
BLAcKFEET LANDS TO BE SHORTLY
 OPENED FOR SETTLEMENT.

The Reservation Said to Re Rich In Min
 erals-Departmen of the Interior Mak-
 ing Special Efforts to Keep Out 'soon-
 ers"-surveys to Be Made.
 More interest is displayed i'll the pros- pective opening of the ceded portion of the Blackfeet Indian reservation than in any other similar event in the history of Montana. This is because of the report ed mineral wealth of the narrow, moun- tainous strip on the western border of the reserve which the Indians have re- gently sold to the United States govern ment for $1.500, 900. Tales repeated by the Indian legends and handed down for many generations, as well as reports in years past of prospectors who claimed to have visited that region, all represent it as land rich in gold, silver, copper and lead.
 In consequence of these rumors since the first announcement of the near ap- proach of the opening of the reservation both mining men and specuiators have manifested the liveliest interest in the proceedings, one ambitious party going ill upon the reservation on snowshoes on May 25 and locating and stalking out quartz and placer locations, as well as town site and mill site, intending to hold their selections when the land is finally thrown open and the rush begins.
 Active steps are now being taken by the United States authorities against the "sooners, as they are termed, and no speculators or prospectors will be al- lowed upon the reservation until it is opened legally. Acting under instruc- tions from the department of the inte- rior, Major George Steele. the Indian agent, has greatly increased his Indian police force and is on the lookout for all trespassers upon the ceded portion of the reservation, having given his police or ders to arrest every man who IS unable to give an account of himself. Arrests are being made daily. The trespassers are rounded up, confined for a short time ill the guardhouse and then escorted to the boundary of the reserve and warned not to return under a penalty of $1, 900, the fine imposed by law.
 The reservation will not be opened for the posting of location notices until the boundary lines of the ceded portion have first been surveyed. It will require from 40 to 50 days to complete the sur vey, as the immense quantities of snow in that region and the swollen mountain streams will hinder the surveyors in their work and add greatly to the diff. culties of the undertaking. Even at present writing the snow in the ravines and gulches is from 10 to 90 feet in depth, and even on the southern slopes of the mountains it Is from 2 to 6 feet deep and so soft as to render snowshoes a necessity All the mountain streams are at flood water and are raging tor rents. Those familiar with that portion of the country report that about the lat ter part of August, when the surveys will be completed, or nearly so, will be early enough for any one to begin oper- ations, as the snows will then be as nearly melted as they ever are and the streams will be in their normal oondi- tion.
 The policy of the department of the interior regarding these lands is that every man shall have an equal chance when the reservation is finally thrown open. Major Steele intends to carry out the instructions of the department to the letter He has divided his Indian police force into detachments. Each de- tachment, numbering from 12 to, 15 men, has been put under command of an Indian who knows the ground thor oughly, and each detachment is given 8 certain district to patrol day and night. A squad of police is also placed at every pass. so that any one who may escape the vigilance of the patrol will be caught by the Indians in the mountain passes. This guard is to be maintained until the reservation is thrown open.
 Owing to the lateness of the season this year, which is nearly two months behind, it is doubtful whether any prog pectors can get access to these lands in time to accomplish any great results. There will be q great rush, however, when the eeded portion is finally thrown open, and next year the country will be full of people, for 1t is generally be- ieved to be region rich in minerals. Chicago Record.