Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1897-06-02
BUILDINGS TO BE SOLD.
Historic Osd Fort Maginnis to be ERASED
From the nap.
Helena Independent.1

Helena independent
Historic old Fort Maginnis will
soon be nothing but a memory.
For years the abandoned barracks
of the post have stood as a monu-
! ment to former days when the post
was one of the hveliest military
camps on the frontier. Its parade
grounds. once swarmed with Uncle
Sans soldiers and they Were not
there for mere show; they had dan
lgerous business and plenty of 1t In
I. the first few years after the post was
established. The Judith basin and
the country about Maiden, near
where Fort Maginnis is located, long
after the more settled western and
central portions of the state were
safe enough, was the fighting ground
of many rowing bands of Sioux and
other hostile Indians, and even after
the fort was built, the skirmishing
and depredations continued.
Il But i'm spite of past glories and
usefulness, the old fort Is to Decreased
from the map. The state board of
Harry ID. Moore, register of the state
land office, to advertise and sell the
buildings belonging to the old post.
The fort has been abandoned and the
buildings have required a custodian,
who has been paid a salary of $50 a
/ .ivx
possession of the property. AL
though a constant source of expense,
the buildings have brought in no
revenue. 1t was thought advisable
to sell the improvements and thus
avoid the necessity of paying a GUS
todian to watch them.
II The board in ordering the sale of
the buildings acted upon the advice
given the former board by State
Land Agent James NJ. Page, who
has advocated that procedure ever
since the buildings and two sections
of the reservation were given to the
state by the federal government. In
his report for 1895, State Land Agent
Page had the following to say con-
cerning the buildings and reserva-
tion:
II found that the most desirable
agricultural land within the bOunda-
ries of the reservation had been en-
tered under the homestead laws, so
that 1 estimated that only about 100
acres in this selection is desirable
Inn err1t Isx ha nj, a
il rolling table land and nearly level
plateaus of good soil, but generally
stony, and in it's present condition
only fit for grazing, although with
the water, supply available, with
plenty of well directed labor. a much
agricultural purposes.
81 found the abandoned buildings
generally first class. Valuable and
well built, but evidence on every
hand that thegovernment custodian,
who has had charge of them ever
since they were abandoned, had
neglected his duties, as there are
many doors and windows missing.
"There are six double officers quar-
tiers and one single, all first-class,
large commodious dwellings in good
! condition, except some of the inner
doors gone; five smaller dwellings
with five and six rooms each, and
all in fair repair; three double bar
racks, with basement, 20 by 26 feet
each, with kitchen addition 10 by
20 feet, with wide poarch extending
the entire length of the building fac
ing the parade grounds; one large
first-class hospital building with
numerous rooms, and two wards
e one teamsters' meas, a good building
, with large dinning room and 10 oI
j IL smaller rooms; one church or hall
l 75 by 80 feet, first-class building, liz
{ fair condition; one stone guard
D house, large, strong and well built
] four stables, 200 by 30 feet, with
: stalls in each for 70 head of horses
q and granary, saddle rooms. ETC.; q
t large ice house and bakery. and
: numerous outbuildings.
1.-The material in many of thest
h buildings can be used for fencing
e building and repairing, and can b'
l. sold at some price which, think, II
o advisable In the event the state doe.
y not occupy them for some purpose
|. which seems doubtful.
"And now that the state has EN-
d ployed a custodian to take care O
these buildings at a salary of $50 ,
" month, there is danger that the ex
d pense will at no distant day amour
a to more than the revenue that tn
state will ever realize from them an,
l. the land, and in the meantime tn
le material In oil these buildings, whiel
It there is no probability of the stat
h ever having any use for, is going t.
le decay and daily becoming Of les
n value.
Is therefore, I believe 1t will prov
It economy to the state to sell the Ian
embraced In this selection, togethe
Df with all the buildings, at as earl
10 date as il practicable.
t.
* REED RULE SUPREME.
y. No coaslderatioa for cuba Until coomltte<
III Are Anuoiofed