The Dupuyer acantha. [volume] (Dupuyer, Mont.) 1894-1904, 1900-04-12
About the Coded Strip.

E1dIn6au county mas De6n CdSIlnS q
longing eye upon the new mineral dis
trict. 1t should not follow because OF
the richness of this new mining country
that it should become a part OF that
county, although the people might be
forgiven for longing for anything which
would be for their benefit. The opening
of the strip was engineered by Teton
county men, who had faith in the future
ofthe district, and men who put up and
staid right with it through all kinds of
delay and disappointments. When the
treaty was being made by a commission
sent out from Washington, Teton county
men were on hand. While most of them
took no active part in the proceedings
they were in evidence, and had it not
been for the endeavors of n man in
particular, | doubt if the treaty would
have been made. The Indians demand
ed 81, 100000, for the strip, and nothing
could bulge them. They held a council
with several interested parties, who adj
vised them to hold out for that sum-.
One of these advisors was from Flathead
county. The commission gave it out
that under no circumstances whatever
would they attempt to treat, so long as
this sum was asked. The result was
that the head men of the tribe, acting
on the advice of their supposed friends,
flew the track and started for home.
The Teton county man had these Indians
back, and the treaty made in less than
II hours, and the sum to be paid was
81, 100000. OF course this is not in
tended as a claim that Teton county
should receive all the credit for the
opening, but is mentioned as an incident
Which snonld preclude any claim that
Flathead people were the only ones who
took an interest in the matter. The
way the matter stands now, it looks as if
Teton county does not care much about
the strip. | will venture to say that the
county has received in fees for recording
notices of location and other papers, not
less than $1,000, and that not a cent of
public money has been expended in the
district, is a we'll known fact. A justice
of the peace and a deputy sheriff were
appointed for a short time, but they
were Choteau men, and residents OF the
strip cut no ice. An attempt was made
to have a road district established so as
to insure good roads by employing the
great number OF men,in the district i'll
working out their road taxes, and every
body on the strip was not only willing,
but anxious to have the opportunity OF
contributing his share of the labor, but
the county fathers refused to help them,
by allowing them to do their own work
under the supervision of the county
authorities. There is a justice OF the
peace at st. Mary's now, Mr.. j. FL
Boucher, who was elected at the last
election. He has no official business
which speaks we'll for a new country
The only reason advanced by FIathead
county as>to Why I4e strip, should be
turned over TO them, is tat owing to the
railroad facilities, a person could reach
the county seat more easily. AS a mat
ter OF fact n can arrive, in ChOteau
from the strip as soon as he could in
Kalispeil, for the Great Northern is nc
sure thing, only for Jim Hill, and Il
miles an hour is all that can be depended
on under ordinary circumstances. Thf
strip has every thing to gain and nothina
to lose by remaining in Teton county
and who a tell? Perhaps it may not b;
always necessary to go to Choteau tt
transact business with the county clerk