The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1904-02-16
ITS EFFECT
ALREADY FELT
GOOD RESULTS FOLLOW PAS.
SAGE OF DIXON BILL.
TALK ABOUT new TOWNS
Likelihood That Several Will Be Es-
tabIished on the Ceded
Strip.

The receipt OF news last week from
Washington announcing the passage
of the Crow Indian reservation segre-
cation bill in the lower house of con-
gress has already had a wonderful
stimulating effect in a business way,
among people here and those who
have visited the town. From almost
every tongue the good effects of the
almost absolute certainty of the open
ing of the reservation to settlement
this year is discussed. Business men
- III lines are certain that the COM
ing year will witness great increase
in trade and they look with confidence
for continuation of active, business
for several years to come with the
opening to settlement of the northern
part of the Indian reservation.
AS to the mode of procedure for
the final opening of the reservation
no information has been given out
from the seat Of national government.
1t is known, however. that the com
missioner of the general land office,
under whose jurisdiction the settle
nent of the lands to be segregated
will be directed, generally favors the
plan of drawing for location This
was the plan adopted in the opening
Of Indian lands in the southwest a.
few years ago and the scheme adopted
then met with general approval from
all who made application for homes.
Already there are some people
speculating onthe question of towns
which are bound to spring. up on
the proposed ceded strip. Just across
the river from the abandoned military
post, Fort Custer, the Burlington rail-
way people have in mind the building
of a town. The distance from Bill
ings to the proposed toWnsite is SO
miles and the site is within the con-
fines of the county Of which Billings
is the seat of government.
The knowing ones have another
town in sight to be established when
the proclamation issues declaring the
lands open for settlement. 1his Is
to be opposite the town of junction,
in this county, so miles from the city.
If the dream of a town on. the south
side of the Yellowstone river. near the
mouth Of the Pig Horn, comes true.
which il altogether likely, then it
means the passing Of one Of the his
torie Settlements of eastern Montana.
Junction was established the winter
following the massacre of General
Custer and his men on the Little Horn
in 1876, and among the men RESPONSE
BILE for the birth Of Junction, is the
Honorable Paul Mccormick of this
city. For several years after its es.
tablishment Junction was one of the
liveliest places for its size in the
territory Of Montana. 1t was the one
place of shelter between Bozeman
and Miles City on the line of the long
overland stage route where the visi-
tor could get any kind of game he
called for. There were dozen or
more saloons at Junction in those
days, two hurdy-gurdy houses, and all
the other necessaries to make up
typical frontier trading fort juno
tion in those days was headquarters
for the friena.y Indians in the Yellow
stone country and with the killing OF
buffalo for their pelts Junction be-
came the mecca for the white hunters.
The opening of the northern part
of the Crow reservation in the near
future will bring about scene OF
great activity in a section of country
which has been lying dormant for
many years past. It all means much
for the city and county and the people
have reason to rejoice over the most
favorable nows rocoivod from Wash.