The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1906-03-08

Washington, ID c., March Speak.
ing of graft. Perhaps the most famou:
case Of graft, and one that came under
my personal observation, was the star
route cases. 1t will be remembered b,
some old timers that was postmaster
at Bismarck in those DAYS, and that
there were two of these routes, terminal.
ing at Bismarck. One of these was from
the Black Hills, The other from Mics
City.
The establishment of the Black Hills
route resulted from a trip made by
Mayor Mclean and myself to Washing
ton in connection with the opening 81
the Black Hills. In December, 1875, d
party of Bismarck people went to the
Black HILLS prospecting, after the return
of Custer expedition, which reported
the discovery Of gold in the Black Hills.
While there had been rtinaors of such
discovery before this there. had been
nothing authentic, and these discoveries
were denied by the scientists of the
party. JIG was the policy Of the govern
rlent to keep faith with the Indians. in
the treaty with them which closed the
country as hrnlly. as it is possible for a
solemn obligation Of government to do
to all forms of settlement Knowing
this policy but loving sensation, Custer
allowed party of miners to accompany
him. My reporter, N. K. KnappaIl, ac-
companied this party in the gnise of a
miner He was with the party that dis
covered and brought out specimens of
gold. / gave the result to the asse-
.ciated press before it reached the world
from any other source, though Charley
Reynolds carried Official dispatches and
rurllors to Cheyenne about the same
time. q & NJ .,34 # SsEs5
The Bismarck party, accompanied by
those who wereSin the Custer expedition
returned to the Black Hills in December.
They found parties of miners scattered
all through the hills. There was no
Deadwood and no Rapid City then. The
government was sending an expedition
to arrest all who were found there, and
the wagon trains and supplies of several
parties going to the hills had been de.
stroyed by the troops. On French
Greek very coarse gold was being mined
with considerable success. and here the
party gained some fines specimens which
1 took to Washington. Kidder was del-
egate to congress then, and introduced
me to the doorkeeper as one entitled,
and / had the privileges of the floor
Spencer, senator from Alabama, secured
for me the same consideration in the
senate And for once Il was pretty well
equipped to represent Dakota in COM
gress. Fhe magic todci1 OF gold was
too much. The house took a recess and
examined that bottle and its contents.
The senate showed equal interest. The
Black ills were opened, "
President Grant when showed the
specimens of gold said. with such evi-
dence as that it is useless to try to-.
prevent the settlement Of the Black
Hills Secretary of War Belknap was
Of the same opinion, and resulting from
that trip the troops were recalled and
steps Immediately taken for treaty
with the Indians consenting to. the open.
ing. was present at that treaty and
reported it.
4 Before leaving st. Paul, we met the
chamber Of commerce of that city and
the visit resulted in the establishment
of the Bismarck and Black Hills stage
line. | drew and had passed i'll both
houses of the Minnesota legislature
within an hour memorial for the OPEN
ing Of the Black Hills. i went alone
q Milwaukee and arranged rates of
transportation and for connection with