The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1908-05-05
THE CROW

in a bill introduced In the senate by
Senator Dixon. II the land is made
available for public entry, undoubted-.
~ within five. years from the date the
first entry is made there will be be-
tween 5000 and 1000 families making
their homes on the reservation, where
now there r not more. than $50
sheepherders. Billings will be the
natural supply point Of these settlers,
so the subsequent increase in the
population of this city and its bust
ness as a result of the opening Of the
reservation is evident.
There are practically 100000 acres
of land in the reservation, most of
which will be available for agricul-
tural purposes. More than one-third
of it, according to irrigation experts,
is susceptible of being irrigated by the
construction of reclamation projects.
The remainder of the land is very
fertile and could be successfully culti-
waited under the dry land farming
methods. Agriculturalists declare
that the land in the Crow reservation
is some Of the most fertile in the
country. It is well watered and ex-
ce1lently situated for farming pur-
poses. The 100000 acres could sus-
tain more than 10000 families, SO, the
increase in population Of eastern Mon
tana to be anticipated as a result OF
opening the reservation is enormous.
BY placing under cultivation the
land now included in the reservation
an enormous agricultural territory
tributary to Billings would be devel-
oped. 1t would make this city the
Denver of Montana. It would be
the center of the greatest farming
region between Chicago and the coast.
Billings boosters cannot afford to
let the opportunity to have this reser
walton opened pass by. The subject
is to be discussed soon in the United
States senate, when the Dixon bill
comes up for consideration. The
chamber of commerce, the labor or.
CARNATIONS, the $3.50 0 club" and all
the societies that have the future vel.
fare of Billings and her growth at
heart should pass resolutions endors.
ing the plan to open the reservation.
Now is the time to take action.
1t is the intention to open the
reservation when the leases Of stock
men who now range their sheep there
expire, which will be about three
years hence. If the proposition to
open 1t is not carried by that time
then leases for five years will again
be granted under the rules Of the in
terror department. That puts OF al
least eight years the date of throw
ing open the land. Billings can moi
afford to wait that long. The wonder
full development that will come as 6
result of opening the reservation
under the Dixon bill will be hers five
years sooner If she wants 1t.
There is another feature of the pla1
to open the reservation which appeal.
to the people Of eastern Montana
Under it the Indians will be engaged
in horse raising, a vocation to which
they are peculiarly fitted. They will
not be thrown on the community, a
. many have been led to believe, blu
the government will still have charg,
Of them.
1t is important to the rapid develop
J, ment Of the west that this reserva
!, ton be opened while the attention o
settlers is diverted to this section. It
opening will mean a wonderful in
, crease In the business of Billings an,
in her population. 1t will mean tn,
!, construction Of new railroads, tn
erection of new manufactures, tn
. construction Of scores of new bushes
blocks and thousands Of homes. TIL
; endorsement of all boosters should b
, given Senator Dixon and those VIII
' have started the movement to opel
> the land to settlement.
HISTORY OF EASTERN MONTANA
The Gazette this morning prints
: communication from one OF the yer,