The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1909-11-19
WHITES vs.. INDIANS
Work Of the Oovernment Inspect.
tors, In Eastern Valley
County. Montana.

Dagmar. Mont. Nov. IS. 1909
Settlers of Eastern Valley County are
very much pleased to note that the Co
vernmeat is now putting full force on the
ivestigation Of the controversies between
the Turtle Montain Indians and the white
settlers Of this part Of the country. The
Government in doing so deserves the c,n-
sere thanks Of the settlers. as this investi-
CATION will surely help to clear up the
tasgle. and save much trouble in the future
on the part Of the indians as well as on the
part Of the whites. Had this tangle been
left to itself for FIVE years more it would
have caused almost unbearable conditions.
At this writing a force Of three special
Agents OF the Government are securing the
country north Of Missoury River and east
Of the Big Muddy
Their names are: L. T. Houberg, Jones
B. Harness and S. l. Humeston. all OF Hell.
ena. All three are gentlemen Of extra
fine qualities. and they are surely men
that are able to look into every claim. in
which there Is a tangle.
As these gentlemen have just finished
their work around Dagmar. and have mad
all kinds Of opportunities 70 look into their
work. wish to say q few words about
the way this inves,iga are carried out.
The above named gentlemen. besides a
few others. have spent fully month in
preparing the Office work preparatory to
the work in the field. AT Fort Tat,en the,
have checked up the Indians pretending te
hold claims in Eastern Valley County. A,
Glasgow they have checked up and plated
all claims filled at the Land Office by
whites and indians. In the County Cour,
house they have also checked up and plat
ted all Declarations Of Occupancy filed b,
whites. as well as by indians. Finally
they have carefully crossexamined all
check lists and platts from the Land Office
and the Court House and marked of listed
and indexed. all conficted filings and al
claims in controversy. This work has al
been done before they attempted to 60 ou
in the field and have very seldom II ever
seen piece Of Office work laid down IL
better shape. II has been sys,emizet
erosslisted and indexed according to tn.
very best OF modern .bnsiness method.
used in high grade Office work. And uncl,
Sam deserves credit for training his youni
men in such an able manner.
In the field this same crew is now scour
ing the country with almost wagon loat
OF plats. checklists, afiidavits. notations
etc. going to the officers Of the u. S. Com
missioners and checking up their plat
books and records and thea out to every
single Indian claim looking out for troub
le. And where ever they find q conflic
between the whites and the indians the,
take down notation Of all facts in the case
from as many witnesses on both sides q.
can be secured. And may say that the,
are out after facts. not from one side onl,
but from both. am sure neither white
nor indian will accuse them Of being par
tial in taking testimony. After bein(
over the ground these men will again spent
many days IN strenuous office work in pre-
pairing all the material gathered up in ,h'
field before rendering the report Il
the Government. Then il is uy
to the government to dispose Of the matte
by sitting the facts Of each case. to estab
lish the right Of the lawful owner Of IN,
land.
And now this would be impossible TO
the government. had not the work beef
laid down as il is along the lines Of ih'
most systematic business methods Of mo
dern times.
My aim through these lines is not to sa,
something pleasant to the above names
gentlemen. who are strangers to me. al
though admit that where you meet /;
man in the public service Who is not oni,
able to do his work fully. but wh,
does his work as we'll and faithfully as h
possibly can. such man deserves to b,
mentioned kindly before the public-Ras
Gals are pleatyl Ny object is 10 point ou
this fact. that the government is not onl,
now looking into the troubles in Eastern
Valley County. but that this is being dons
in the most scrutinizing carefully and i'm
partial manner. 50 believe the Who'll,
work will come very near being a success.
and each will get the land he honestly de
serves. And this ought to be good new,
TO our settlers.
Z. F. MADsEN.