The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1909-08-13

numbers until the recent order withdraw
ing the land from further settlement.
Fourth All the farmers already settled
in this vicinity are stopped by this orde,
from taking advantage OF the recent ad
ditional homestead law.
Fifth: All the cumulative effects o,
advertising and much effort on the part oI
public-spirited business men Of culber,
son. Homestead. Plentywsod Redstone
Medicine Lake. Bagmar. Mondak ant
Bainrille. all thriving towns in the district
effected by the withdra wal order. has come
to standstill
Sixth: The order OF withdrawal is such
a monstrons injustice to all the white set.
tiers in seventy-two townships affected tina,
we wonder how any mind could conceive
II or any official have the temerity to ex.
ecute the order
Seventh II is not the fact that a hun
dred or more of Indians described by the
Montona Record as "guttersnps of the
Northwest" are to be given allotments in
our vicinity that aronses the Indignation
OF our citizens to such white heat. Tha,
IS bad enough. taken in consideration with
the Indian problems heretofore specified.
But the monstrous and almost ,rrepair-
able indignity and injustice that was hand
ed to us is the fact that seventy two
townships are Withdrawn from further
settlement when ONE township. which in
cludes I44 quarter sections. is sufficient
to provide each Of these 40 pauper Indians
farm with a quarter sections left over.
Now. Mr.. Secretary. as You are a fair
minded man, look the situation fairly in
the face and consider the situation from an
unprecedented standpoint. and let us know
II the order OF withdrawal cannot be modi.
fed or abrosated Gag he following lines
First: Let John +. Armstrong. who has
been appointed u. S. agent for alloting
lands to the Rocky Boys" who is now
engaged near Helena in rounding them
up. come to eastern Valley County at once
and pick out sufficient number of town.
ships TO provide alloiments for each Rocky
Boy and restore the balance TO settlement
by white settlers.
Second: The above proposition will
obviate the necessity OF shifting this un-
desirable band of guttersnips to some
other locality where howl would arise.
Third: While one township would be
sufficient to give each member of the band
a quarter section with some left over. we
would sugges, that four or five townships
be Withdrawn. and the balance opened for
settlement by whites.
Fourth: This proposition seems so
reasonable and feasible that we cannot
see any objection to your thus modifying
the obnoxious order. and thus allowing the
business OF the country to proceed as be-
fore the order went into effect
Fifth: II is well-kno~n fact that the
Rocky Boys band are now scattered all ov-
er the northwest. and John +. Armstrong
is authority for the statement in the
Montana Record. published at Helena.
that il will take some months to round
them up and get them enrolled. which
must be done before lands are allotted to
them individually. Every day Of waiting
for this enrolment adds its quota to the
irreparable injury already done to this
community by the withdra wal order.
Let reasonable number Of townships
be selected and the balance opened up and
a whole community will be grateful.
All this is submitted to your honorable
consideration with due respect.
Sincerely yours.
+. S. REED.