The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1910-05-20
ROCKY BOY LANDS


! BY order Of the Hon. Secretary
Of the Interior dated June 30, 1899.
all that portion Of Valley county,
Montana east Of the Fl. Peck Indi-
an Reservation and north Of the
Missouri river. together with eigh.
teen eoweships north Of the Fl.
Peck Indian Reservation vas with.
drawn from all form Of settlement
and entry. for the purpose Of allow.
ing the Indian Department to make
allotments for the Chief Rocky
Boy Band Of Chippewa Indians.
This band Of Indians comprises
. collection Of Reil rebellion rel
ugees and rem egades, banded TO-
| gether under the leadership oi
Chief Rocky Boy. and their oc.
cupation during the past ten o.
fifteen years has chiefly consisted
Of p,lfering and begging around
the towns Of Great Falls and Hell
ena. Consequently they are 40,
considered desirable citizens, and
the people Of eastern Valley county
raised 50 vigorous = protest against
their being allotted lands here.
that the Hon. Secretary changed
his plan and placed them on the
ceded. strip Of the Blackfoot Indian
Reservation
On December 10. 1909, the Hon.
Secretary restored the lands with
drawn to settlement March 1. 1910,
and to entry March 81. 1910. and
Immediately an immigration move-
ment was organized which has been
without parallel in the history OF
Montana. Settlers began to arrive
At Culbertson a. early IS the 18th
day Of February, to be on the
ground when the lands opened.
March I, 1910. and 10 spable them
to make selections on that date.
All settlers locating and making
settlement on the lands during the
month OF March were given . pre-
ferred right to file for ninety days
thereafter, as against all other set
tiers.
Up tothe Iath day Of Nay, 1870.
there had been LILA filings made
on the lands restored to entry by
the Hon. Secretary's order. ap-
proximating IS. 600 acres IN area,
the lands being made subject to
the enlarged homestead act.
There are probably as many more
settlers on the land who have not
filed. taking advantage Of the
ninety days preference right ex-
tended by the order Of opening.
Taken together with the settlement
made before the lands were with.
drawn from entry. we have now q
pOpnlous agricultural district. and
one which will attract attention "a
the farming world for many years
to come.
Many wheat crops were raised
in this district during the season Of
1909. which went better than 20
bushels per acre. and one il re-
corded - showing . yield Of sa.o|
bushels. Flax yielding l8 bushels
per acre Was . more than common
crop. and other small grains yield
ed in proportion.
Z The season Of 1910, has opened
very favorabiv and seeding i we'll
under way. II is safe to predict
400. 600 acres Of grain in this dis
trict ior the year 1910, and the crop |
conditions are even more favorable |
u this time than they wers last
year. Last year we had absolutely
No precipitation until the aoeh d4y |
of May. whereas during the same |
period this year the precipitation
amounts totwo and one-half inehes. |
The Great Northern Railway
Company - laying the steel On the
Pientyvood branch. which leaves
he main line about IS miles east
u Culbertson and extends in)o the
erritosy described. . distance Of
'ixlv miles. The grading % this