The Glasgow courier. [volume] (Glasgow, Mont.) 1913-current, 1915-01-29
WILL AID FORT
PECK SETTLERS
Commercial Club Endeav0ring to
Have Lands Re-appraised.
OTHER TOWNS ALSO BUSY
Meeting Will be Held in Poplar We'd
nesday, Feb. 3, to Arrange for
Carrying out Plan.


Plans for a big meeting of all in
terested people of the cities within
the Fort Peck reservation are under
way to be held Wednesday, February
3rd, at Poplar, Montana, at which a
method will be discussed to secure re-
lief from the present unsatisfactory
conditions, now prevalent on the re-
servation.
Reduction in the appraised valu-
alton of the land contained within
the Fort Peck Indian Reservation
may become enacted before the end
of the present session of Congress.
This matter has been receiving the
attention of the Glasgow Commercial
Club, the organization having for
several months been working with
the residents both on homesteads and
with the Commercial organizations in
the towns situated within the reser-
vation to the end that a more reason
able valuation be placed upon this
land.
During the past summer petitions
have been sent from nearly every
town on the reservation, both to the
Indian Department and to the Mon
tana Congressional delegation, pray
ing for re-appraisement Of the land
and these have been indorsed by the
local organization, resulting in re-
cent inquiry having been sent out
from the Indian department in a re-
cent inquiry having been sent out from
the Indian department seeking further
information upon the matter. Moth
ing is yet definitely known as to just
what action will be taken relative to
properly relieving the situation, al
though the department has been
brought to the realization of the lack
of interest taken by those who desire
land for homesteading in the Fort
Peck Reservation. This lack of inter-
est has not been due to any other
cause than that land can be secured
through purchase outside of the re-
servation at prices almost as low as
is necessary to pay for the privilege
of homesteading it. The result has
been that since the opening there has
not been more than about 500 filings
made within the reservation, which
has desirable land sufficient to ac-
commodate not less than 5000 farm
ers, although total of over 1900
homestead entries have been made at
the Glasgow land Office during the
year just closed.
1t is the plan of those most inter-
ested in the rapid settlement of this
big territory wherein most excellent
farming land is located to petition
further to the Indian Department to
the end that within very short time
the land will be re-appraised at a
value more in keeping with the value
of patented land outside the reser-
vation. This movement will be gen.
eral and will be of such nature as
to forcefully bring to the attention Of
the department the fact that the only
impediment to the rapid development
of this vast area of land is the un-
reasonable valuation now placed upon
it. With proper valuation upon it this
land could be rapidly settled up and
corresponding large increase in the
products of this portion of the state
would result to the advantage of every
resident of Valley and Sheridan coun-
ties.
Glasgow is interested in the devel-
opment of the large acreage con-
tained within the reservation as its
development means additional business
for this city. Here is the logical dis
tributing point for the entire north
eastern portion of Montana and the in
creased business resulting from the
settlement of the reservation is mat
ter of importance which the business
interests of Glasgow realize. To this
end the Commercial Club will indorse
and assist in any movement which has
for it's object the making of homestead
filings upon the reservation more at
tractive to settlers. At the present
time there is some work being prose
cuted by the Club in assisting the
people of the reservation bringing tn.
matter more forcefully to the atten
ton of the Indian Department. Reso
lutions are being sent from the town!
within the reservation covering thu
situation and these will no doubt +,
irdorsed by the Glasgow Commercial
Club.
The Glasgow Commercial Club ha!