Cut Bank pioneer press. [volume] (Cut Bank, Mont.) 1909-current, 1917-01-05

At this time when the construction
of more than 1900 miles of railroad
is proposed, projected or already con-
for in Montana, it is interest
ing to recall hat Daniel Webster
raised his voice in the United States
senate in derisive protest when it was
hat the great northwest
might some day become valuable
territory with the building of a rail-
road up the Missouri river and across
the Rockies through the present Mon
tana to the ~headwaters of the Column
bia. Webster, as well as many other
statesmen of the day, was in favor
of surrendering to Great Britain, the
Oregon country, including all of Mon
tan west of the divide, on the
ground that neither that territory O
the prairie country east of it was
worth the cost or administration.
Those who fought surrender of the
Oregon country, as all of the north
west west of the Rockies was then
called, admitted freely that the area
now known as Montana was worth
less, but they commended that the Ore
gon country was worth having, if for
no other reason, at least, because the
Missouri-Columbia valleys offered the
most feasible route for a railroad to
the Pacific coast.
When Webster D~isapproyed.
1t was this suggestion that brought
the following outburst from Web
ster:
What do we want with this vast
worthless area. this region of al
and wild beasts, of deserts of shifting
sands and whirlwinds of dust, of cac-
tus and prairie dogs? To what use
could be ever put those great deserts
or endless mountain ranges impene-
trable and covered to their base with
eternal snow? What can we ever
hope to do with the western coast. a
TOAST of 5000 miles, rock bound.
cheerless, uninviting and not a har-
Dor on 1t; what use have we for such
a country? Mr.. President, I will
never vote n cent f ON the public
treasury to llace the Pacific coast
one Incl nearer to Boston than it
now is"
nor was this any mere idiosyn-
cracy or Webster's, the belittling of
me value of the western country.
EDWARD Everett, William l.. Dayton,
George d. Prentice, George McDuffie
and many other orators or editors of
the day raised their voices in derision
Oh the idea that the western prairies
or mountains might ever become my
tnlng else than a trapper's paradise.
In the vernacular of the time the far
northwestern country was eft only
Tor indians and the DEVIL"
This is what McDuffie had to say
! the senate, of the present Mon
tana:
There are 700 miles this side of
the mountains that are u%ninhabited.
Wnere the rain never falls, mountains
wholly impossible, except through
gaps and depressions to be reached
only by going hundreds of miles out
OF n direct course. Have you made
an estimate of the cost of a railroad
70 the mouth OF the Columbia? Why,
the wealth of the Indies would be in
SUFFICIENT. OF what use would it be
TOT agricultural purposes? l would
not Ior that purpose give a pinch of
snulf for the whole territory. I wish
tne rocky mountains were an impass-
able barrier. If there were an en-
of wen five feet to be re-
moved, ! would not consent to expend
I'VE dollars to remove it, and to en-
apie U population to go there I
.hank God for His mercy in placing
Inc ROCKY mountains there"
The Desert OF Sahara.
whole country is as ire
cialmable and barren and waste as
Ine desert of Sahara" said Senator
wlIllam L. Dayton. Nor is this the
WORST; the climate is SO unfriendly
10 lunar life that The native popula-
ION mas dwindled away under the
raVages of malaria"
n N MS Louisville Journal, George
H. Frentice, editor and poet, said:
hussia has her Siberia and Eng
laha ner Botany bay. and if the Unit
Gu states should ever need a country
" "nich TO Danish her rogues and
s~couhdreis the utility of such a re-
slon would be demonstrated. Until
.nen we are perfectly willing to leave
suIs magnificent country to the In
uians' trappers and buffalo hunters
'has roam over it's sandbanks."
Esen the dryness of Montana's
inmate which today is regarded as
an important asset, was used as a
punt II the argument of those who
Uo 80. tnat there was nothing
country. "i'soufA
- was admitted on all hands thai
49, saeater part of the country was
80 Ss put they commended that
~ d lew cases of natural fertili-
60 Inc SOIL should be discov-
urouon e oryness OF the air would
most other crops LII
washington Irving suffered in his
this point. Referring to the territnrS
now embraced in Rosebud. ICuster
rrairle, Dawson, Wibaux and Rich,
iand counties, Montana, Irving in his
adventures of Captain ponnou;l,on