Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1940-05-11

his expenses. These nuggets, when dis
PLAYED by Edgerton later in the COM
mittee rooms, aroused great curiosity
upon the part Of congressman from
both houses.
A bin organizing the territory Of
Montana, was finally drafted. II was
presented by Mr. Ashley, referred back
to the committee on territories, and
then placed before the house for ac-
ton on March II, 1854, and was very
generally discussed.
Mr.. Cox, Ohio desired TO say that
he did not like the proposed name Of
the new territory. II do not know
whether 1t Is Spanish, French or
English"
Mr.. Ashley: 1T is a Spanish word,
meaning mountainous"
Cox Continued to protest, and Con-
gresham Beaman wanted to know
what name the gentleman from Ohio
would suggest in its stead.
Mr.. Cox: IT suggest an Indian name
-'Shoshone'-if my colleague (Ddr
Ashley VIII tell me what It means"
Mr.. Bennett, Colorado: cit means
snakes" Oaughter).
heads" Uaughter).
There was more wrangling, followed
by the conversation:
Mr.. Cox: II understand that the
legislature has asked that the new
territory shall be called Jefferson
Mr.. Ashley: "Oh. well, we are OPP
posed to that"
Mr.. Cox: Opposed to Jeffersonl I
propose that the name Of the new ter |
ritory, by unanimous consent, shall be /
Douglas territory think the gentle
man opposite win agree 10 that"
Mr.. Ashley: "Oh, no. we cannot do /
that"
Ashley stuck to his guns, and the |
bill passed the house titled Montana"
The next day In the senate 1t had as
difficult going.
name Of this new territory Montana
strikes me as very peculiar. I wish
to ask the chairman OF the committee
what has suggested the name?"
Mr.. Wade, Ohio: IT cannot tell you
anything about that. do not know
but that 1t may have been borrowed
from a novel would rather borrow
from the Indians, II could find
proper Indian name"
Mr.. Sumner: II was going to suggest
that In giving name to this territory,
I would rather take the name from
the soil, a good Indian name"
Mr.. Wade: Suggest one and will
agree to it."
Mr.. Sumner: "I am not familiar
enough with the country to do so"
Mr.. Howard, Michigan: 81 will say
10 the senator from Massachusetts that
was equally puzzled when saw the
name in the bill, and labored under
The same difficulty which my honor
able friend from Massachusetts, seems
10 be in was obliged to turn to my
Latin dictionary to see If there was
any meaning to the word Montana,
md found there was"
Mr.. Sumner: What was it?"
Mr.. Howard: cit is a very classic
word, pure Latin. It means a noun
iainous region, a mountainous coun-
ny"
Mr.. Wade: 1.-THE name then is well
adapted to the territory"
Mr. Howard: you win find It Is
Used by Livy and some Of the other
attn historians. which is no small
raise"
Mr.. Wade: II do not care anything
bout the name II there was none
n Latin or In Indian I suppose we
lave a right to make a name; GER
ainly Just as good a right TO make 1t
s anybody else. It Is a good enough
lameS
The bill was passed by the senate
n May 18th, after that body had
dded several amendments touching
pom the suffrage question with regard
o the negro vote In thu new territory.
N May oath the bin received the
lgnature Of the president pro tenn Of
be senate and the speaker Of the
ouse OF representatives, and on May
8, 1884, 1t received the signature Of
resident Lincoln. and Montana ter
tory was at last In existence.