Montana oil and mining journal. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1931-1953, 1941-11-08
When Edgerton Made Perilous Trip to Washington
For Purpose of Having Montana Territory Created

Over half a century has elapsed
since our national legislators defined
the boundaries of q new territory, to
which they gave the name Montana.
This fact is familiar to all students
of state history, but not how, and
why, our territorial godfathers were
induced to interest themselves to this
extent In a remote region, Of whose
size and resources they were ignorant
as were the few inhabitants of this
section Of the country, who petitioned
for its separation from Idaho. Trans
continental travellers express surprise
at the length of time required to cross
Montana. even IN these days Of rapid
transit, vet only through such an ex-
perience can they form an accurate
conception of this great inland state.
It's resources are many, and constantly
increasing. How could they have been
predicted in 1868?
It was impossible for its first set
tiers to have any conception Of the
vast wealth the territory held. The
lure of gold brought them here, and
they meant to stay until they had
made their pile, and then go back to
Gods country" this section not COM
ing uuoeI 1AASSI CobSSSAJ' ~ 'AA~A
opinion
But If Montanans and legislators
had no prophetic vision Of what the
proposed new territory contained, 9TH
er. than gold and silver, they could
gain some idea from an atlas, of the
extent of country lying within the
boundaries Of Idaho.
When Idaho Was All Outdoors
The original territory of Idaho, &C
cording to the historian Bancroft "was
formed from portions Of eastern Wash
ington. of Dakota and Nebraska. 1t
comprised the country east Of the
SUBMITS of the Rockies to within 30
miles of the big bend Of the Missouri
below the mouth of the Yellowstone,
including the Milk, White Earth, Big
Horn and Powder rivers, and a portion
OF the Platte region on the North Fork
and Sweetwater.
within its boundaries fell the Black
Hills, Fort Laramie, Longs peak, the
South pass, Green river, Fort Hall,
Fort Boise, with all that wearisome
stretch of road along Snake river,
made by Pacific-bound immigrants
since 1843 and earlier"
It's unwfeldly bunk covered 326, 373
square miles-a territory greater In
extent than Great Britain and France
combined. And what made its govern
ment difficult, If not impossible, its
capital, Lewiston, was near its ex-
treme western line, and separated from
the eastern portion by lofty mountain
ranges almost impossible during the
late fall and winter months. Bannack
might have been called centrally To-
Gated. The first members Of the Idaho
legislature elected from there were
gone from Bannack six months, the
Journey to and from Lewiston being
made on horseback. 1t was perilous
undertaking, to run the gauntlet Of
hostile Indians and road agents dur
ing that winter and early spring of
extreme cold.
There were none but miners courts.
Sidney Edgerton, who was chief JUS
tice, had been given the eastern dis
trict by Governor Wallace, instead Of
that in which the capital lay, and
which was rightfully his, as superior
Judge, and there was no one here |
before whom he could qualify. All this
is an old story that must be told again
and again. in order to enable the
present generation to correctly visual |
ize the state of affairs existing here
that demanded the organization of
the Vigilantes.
EdgertOn Creator of State
The organization of the Vigilantes
could serve but as temporary meas
ure to insure law and order where |
there was really no government. The
subject having been discussed at a
gathering of miners and other citizens
it was resolved to ask for separation |
from Idaho, and that the residents
of this section be included in a new
territory. Judge Edgerton was then
chosen as their representative in
washington, because of his being in
with the administration of
President Lincoln, and the influence
he could bring to bear in favor of the
legislation.
When it was generally known that
he would go east, he received many