The Glacier reporter. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1953-current, 1954-01-29

FROM THE SlDELINES
By 7. A. Busey

While the weather has taken
precedence over all other topics
of conversation and exchange of
Information during the past two
weeks. and there has been heard
the usual amount of complaints
in local circles of the severe
climate" OF the Browning area,
it is somewhat comforting to
note that in most other sections
throughout the region conditions
lave been considerably more Sc.
we're than here. All of which
might suggest that We stop com,
planning about the stormy spells
occasionally experienced during
the winter months. and stress
the many advantages of our sum.
mcr climate which annually at.
tracts many thousands of tour.
lists to Glacier National park and
this entire section of Montana.
Among the encouraging out,
looks for the present year i'm
the western section of Glacier
county might be mentioned the
prospects for more intensified
drilling program for oil and gas
along the mountain front. which
is generally believed to hold the
greatest possibilities for the dc.
vclopmcnt of big production of
any place in Montana. with the
possible exception Ct the Willis.
ton Basin in the extreme eastern
section Of the state. Scismugrap!,
crews have been kept in this
area. working out of Browning
all winter. and leasing activities
on the part of big oil companies
has shown no indication of any.
thing but intentions on the part
of the major companies to in.
au;:uratc an intensive drilling
campaign in the near future -
probably during the coming
spring and summer season.
And there is the possibility
that radical changes in the In.
dian program for the Blackfcct
reservation may be in the off.
ing. that could vitality affect the
future of not only the individual
members Of the Blackfcct tribe.
but the whole basic economy of
the large area now embraced
within the boundaries of this
reservation. BY both legislation
in the national congress. and
through the policies Of the Indian,
Bureau in the Department Of the
interior. indications point to
changes that are certain to re.
silt in a better handling of the
complex problems Of government.
Indian relationships. There Is
probably no other Indian rcscr.
walton in the nation with more
undcvelOpcd natural resources
than the Blackfcct domain. That
>"rious consideration Is being
given to a change of policy. both
in administration Of Indian af.
iarr". and legislation looking 10
III" Improvement of the individu.
II status Of the bona fidc mem.
bcrs of the Tribe. is apparent
h'n' reports coming out of Wash.
ing'0n. and the activities of rep.
Il 'c,iativcS Of the members on
the local scene.
This year should sec nj least
Il start IN the movement to bet.
to- conditions Of the Indian pco,
pie and the development Of the
vast resources that are to he
found IN this big area that Is
larger IL scope than some of the
smaller eastern states.
Wcthcr or not the negotiations
now pending between the repre-
scntativcs Of the Tribe and tho
Cullen interests develop into any,
i',i,G tangible. II has nj least 70,
riSd attention on tho vast un
d' "'nncd resources Of the Black
tcct reservation. and the OppOr
:%"iiicS here Of almost unlimit.
cd development Of the many nat
ural sources Of wealth that IN, q
h"rl scarcely touched through,
III" years. rhc larger oil com
ranics arc showing more intcrcs,
In a development program than
they have IN the past. and this
Is only one Of many other avcnu
cs for development that have
laid niOrc or less dormant thru
the years
In whatever changes in pOiicic.
and programs that may he adopt
cd. the individual Indian rOpu
iatiOn nr the reservation can fec
assured tina, their best interest.
are going 10 be Safcsunrticd BY
their representatives In Wash
tngtOn. as well as on the l0ca
level. Montana congressional del
cgatiOn IN Washington has unan
inOusiy given assurance that an!
proposed legislation IN changing
the long established program
will have their careful scrutiny
and that any proposed changes
tCOnttnucd IN raRc y