OCR Text |
Show individual allotments. The following is quoted from the report of the Commission : Neither of these bands are as yet prepared to t&e lands in severalty. Indeed, the country occupied by them is not snitable for that experiment. It ia in no sense a ,' good agricultural wontry, and it would be n very difficult matter, if not imposiible, for a white man to makes, living there, if confined strictly to the cultivation of tho soil. ' Montana, aside from its mineral resources, is essentially a stock-grasing country, , the northern portion of it, especially, beine but poorly adapted to anythiue else: - - A . - hence it is t h 2 stock-raising gas beiome the principal industry of the people. The frequent failure ~f crops, owing to the aridity of the sail, randera farming not only nnprofitable, but uncertain as o, means of ~ U-D. D O t~h~er:e fore. if the Indians in north-e r i Montana are ever to become self-snpporting, they must follow the pursuits which the whites byloug experience have found the country best adapted to-cattle, sheep, and horse-raisina. This need not. and should not. be to the entire exclusion of farm-ir~ g,buri t ailould beeumo their chief indu~t rarn d depeudeoce. It can be said posirivrly that rlln l'on Tw:k Iudians can never i~neon~eseU-s~lpporr-ing where they now are, through tho cultivation of the soil done ; but there ;in be no doubt that with proper encoura,gement theywould soon reach that position as stock-growers. Stock herding issuited to their tastes; they are willing to work, and realize the necessity of doing for themselves: and it is bat right and just that their sfforts ahonld be encanroged and directed in a way that will he mast likely to 3d-vance their civilizatiun and happiness. Furthermore, it is absolutely certain that, unless they have cattle given them and become stock-raisers, the Government will be obliged to sopport them for all time, or allow them to starve. Holding to them views, we have made provision in the agreement with them to enable them to become self-supporting as a pastoral people. The reservation set apart for tbem is ample, but not too large, mod waa selected with that end in view. The ocnsideration agreed upon for the eeasian of their surplus lands will be suffioient to provide them with cattle, sheep, and other stack for s, soacessful start in that direc-tion, and to subsist, and otherwise care for them, until they are able to support them-selves withont aid from the Government. The report adds that-- The promise of stock cattle was the principalinducement which led to the cession of the vast territory relinquished to the Government. And that- What has been said in regard to the polic~t-o be pursned with the Fort Peck In-dians, is equally true in respeot of the Fort Belknap and Blaakfeet Agency Indians. They most be encouraged in stock-raising as well as in agrioultnral pursuits. ThGy , . never can become self-supporting in any other way. The compensation agreed upon for the cession of their surplus lands is as follows : For the Indians of the Fort Peck agenag-,' $165,000 an-nually for ten years, and for the Indians of the Fort Belkuttp andBlack-feet agencies, $115,000 and $150,000, respectively, annually for the same ' period, the money to be expended in the purchase of cows, bulls, and other stock, goo'ds, clothing, subsistence, agricultural and mechanical implemeutg, etc., and in such other manner as shall best promote their ctivilization and future well-being. There are sundry other provisions in the agreement intended to benefit the Indians and place them on a higher plane. Right of way is secured for railroads, wagou.roads, and telegraph lines whenever, in the opinioil of tho President, the public |