114 



THE IKRIGATION AGE. 



THE GREAT FLATHEAD RESERVATION IN 

 MONTANA AND ITS FUTURE POS- 

 SIBILITIES. 



BY MAJOR W. H. SMEAD, MISSOULA, MONT. 

 Formerly U. S. Indian Agent in Charge. 



Fifty years ago the country embraced within the 

 present boundaries of Montana was a part of the territory 

 of Oregon. It was then the home of the Indian, and he 

 held undisputed sway. However, the early trail blazers 

 were beginning to dot the vast wilderness with their 

 little settlements and the Government, being desirous 

 of negotiating with the various Indian tribes and se- 

 curing their friendly disposition toward the new set- 

 tlers in the West, in the year 1855 delegated Isaac L. 

 Stevens, then Governor of the Territory of Oregon, to 



sagacity. They chose well that great scope of country 

 nearly forty by sixty miles in extent, larger than the 

 State of Delaware by more than 200,000 acres, is a great 

 inland empire of broad valleys, large rivers and lakes, 

 great forests, and magnificent mountains, by which it 

 is nearly surrounded. It is a country of marvelous 

 natural richness. It sbroad valleys abounded in game, 

 supplying both food and clothing for its occupants. 

 The streams and lakes were full of fish, the timber on 

 the mountains and along the rivers furnished handy 

 fuel. In the valleys and on the prairies the grass was 

 waist high and supplied feed summer and winter in 

 this mild and equitable climate, for the large herds of 

 ponies the riches of these tribes. 



Here for fifty years the Indians have since lived, 

 fond of their country and proud of their vast domain. 



Celebrating the 



meet the Indians in council and, if possible, to nego- 

 tiate a treaty with them. Accordingly, in the month of 

 July of that year the chiefs and headmen of the various 

 tribes living west of the mountains the Flatheads, 

 Pend d'Oreilles, Kootenais met in council with Gov- 

 ernor Stevens for the purpose of discussing this subject. 

 The meeting took place at a point known as Hell Gate, 

 about six miles west of the present site of the city of 

 Missoula. Here, after many days and much delibera- 

 tion, a treaty was finally made and signed by Governor 

 Stevens, in behalf of the United States, and the chiefs 

 and headmen representing the various tribes then living 

 in what is now known as Western Montana. 



The Indians in making this treaty, and particu- 

 larly in the selection of their reservation, showed great 



Fourth of July. 



No thought had they that at some nearby day they must 

 turn over their country to the whites. The commis- 

 sions sent by the Government, asking for a cession of a 

 part of their lands, had always met a cold reception. 

 The Indians did not wish to sell the land of their fore- 

 fathers and their homes. But, alas for poor Lo the 

 decision of the Supreme Court of the United States 

 in the now "famous Lone Wolf case placed a different 

 aspect on the dealings of the Government with Indian 

 tribes. Heretofore it had been the custom of the Gov- 

 ernment to treat with Indians and secure their consent 

 to the sale or cession of their lands, but the Supreme 

 Court declared that Indians were wards of the Govern- 

 ment, and that Congress might legally legislate as it 

 thought best for their welfare. If the Indians had 



