16 



Clark's Fork at least 10 miles above the Bridger Crossing and en- 

 camped there, after a inarch which I considered one of the most fatigu- 

 ing of the entire trip. Distance traveled, 21 miles: altitude, 3,850 feet. 

 On the morning of August 30, we crossed Clark's Fork a little 

 above our camp, proceeded down the valley, crossed the river igain to 

 the west bank at the Bridger Ford, and continued our march until we 

 crossed the Big Rocky. The valley of Clark's Fork opened out until, 

 at places, it was 5 or 6 miles broad, the soil good, and bunch and gama 

 grasses fine. We met, during the day, many of the Crow Indians, painted, 



and mounted on tough little ponies. Near our camp was a small village 

 containing a number of women and children who were out gathering 

 berries and wild plums. 



On August 31, at 6.15 a. m., continued our march down the prolonga- 

 tion of the beautiful valley through which we marched yesterday. It 

 opened out to the width of about 8 miles, as we approached the Yellow- 

 stone River, which we crossed by a very good ford just about the 

 mouth of Clark's Fork. We then continued down the north bank of the 

 Yellowstone River, to Billings' Station on the Northern Pacific Rail- 

 road, arriving there about one o'clock p. m. The bottom lands of Ciark ? s 

 Fork, passed over this day, were especially noted for fine grasses and 

 good agricultural soil. At one point I saw one or two good fields of 

 wheat, with fine vegetables at the same place. Thewse were the only 

 signs of cultivation in this valuable valley; they belonged to a white 

 man who had married a Crow Indian woman. The Crow Reservation 

 begins near the 110th meridian and extends eastward along the south 

 side of the Yellowstoue, nearly to the mouth of the Rosebud, embrac- 

 ing the valleys of Clark's Fork, Pryor's River, and those of the Big and 

 Little Horn Rivers. These are all valleys with good agricultural soil 

 and abundant grasses. Irrigation is necessary for the best cultivation. 

 The formation of the valleys and the large rivers running through them 

 render irrigation easily attainable if desired. The high, rolling country 

 separating these valleys is covered with bunch and gama grasses. 

 The section and reservation mentioned is subjected to what is known in 

 'that country as the chinook- winds. They are soft, warm winds, which 

 melt the snow quickly, giving a warmer temperature and good grazing 

 in the winter. In this Crow Reservation there are six millions of acres 

 of valuable land on which nothing is now grown. It is used by the 

 Crows only to gather a few berries and for grazing their small amount 

 of stock. The (row Nation numbers 3,470 souls. They cannot keep 

 this body of good land much longer for such purposes, and I would 

 recommend that the government give 80 acres to the head of each fam- 

 ily, buy the balance from the Indians, paying them, say, half a dollar 

 per acre, if thought proper, then purchase government bonds with this 

 money, and each year use for their support, through the Commissioner 

 of Indian Affairs and their agent, the interest upon the bonds, without 

 touching the principal. This interest would be vervmuch more than is 





