Show AD A TAL WITH THE DAVID ECCLES AND associates RETURN FROM MONTANA they are pleased with beet sugar prospects on ft belknap reservation more than ever impressed with the possibilities of the country in and near the fort belnap reservation situated in the northern part of montana david eccles judge II 11 H and adam patterson have returned from a trip of inspection covering a period of some days it was the intention of the financiers whan they left ogden to locate the site for the port belnap sugar factory but on arriving at the reservation it was discovered that the government had not fulfilled its part oc the contract so eliat instead of 1000 acres represented the extent to which breaking up of the land had been carried on the contract which was signed by tha government agent the chiefs of tho and tha icicles sugar interests te called for the sloughing ploughing hing of a large tract on the reservation so that a cereal crop elthea oats or flax could bo planted this season in order that the land would be in condition for beet seeding in the spring of 1909 whilo abo discovery was a disappointment it does not moan that tho government will not abide by the terms of the contract A bill now bo fore congress contains the authority upon which the secretary of the interior will baso his course of action and although it is a certainty that tha bill will pass through both houses unshorn of its important points secretary garfield does not caro to take the initiative until he has unquestionable power to go ahead the bill provides for steam ploughs hs and other ample ments necessary to the reclamation of the beet land ol 01 the reservation anero Is reason to believe so eccles and patterson declare thai tho entire tract of acres will be broken in time for the planting ol 01 flax in july in the event that the plans of the sugar men work out satisfactorily an other trip will be made by them to fort belnap for the purpose of selecting a site there Is keen interest la alie country near the reservation over the project and every town Is exploiting advantages so that the selection will bo largely determined by the people the factory will directly and indirectly benefit it is proposed to corn mence work on the foundation of tho factory in the fall and finish in time for the beet crop of 1909 mr eccles viewed the reservation for the first time and he was enthus i over the outlook to become better acquainted with the indians a large conference was held with them friday on account pt a heavy rain storm the council was conducted indoors the wise men aged and wrinkled with the time marks of many years the chiefs of two tribes and the strong young men on whom the government and the sugar men rely for the successful culture 0 beets gathered in solemn conclave to listen to what eccles and patterson had to say many squads squaws journeyed to the meeting place but truo to custom and tradition the male representation resen tation to let them sit in the deliberations so they were compelled to await their lords and masters on the outside through an interpreter the speeches of the local men were made known to the indians A few sentences then a wait for a translation a few more sentences and another wait it was by this slow method that the factory proposition and the opportunities which it would open to the tribes were explained the return trip was delayed by the washout bt the big power dam near great falls mont judge de clar ed that great damage was done by th e uncontrollable waters and that tho problem of settling with the banchera ran chera along the course of the hood is assuming complexion there is flable to be a bitter struggle before an amicable solution has been reached |