The Glacier Reporter

Tribal Council Discusses Industrial Development With Visiting Officials

Percy E. Melis, Reinholt Brust, O. E. Whelan, Thomas St. Claire and Rueben Fuhrer met with Tribal officials Charles Momberg, Leslie Cobell, Wm. Spanish, Walter Wetzel, Daniel Conway, Francis Bullshoe and Meade Swingley Tuesday for the primary purpose of acquainting Mr. Whelan with the reservations in Montana, and to give him a first-hand view of the country. He was also interested in meeting with the tribal groups to briefly explain his function and how industries are contacted.

Thomas St. Claire introduced O. E. Whelan, the Los Angeles Industrial Development Field Officer, who stated that the industrial development division's duty was to contact industry and to try to sell them on taking a look at the interested area for proposed development.

He stated it takes a lot of sound, factual material to interest them. Some of the main factors involved are location of proposed development to railroads and the market, natural resources present, water, electricity, rent and many more factors. He stated further anything done toward development make economic sense. He stated that unless there is a resource to exploit it will be difficult to attract industry. Authority is limited to stimulating interest in the proposed business.

Several of the councilmen spoke on previous proposals that had been made by the Blackfeet tribe. Some of these proposals were a feed lot, packing plant, food processing plant, tannery, wool washing plant, development of iron resources, hydro-electric possibilities and others. They were told that all these possibilities are being explored, but that interesting private capital in development was a lengthy process and demanded minute investigation into every possible factor involved.

Tribal officials brought to their attention the Tribal recreational development as they stated they are developing this resource on their own. If private capital is necessary for any further development, the tribe was told that it could arrange with the industrial development specialists to try and get capital for this development.

During the lunch hour, a tour of the Museum was made. Mr. Whelan and Mr. St. Claire were very impressed on this first visit to the Museum.

After the meeting with the Blackfeet Tribal group a tour of the northern and eastern sections of the reservation was made. Starting at Cut Bank Boarding School, through the cattle and sheep ranges past the radar base, through the oil fields and back to Cut Bank.