New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-04-23
TIE TURN or THE SOUTHWEST

| "
The bupIe was blown at noon yesterday, and
the mob of settlers poured into Oklahoma from
all sides. No moro picturesque and dramatic
scene has ever been behcld in the settlement
Of this continent. The whole country is watch
ing with eager interest this extraordinary spec
| tacle of a wilderness transformed into State
in single day. Whatever elements Of law
lessness may go along with the food in its first
rush, it is certain that the population Of Okla
| homa-for at the time these lines are written
il has a population of many thOuSandS-has
all the characteristics which distinguish law
abiding and self governing community. Numcr-
Gus difficulties will arise out Of the first CLASH
of conflicting interests, but most Of the settlers
are undoubtedly pioneers in the true sense
They have sought out this country to make
permanent home there. Most of them arc OF
American birth, and in intelligence and moral
itv they average much higher than large pro-
norton of the population of our great cities.
II will not take long for men of this class, who
are used to governing themselves, to organize
condition of society in which life and property
will be protected, and we shall doubtless see
them a, pealing to Congress, upon its assem-
bling, for a Territorial Government on tho
basis of the Oklahoma bill Of last session.
TIE TRIBUNE has already referred to tho
significance of this incident as a striking symbol
of the approaching breakup of our Indian sys-
tenn. Congressman Springer directs attention
to still another important fcaturc-thc certainty
that this means a great immigration movement
toward the Southwest. For many years now
the current has set mainly toward the North
west At all events, the wonderful growth OF
the great Territories which are now to be adj
mitted as States has occupied the public NINA
almost to the exclusion of other regions pos
sessing also manifold attractions. Immgla-
ton has been pouring into Dakota, Montana
WaShin gton and other Northwestern Tern
tories in a steady stream, which will only be
augmented by the admission of those Territories
as States and tho increased facilities for the
investment of capital, and the better security
they will be able to offer. But the opening Of
Oklahoma bids fair to have most important re-
sultS bcyOnd inviting settlement in vast tracts
Ct land now kept tenantlesS under Indian
treaties. The impetus Of che movement is not
likely to cease, as Mr.. Springer suggests, even
with the opening of the additional 100000
acres belonging to the Greeks and Semnoles
west of the 98th degree of longitude and north
west of the Canadian River, nor even with the
openinQ of the more than 100000 acres of
the Cherokee Strip 1t will be several months
at least, if not full year, before these two
outlets can be provided for the surplus popula-
ton of Oklahoma which, it may be remarked
in passing, is likely to be the only region in
the world that was ever settled in day, and
found itself almost Immediately afflicted with
a surplus population
The natural overflow Of disappointed settlers
will be into Texas. Kansas, Colorado and New
Mexico. Even Arkansas and Missouri are like
" to profit to some extent, as well as Arizona
and Southern California. Great bodies Of
fertile land are to be found in these States which
can still be had very cheap. In Texas par
ticularly, tho opportunities for advantageous
settlement seem almost boundless. While the
climate in this region has its disadvantages, as
every climate has, it is still free from the in
tense cold to be found in the Northwest. There
are also vast bodies of land in Colorado, New
Mexico Arizona etc, which can be made pro-
ductive by proper system of storing and &C
cumulating water-a problem which is attract
ing more and more attention. Under these
circumstances it viii be strange if the opening
of Oklahoma does not prove to be the first stage
in a great movement Of immigration to the
Southwest much like that which has enriched
the vacant spaces of the Northwest.