Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-01-03
wICHITA'S NEW FEEDERS.
The Possibilities Which Await Only
the Opening of Oklahoma.

Special Co reSponGence 10 the Daily Eagle
For the general information of tht
public, very few of whom have ever
heard there was such place, it may be
stated, that Purcell Is Furnishing and
promising town of-they say-1.200 in
habitans and | presume that Is about cor,
rect. 1t lies on the south side of the
Canadian river, in the north edge of the
Chickasaw nation, and just across the
river from Oklahoma territory. Prior
to two years ago the place was unknown
and unthought of. But, about that
time, the Santa Fe system extended its
established the first division south OF
Arkansas City, a distance Of one hundred
and ffty-six miles, making the distance
from Wichita here two hundred and
eight. The railroad company built a
good depot, an eight stall, stone
round house, put in couple of miles OF
siding and made ample stock pens.
The site of the town is very healthy
and desirable, being at the summit OF
the hill. 105 feet above the bed of the
South Canadian river. AT the foot OF
the hill and between that and the river,
is the railroads property above men
toned. Back from the summit of the
hill the land is just rolling enough to
afford perfect drainage, with slope to
the south and west.
OF the surrounding country, the val
ley lands, Of course, are very fertile, and
the up land soil, which is quite deep and
of a character that produces corn, cot
ton and wheat wonderfully. 1t is a rich
chocolate, almost a black loan, and
works very nicely, being free from rock.
SOME SURPRISES.
From the fact that the town is situated
/ in the Chickasaw nation, Zone of the five
! civilized tribes a person would natur-
ally anticipate finding a town distinct
lively lin some of its peculiarities) Indian.
| But this is a mistake. To all external
/ appearances it is exactly like some of the
many new good towns in western Kan
SaS. There is none of that tough
order of affairs, which usually is sup
posed to be necessary to a typical from
tier town. The train pulls into the sta
ton, on the platform of which is quite a
crowd of trave lers, sight-seers and
some idlers.
The thing which most indicates a
frontier town is the presence Of fair
sprinkling of Cow mem dressed in the
regulation broad brimmed white hat
/ hardly a sombrero-surrounde by fan
tastic leather or metal bands. Their hair
is worn to a poetic length. Bright color
ed silk handkerchiefs encircle their
necks, the corners of the handkerchief
| being ingeniously tied through couple
Of slots IN piece of the green cloths
circulating medium. The blue wooden
shirt and pair Of pants are held i'll po-
sition by broad leather belt artistically
designed and filled with ''long 45's. =
Attached to the belt is heavy
leather holster, containing the gun
or revolver, of the subject of this pen
picture. The pants usually fit closely
and are stuffed into the tops of a pair of
| well-made boots, whose heels are very
| high and run down to a small point,
/ touching the ground almost under the
lnstep. Large Mexican spurs complete
the costumes of those personages who
are such important factors in making
an opening for civilization in the newer
portions OF our country. Several mobile
red men, wrapped i'll their blankets,
mutely sit OH the platform with their
backs against the depot. The tender
foot from the states is ushered into a
four horse vehicle, hybrid between
an omnibus and an overland stage. The
four brOnchoes or mules, as the case
may be, soon land their load of
half a dozen or more tran
sents'' at the front door Of
the leading hotel of the place, which is
well conducted. 70 find as good a hotel
and one as we'll kept lin the nation is
the first surprise. A stroll about the
town developes the fact that it is as we'll
built up IS are towns of its size usually.
But being ii the Chckasaw nation no
one Is allowed 10 own property unless he
is member of that tribe by birth or has
married some squaw who l.. In the
latter event he is known as Il ''sQuaw-
man and is accorded the same rights as
The ordinary male members of the tribe:
ether white men or members of other
tribes can only lease such lots as they
want to use. and then only from
wear to wear. These lots are J0xlS0 feet,
with an alley back. The improvements
can be removed at the end Of the year.
unless, by agreed price, they are ptIr-
chased by the owner OF the lots. The
privilege for two, three, five or ten years
Is often embodied. but at any time the
head OF the nation decides to annul
these contracts. 50 made. he can do so
and that settles it, For residence lots.
from $3.50 to $50 per year is paid. Bus
mess lots cost (once in a while) $40 per
year. or less. according to location.
The merchants here (and there are a
large number for the size of the town
carry well selected and surprisingly
heavy stocks Their customers are not
(as might beinferred) altogether or even
largely Indians. On the contrary. the
population of the town is very nearly
wholly composed of United States citi-
zens and their families. Yet the Indian
trade is not at All a small item.
The more shrewd Indians and the
''squaw men" have fenced and are now
more rapidly fencing vast areas OF the
nation, and rent the same, for one
third of the crop, to the whites, who can
neither acquire title there OF in
OKLAHOIA, JUST ACROSS THE RIVER.
The soil Is, with only occasional ex-
ceptions. very good, particularly in the
valleys. The corn here natures or is
out Of danger of drought by July 18th
to August fst, and in the season lust
closed one farmer had field of several
hundred acres which averaged fifty-four
bushels to the acre. This. of course. IS
above the average, but the average Is
very good. Cotton IS staple crop. II
natures fully before the late frosts,
which come very late. and brings good
prices at the steam cotton Gin in opera
ton here.
Wheat. n,ilIet and other crops DO very
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