The Russellville Democrat., 1889-08-08
From the Indian Territory.

 Mir. Editor:
 In my last letter 1 sad something of the lands of Oklahoma, with a promise that something would be said of the uncivilzed tribes of Indl- ans cared for by the government, in my next communication, but before discussing these queer people and their habits and customs, l desire to say something more of this territory and it's people.
 The question is often asked, how the people who come into this terri tory to live, for the first year, as they come too late for a crop this season. The most plausible answer to thls question can only be given from talk Ing in the actual situation. For in stance, I find quite percentage of those who settled or filed on their homesteads early, did so Tn goed faith, and immediately returned to their homes in Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Illinois and other states to finish their crops for this year, and in the fall sell them out with surplus stock and sometimes small farms, and return to the territory in time to save their claims. This class of set tiers will be in condition to live and aid materially in building up the country. This class of citizens will amount, perhaps to twenty five per cent of the homesteaders. Then, about twenty five per cent. have re- mained in the territory breaking sod for livelihood in part, and have planted some corn on early blowing, which looks as though it would make fairly a good yield to get no cultiva- tion.
 These people have constructed temporary houses and seem to be preparing to make their homes here By thrift and enterprise, with the cheapness of corn near by, they can make it through. Now, we have fifty per cent. of the settlers or squat ters to dispose of, and they are thaI class of people, that is, many of then are, for whom we should have th' greatest sympathy. They have sue ceeded in reaching the promised lant and secured their homesteads, gen erally of good land on which inde pendent livings can be made, bu horseless and houseless, with almos nothing to alleviate thelr distressed condition; hence, many will sell anC leave, or take what they can get aaC locate other claims.
 Then, again, we have a part Of thi fifty per cent. who are simply adven turers and spectators, holding fo whatever they can get since the boon in April, and the first buyer wit from fifty to two hundred and fit dollars will get their claims. Thes adyenturers, then, will hunt new pas lures, awaiting the opening of tn Cherokee strip, which lies north c Oklahoma, mostly, and is fine bod of land, containing about SIX million of acres, equal to about twelve time the slze of Pope county. All name of fraud and wire working has bee practised by many of the settlers gain possession of these lands frs or whether first or not, contests hay been filed in many instances in ol der to squeeze the rightful occupar out of fifty or one hundred dollars a } compromise fee.
 As before stated, the lands as class or whole, are good enough, an 7 the country adapted to a variety { farming. There are perhaps thot 3 sand or more homesteads that ca
 be had by paying the goyernmer ? fee. Some of these lands, l flu a quite desirable. Very few fraction
 on tue rivers being from forty e eighty acres have been taken at a
 as most persons want l6O acre r These fractions generally are the fiji
 est lands in the territory.
 ? If persons desiring to seek tn
 country are able to get here wit S good teams and few hundred do
 lars, see no reason why they shoul