Evening journal., 1889-04-17
The ILLUSION DlSPELLED.
An Army Officer Lifts the Veil
from Oklahoma.
pIsAproINTMENr FOR SETTLES:

Only Little More Than Half The Land /
Suitable Tor Farming PnTposes-Biood'
shed Predicted Between the Old and
New Boomers.
WASHINGTON, April II "A letter has been
received here from Lieut. John NJ. Carson
Jr, Fifth United States cavalry, who has
been serving in Oklahoma with his regiment
for the past four years This young officer has
ridden over nearly every section Of Oklahoma
Being familiar with its topography, climate
and resources, and being free from all preju-
dice his observations are specially valuable
ard win be found interesting to those who
are watching events in Oklahoma. Lieut.
Carsons letter is dated at Fort Reno. April
9, to which point he had just returned from
scout along the Canadian river. Lieut. Car
son says:
Rloodshed Feared.
II fear that neither troops nor United
States courts will prevent bloodshed in the
settlement Of Oklahoma. The old boomers
have raised wind that promises to become
a whirlwind, and anticipating that this can
not be controlled are anxious about their
chances for securing land The country has
been 50 tremendously boomed hy certain men
and newspapers and people have thereby
been so far misled by inaccurate statements
that comparatively few have any idea Of
what Oklahoma really is-its extent, charac-
ter Of land, climate on resources. Perhaps
fve-sixths Of the people regard Oklahoma as
near approach 10 the Garden of Eden.
whore it is simply necessary to cast seed over
the ground in order TO reap bountiful crops,
and that they can sit under vines and Gig
trees, 50 to speak, in the enjoyment Of an
equable and magnificent climate. A resi-
dence of twelve months in Oklahoma will
completely dispel this illusion, destroy many
carefully nursed hopes and wipe out many
small fortunes, especially should the settlers
experience one of our cold winters, followed
by a long, dry, hot summer, such as we had
in 1885 and 1886.
Deluded by the Outcry.
''The great outery so long maintained
about Oklahoma has been the means Of at
tracing people from all parts of the country,
and every day brings new arrivals to points
along the border, all of whom are inpatient
ly awaiting the coming of April %, the day
fixed for the opening of the gates to this
imagined land of promise. As the amount Of
about 100000 acres the chances for getting
any Of it viii vary inyersely with the num-
Der Of people who will want it.
Alarm Among the Old Boomers.
"The old boomers fully realize this and see
the chances for securing piece OF good land
daily lessening. OF the 1,S0O,0O0 acres in
eluded III the presidents proclamation not
more than /, ,000, 600 arc what can be properly
designated us good farm land. A knowledge
Of these facts is producing a state Of alarm
among the old boomers and has made some
Of them desperate. They are forming,
hear, for mutual protection and 70 keep of
outsiders. This is what may lead 10 blood
shed, for there will very probably be men
among the routsiders' just as determined
and just as well prepared to take care Of
themselves as the old agitators.n
In conclusion, the lieutenant suggests that
| if it is the intention to open the remainder Of
the Greek and Seminole purchases and the
Cherokee strip the sooner it is done the bet
ter. He also says that the commissioners an
pointed TO treat with the Indians cannot act
too promptly and expeditioHsly.