The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1889-04-16
WHAT OKLAHOMA Is LIKE.
A Fair Land, with Drawbacks Of
Quicksand, Heat, Blizzards and
Fever

0ulcksand, Heat, bnZzards ana
Fever.
From the Nev York Herald.
CCIcAGo. April 12-The lack of general
Information concerning the Indian territory
is easily accounted for by one who has
lived there for any length Of time. The
Indians naturally impaired as little knowl-
edge of it as possible, partly from their in
stinctive Jealousy and fear OF white incursion
and also because they came mostly in con-
tact with such whites as were interested in
the country remaining In its state of isola-
ton. The cattle men, who by the aid of
leases or the friendly protection Of certain
'squaw men" white men married to
squaws), had their herds there, were not
communicative. Nor were the employees of
the interior department.
The army people were few in number,
and their life, a change from post to post on
the from Ter, mad led them to regard Indian
reservations Oh a large scale as part Of the
natural economy Of the United States.
Their tastes were not numerical or pas
toral and the pos Utilities II these lands did
not strike them as forciblY as it has others
For the interior DEPARTMENT the existing
colditiol of things meant many good posi-
tions for political worknen worthy of
tleir steel" Clitlemen gradually driven
back by the surgilg wave of emigration
found here an abiding place for their
thousands of beeves and made money
rapidly.
These causes combiued and the other
western In DIS yet open for settlement left
the country almost as unknown as Alaska
until within a few years. The country is
well wauered. Kingfisher creek ald MANY
other small streams are clear, pure, sweet
and teem with fsh-perch and catfish
There are also many springs. But great
deal of water is bad and unfit TO drink,
being rather salty, or alkaline, or both.
The Cimmarron river before it reaches
the Oklahoma country passes over a bed of
salt that renders it to.aily unfit for any pur-
pose. 1t is no. really good for Washing
Part of its course is through banks of red
clav, which is so mixed up with the water
that it. resembles i color and consistency
muddy boarding house coffee. This is the
principal stream that crosses the new
territory.
The main stream, the Canadian river,
which marks the southern boundary, is
similar in many respects to }the Cimmarron.
Both run through a wide sandy bottom,
sometimes narrowing, but generally a vast
expanse of sand-quicksald at that-of the
ms nest kind. They are from 2 inches to
10 feet in depth during a rise, and in places
almost mile wide In time of low water
a narrow, changing channel may bs found,
sometimes on one side, sometimes on the
other.
DIFFICULTIES OF TRAVEL.
Both are exceedingly uncertain to cross
during high water. You cannot see the
bottom. To stop a second to look around
may possibly result in the loss of your
wagon, and you are likely to drive INFO
big hole al every step. ..---
Some years ago train OF wagons for
Lee Reynold coming up with buffalo
robes we're at thu banks Of the South Can
adian one evening. The river was coming
up and the train boss attempted 70 cross
Eight Of the wagons stuck in the sand, and
though Neuty yoke OF bulls were put on
they could not move them. The next morn
ing only the tops of one or two wagons re-
manned above water. The whole 81 ght sanA
away, aad they are supp sed to be still
going downward. Not wheel was saved
The North Fork of the Canadian is a
narrow. clear, pretty stream of fairly good
water.
All of these streams have fringe of
cottonwood, willows, elm, oak or hack
berry, with a little black walnut, whica
looks inviting to the traveller after riding
over the plains of Western Kansas and
Nebraska, and while the country is no.
really well wooded it appears to be so. Be-
tween the two Canadians is one of the pref
test little ranges ever known. Here was
formerly a favorite pasture ground for
buffalo, countless herds of which roamed
over this section. In the bright moonlight
Of that latitude, after a ram, the prairie
appears studded with enormous gems,
caused by the reflection from the numerous
pools Of water in the now deserted buffalo
wallows.
The climate is mild, with excessive hot
days in summer, but at night after 10
o'clock comes cool, refreshing breeze thai
is a positive luxury, and almost every night
in the year light blanket at least is needed
Though the mercury reaches us, or even
high er, there is always breeze that greatly
relieves the oppressive effect Of intense heat
During winter there is light snowfall, that
rarely lasts over day or two.
AN OCCASIONAL BLIZZARD.
Occasionally there occurs what is known
as a blue northern or blizzard, and the
mercury gets down to about zero. During
such weather stock suffers severely, and
many animals perish, especially if the
norther is preceded by rain, changing
into snow. The cold appears to be more
penetrating than further north, and have
seen company of negro soldiers arrive at
Reno after a nine miles marcl in which
forty nine out of fifty men were so badly
frozen that they were at once sent to the
hospital Yet the men were apparently
properly and warmly enough clad.
We're it not for the prevailing high winds
and dust the climate would be delightful as
rule. The winds in summer are some
times so high as to prevent haymakiug.
During one season at Fort Sill the greater
portion OF the hay put up at that post had
to be cut and hauled by moonlight. Moth
ing could be done during the day.
AS a rule the climate is healthy, but In
all sections in that latitude, especially along
the water courses there is considerable ma
laria and also rheumatism. Cholera ragged
there some twenty years ago, but there has
been none since that time.
With the opening up Of this country turn
ing over the soil may produce, and pro 1ably
will, a dangerous fever, malarial in its type
and sympt lms. This is common to all new
countries, and can be avoided generally by
liberal use of quinine and avoidance OF
cheap whisky. This fever usually runs but
one season. Settlers from northern lati-
tudes would do better to avoid the bottom
lands and select elevated lands. IL will take
about a year to get really acclmated.
There is little difference practically, as to
location, whether a person takes up laud in
the Guthrie or the Kinghsher district
Each is equally accessible. Guthrie is at
least as large as Kingfisher. Kinghsher is
on toe western border, eighteen miles north
OF Fort Reno, on the Reno-Caldwell stage
trail 1t was formerly stage relay
station. 1t consists Of a picket house,
plastered with mud, a picket stable ditto,
a wire fenced garden and a haystack. But
at each point there will be
largo and nrOgparoug town.