The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1891-08-07

OKLAHOMA AND THE NEW LANDS.
OKLAHOMA CITY, JULY 26, '91.
/ have received many inquiries per
sonally and by letter as to the present
status of things in Oklahoma, and take
this method of replying generally:
Oklahoma has now had three croI
seasons since "the opening"-for the
third is now so far advan ced that its
influence upon all kinds ofagricultural
production may be spoken of with Ger.
tainty. Two of these seasons, the first
aud the present one, have been beyond
criticism or complaint. The country
suffered last year in the common
drouth. The general result of the Ok
lahoma experiment is the unanimous
verdict of the people that the country
is ''all right" Very few farms are for
sale and such as are command good
prices and ready buyers. Even last
season was rather encouraging than
otherwise, as showing the capacity of
the country under difficulties. Cotton
was of good quality and fair yield.
The early cereals were not affected by
the drouth; and after the later rains
set in vegetables of all kinds were pro-
duced in profusion. The corn crop
was almost the sole sufferer. AS to
this years crop, the stories are so large
and rose colored that I will not invite
incredulity by retailing them. The
simple facts are, however, that all
crops-wheat, oats, flax, vegetables,
grass, corn, broom corn, cotton, mel
ons-are superb. Monroe Neal, whom
many of your readers know, was in
from his farm ten miles east of Okla
hona City the other day, and told me
that in his neighborhood there was
field after field of corn In which it
ould "hurry" him to reach many of
the ears. To the Allen county people
who are acquainted both with Mr..
Meals veracity and his unusual stat
ure this remark will be significant.
Extravagant yields both of corn and
cotton are predicted on every hand,
but can tell you of that better after
the crops are gathered in" But it is
the great diversity of production pos
sible here-the practical assurance
that there can be no such thing as
failure all round-that makes the Ok
lahoma farmer swear by the new Ter
ritory.
This encouraging outlook for Okla
homa proper is having its effect in re-
doubling that interest in the opening
of the new lands. The Oklahoma
towns are filling up with people eager
ly awaiting the opening of the Potto-
watomie, Sac and Fox and Iowa reser-
vstions lying to the east of Oklahoma.
There is perhaps nowhere in purely
pastoral and agricultural regions a
more picturesque and beautiful land
scape than these incoming lands af-
ford. They differ from Oklahoma prop
er mainly in being more wooded and
better wooded. Indeed they cannot
be called prairie country as the wood
ed lands predominant. Sill there is
much and good prairie land. Contrary
toexpectation the Indians have not in
variably selected the best lands in
taking their allotments, their desire to
clan together frequently getting the
better of their cupi,ity.
Everybody is at sea as to when the
proclamation opening these lands will
be issued. Guessing ranges from the
18th of August to the first of October.
The action of the Secretary in estab-
fishing comfy lines the other day
would seem to indicate that it will not
be long delayed. OF course interest in
the prospective towns is intense. In
pursuance of law the Secretary of the
Interior will reserve land for the loca-
ton of the county seat in each county,
and it is likely those locations will be
indicated in the executive proclama-
ton. This will result in tremendous
rush of lot seekers to the designated
tracts, and will also have the effect of
preventing the random location of
multitudinous towns. The scenes at
tending the birth of Oklahoma City
and Guthrie will be re-enacted-with
not quite so much confusion, it is
hoped.
Oklahoma City is the best base of
operations for those desiring to go eth
er temporarily or permanently into
the best of the new lands.
A. G. SCOTT.