The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-10-08
THE RED RIVER VALLEY.
Another Rich Territory Made Tributary to
Wichita.


Special Correspondence of the Daily Eagle.
TERRAL, l. T., Oct. THE Rock Island
| railroad is built TO the Red river, and in a
few days freight and Passenger trains will
be running regularly. The Red river val
ley is one of the richest countries on earth
and has beea farmed for ten years. and in
that time there never has been failure.
The Rock Island road crosses the Red river
at Terral, the last town in the Chickasaw
nation, and in the heart Of ths famous
Fleetwood farm of worldwide reputation.
Mrs. Emily Fleetwood owns about $4,000
acres. of which nearly 10000 are in high
state of cultivation. and have been for
number of years. The plan pursued is to
rent to good responsible parties what land
they can successfully farm. Sometimes it
is forty acres, and from that up to 400
acres, but there are more farms OF eighty
than any other size. Some of the families
have lived in this fertile valley until they
have become very wealthy. All that
marks the boundary Of a farm is turn
row in the midst of sea of corn, wheat or
cotton, each and every one being perfectly
well acquainted with his limits.
There is no new country that has been
tapped by railroad in the last ten years
that means SO much for Wichita as does
the big Red River valley Heretofore the
settlers have been marketing their product
in Texas towns, having to ford the river,
when it was fordable, and when It was up
to ferry part OF the way over and pull
through quicksand the balance Of the way.
Even when it is almost dry the settlers
say that when they 90 to the Texas side
they always take feed enough along to
last several days, for when once over there
iS fai linz nau n,,v rt.til ia
river rises very rapidly and is very treach-
erous while rising or falling. In other
words, the river is the dead line" between
the Chickasaw nation and Texas. The
river is almost half Il mile wide, ana 1t
would cost an immense sum OF money to
build a wagon bridge 10 say that the
people cf this rich valley hail with delight
the coming of the Rock Island road would
indeed be putting ii very mild.
Tine question naturally presents itself to |
eve.yone's mind, What point will now
control the trade that has heretofore gone |
to Texas towns? And the answer TO that |
question is, Terral, the queen city of the
Red river valley, situated about one mile |
north of the river on slight elevation, |
with thousands of acres OF corn, wheat, |
oats and cotton Oh every side. Rev. j. h. |
ID. Terial, after whom the town Is named,
is Mrs Fleetwood's agent, aud attorney, |
in fact. People see at a glance that his
town is where they must do business to |
hold the present immense trade, which is
bound to come here. Rev Mr. Terral has
employed Mr.. H NJ. Schooltield to assist
him in the town business, and these gem
tlemen have concluded To offer special iu-
ducements to enterprises locating at this
point.
The facts are about like this: There are
about as many people now farming in this
valley, and have been for years, as there is
!1f,s. Df hA In fI.SS in Il
number sufficient to support a good towa
equal IN size to some good county seat
towns-Say 3,G01 inhabitants, and the
question now Is. among the merchants
north and those in Texas. who have had
Il very large portion of this trade, how
soon they can get here. Terral has only
about fifty houses all told. The Rock
Island runs a regular local train from
Chicaasha to Terral, arriving at Terral at
) 2. IN. This is the terminus and wiIi be
for some three months until the big rail-
road bridge (which is one of the best auy.
where. in tue west) is finished, when they
will push on to Fort Worth.
Mr.. j. j. Berry of Abilene. Kan, was
here yesterday, and, in CONVERSATION with
your correspondent, said tilat he had con-
tractea for 20 09e bushels OF corn at %
cents, to be delivered between now and
Christmas at 1erral. Mr. Berry has put
in pair of scales and has contracted for q
long string of cribs and other granary
room, and is determined that as nearly as
handled on the north side of the river,
thereby giving tile Terral merchants the
benefit of the money paid for the settlers
product.
Already the farmers are talking of hog
raising, aud the Wichita hog market,
Ing that they can make more money by
feeding their corn to hogs aud shipping
helm to Wichita than by raising corn and
hauling 1t ten or twelve miles over into
E-Xas and selling it for what they have d
mind pay.
TergaI mas now several good business
houses, among them being Emmett
about the neatest drug house
n the Indian Territory Or Oklahoma; l..
ferre!fs grocery and provision store, and
Rails & Garrison, from Belcher, Tex,
large general store, carry
ug dry goods, boots and shoes. and, IN
net. everything found in a frst-class
louse; Hightower & Bradshaw, groceries.
". A. Chew Is proprietor of the Hotel
Fleetwood, one of the finest hotels in the
erritory DIR. Davis Is a practiciug physi-
IAN. Among the branches OF business
hat would certainly Go thriving nusi-
less at Terral would be a Dauk, a Ina ardware
mi implement house, IA furniture stere.
cotton mill, Il Touring mill and elevator
md lumber yard.
In conclusion we would say 10 the job-
,ers of WicnIta, VINO are always anxIous
IND over ready To enter new country
hat is tributary to her. that here is a vast
ertile farming region opened to Wiear i
hat is already developed Terral will be
he biggest feeder TO the jobhlna trade of
v ichita that 1t mas ever mad If our jeboers
ook we'll after the matter.
Mr. Terrai says that he does not want 10
ee a big boom mere, hut that all he wants
a good solid substantial town that can
accommodate every farmer III the Red
liver valley.
A BOARDING HOUSE BLOWN UP.
Hn,fEcTEA der (