Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1893-08-24
THE BOOMERS CAMP.
THE CROWD WAITING FOR THE
OPENING DAY,
When They Can Dash Into tho Cow
etcd rerritory-No starvation or
Other suffering in tho Camp.

ARKANSAS CITY, Kan. August r.
Camping In ana about this city within a
radius Of ave miles. are 1000 homeseckers
awaiting the opening OF the Cherokee strip.
Along all the roads leading here white COW
cred wagons are crawling IN from almost
every part Of the Union. Very fcw o. the
recent arrivals are canipcd In town. As
soon as they discover the lay OF the land
they move Into camp, either In the groves
along walnut river about two miles south
east OF the town anl about two miles from
the strip, or along the Arkansas river Al
the waluu, river camp, Troop II, Third cav
airy, under command OF Capt. j. d. John-
son. Is stationed.
In the camp along the Arkansa river.
which makes half circle about the city
10 the south aud west. are most OF the old
timers who came here n year ago aud who
have hung On waiting for ehancc 10 run
for home, Tho camps are well shaded
aud there Is an abundance Of fresh water
They are in good sanitary condition
and there has been little or no sicknsss.
business Is IN d lively condition and there
Is not vacant house In the town,
Tue reports that ,htve gone oni mat
many Of the boomers were suffering Tor food
walton are branded by the citizens OF Ar
Kansas city n unqualihrdH false, Aare-
ful Inquiry Ainong the hooners IN both
camps iailei to Ind any ,one who was or
had suffered for food. last winter and
this spring the city gave employment 10
many men and tennis repairing and NJ.
cadamiSng the streets and reads and TINS
summer, until stopped by The troops. many
hundreds Of tons Of hay we've gathered
AMI cured In tho strln by the boomers,
whlel, Melted them a tair revenue besides
The boomers all seem IA good spirits,
although a few are beginning 10 ge rest
less az the delay. Largo proportions OF lhysc
who have been hcrc along time riuc
with 10 exneetntlon OF immediate entry
on the strip and therefore were not greatly
disappointed, Sniuc OF thcfn are chronic
boomers and made the run into oklahoma
only 10 reunqulsh their claims for can.
slderntlon and expect TO do the same Of the
coming entrance
The appearance OF the camps show any
thing hut poverty. Many Of the waiting
cues consist Of parties Of young men who
arc camping together and expect to get
claims near one another. O'hcrs ore tainl-
lles W farmers from Illinois, Wisconsin,
Iowa, the Dakotaa and the Southern STATES,
with a large proportion from Kansas Neat
white tents and covered WAGONS gasoline
stoves and good cooking utensils and clean
bed clothing characteristic most " the
camps, while many " lhcm boast ~ o
cow and little Hook Of hons. Al bear a
very good reputation among the iownspeo-
pie aud the authorities have had no trouble
with them.
Like every town under similar clrcnm.
stances there Is more or less gambling
done and q good many sharpcrs OF all
descriptions have come TO take advantage
OF the strangers, The gamblers are, how
ever, suppressed as much as possible aud
the fifteen saloons and Joints are com
PEELED TO run In an orderly manner
The report that the prices Of provisions
and cattle foods have been showed away
up by the merchants 10 the dlsadyantags
OF the boomers, Is strongly denied by the
merchants who declare that prices are MS
low aud IN some cases lower than last year
and that their advantage Is in increased bus
mess and not inflated profits.
tnnae hay IL worth here 81 10 per ton
aud the best baleh hay $3.50 per ton, MS
against 81. 90 and 81 last year. Last year
II Is very light. Corn II worth ~ cents
per bushel and oats - cents.