Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-11-17
OKLAHOMA'S RAPID GROWTH,
The Country as Viewed Through Official
Eyes.
Gov. RenfrOw Makes His Report
Cities That Have Sprung Up
Like Magic.

William {. Renfrow, governor of Okla
hona. today submitted his report to the
Secretary of the Interior. In il he states
that the growth of the territory in the
four years following the opening of the
first lands has been in many respects won-
derful. Where once the deer bounded over
the plains now are found farm houses
and wheat fields. not differing materially
from those Of the older states Fine cities
with electric lights. water works and all
modern conveniences have been built up
He who deplores that the red man has
been driven back will find in these happy
homes much TO console him and justify
Gods law Of the survival of the fittest
Population and Property.
There has been no official census since
$780, but the population is approximated
at 151. .3N for the older part of the terri
tory, and 100000 for the Cherokee strip
There were lie. 900 certificates issued by the
booths to intending settlers in the Cherokee
outlet. Many of them were just there for
spec ilative purposes and returned TO their
homes within few days. The immigration
of colored people from the south has very
largely stopped. and now there is not a
great number In the territory They have
them have homes Of their own. The as
sessed valuation Of the taxable property
OF the territory is $13, 951, ,928e5.
The greater number OF people came to
Oklahoma poor but these figures show
what wonderful Increase I'm wealth there
has been within the past four years In
the not very distant future the taxable
property of the territory will be multiplied
many times. There are at present two
trunk lines in Oklahoma with one short
line, the Choctaw railroad. Several other
lines are projected. More railroads are
needed, as many portions OF the territory
fT
munication. There are six national hanE.
In the territory, each having a capital
stock OF $4,000, and twenty-four priyate
banks. with capital stocks. ranging from
the territory is as follows: Amount due on
assessed valuation for the year lSy2 ga :
Aoo.5i; amount due from insurance licenses
si,ooV. Deduct total standing Indebtedness
April l. lsSS ~, 7,S3l50 and We have a bal
ance of $S.62424 in favor of the TERRITORY
oklahoma has no bonded indebted
Several OF the counties have gone into debt
to a very considerable extent. but with the
well. The second iegisla tive assembIy
changed from the township to the district
system, and In most instances il has proved
satisfa ctory.
public schools, because the returns from
the school districts are meager BY the act
or the territorial legislature a territorial
university was located at Norman and a
] and
the Agricultural and Mechanical College AT
saltwater. ~
The Cherokee Outlet.
Inc Presidents proclamation opening the
Cherokee Outlet reserves the thirteenth
section for the benefit OF these colleges
/ THIS will result i'm a neat income 70 tber,
situated, as it is. midway between the north
and the south. with a climate UNSURPASSED
Oklahoma is admirably adapted TO growing
almost every kind Of plant In agriculture
the territory has a never-failing source of
support and income. Wheat this year made
an average yield OF twenty bushels to the
area Tor the entire territory. In some To-
cahties the yield averaged sixty-two There
mas not been much done in the line of stocl-
raising this year. Most OF the new arrivals
are 100 poor TO bring in much stock with
them. AS yet almost nothing has been done
toward opening up mines Stone ouarries
are numerous and produce excellent build
ing stone. Manufacturing is in its infancy.
out II Is certainly a promising youtb and
offers great inducement TO capitaI E,ve,.,
city has Its mills. and some as fine nouring
mills can be found in Oklahoma as any.
where else N''
The State of Society.
society, which at first was disorganized.
is now in better condition and the moral
element is fast coming to the front while
the rough element is seeking its level
Nearly all the fraternal societies are repre-
sented by strong membership and the
churches are in a healthy way. There arr
Few caste lines and in the main the people
are sociable and friendly. Ruffianism is on
the wane and will soon be thing of the
past. The best solution of the Indian proh-
lem, thinks Gov. Renfrow, lies in the allot
nent OF their lands In severalty and bring
ing the lndlans In direct contact with civil
lzation. The portions of the Indian terri
tory not yet opened to settlement are very
Wiid and the Indian sees only the worst
side OF civilized life. Gov. Renfrow almdas
to the Cherokee outlet as a new emnira
several hne towns have grown up on it
ana permanent buildings are in course OF
erection He is in receipt of a heavy mail
asking about the school lands in the strin
AS yet no public buildings have been eract.
eu IN the territory for the public officers
Very few of the counties have nnhlic h,,itS
ings. The Oklahomian exhibit al Cbicaro
Is spoken of in the report as creditabie
Gov Renfrow closes by SAYING thar The
future of the territory is great"