The Wichita daily eagle., 1893-11-17
A PHENOMENAL GROWTH.
Oklahoma's Governor Makes an ston.
ishing Official Showing.

1
statistical tables and all. The report is
too long for the average busy reader,
perhaps, occupy wing, as it does, several
columns, but some OF the more impor-
tant figures and statemants cannot fail
of great interest. The increase in popu-
lation is of course unprecedented. In
1890 there were GOAL people in Okla
homa, which more than doubled the
next year, or 133, 100, followed by 157,-
3O4 for the present year. to which, in
round numbers, must be added the es-
timated 100000 new. settlers on
The strip, or in all territory not
four years old boasting quarter
of a million of people, solid, enterprising
citizens. The total value of assessed
property, not counting that of the strip,
which is not yet returnable, is ST., ,951.-
056. 80, as against S6,S7S, 92S. 80 of two
years ago.
Next TO this startling no less than
gratifying exhibit comes the banking
| capital, there being six national and
twenty-four private institutions, with
an aggregate capital stock of $S76,O00
and deposits Of 81, t29, 900. In the face
of such figures all talk of the poverty of
| Oklahoma, or of the territory having
been settled largely by the poor, is out
of place.
Skipping the public finances which
show balance in the treasury, we come
to her public schools, in which she prom
ises to rival Kansas. The governor says:
"W hen the settlers first came to Okla
ho1na they found themselves without
school houses and without laws, but
with foriitude certainly admirable
they built school houses by private sub
scription and had schools the first Win
ter By act of congress $50, 900 ives ap-
propriated for the use and benefit of the
public schools of Oklahoma. This ma
terially aided the efforts of the people
and schosls have been maintained in
nearly every district ever since. Very
few scheel districts but that have very
comfortable school houses now and that,
too, in most instances without any
bonded Indebtedness. The nine coun-
ties making reports show school popu-
lation of 32,1l6.
Oklahoma has one hundred and eighty
seven miles of railway and sidetrack,
with rolling stock assessed at little up
wards of one million dollars, besides the
telegraph lines.
Of course all this is outside of the strip.
In addition the original territory con-
tains territorial university located at
Norman, and territorial normal school
at Edmond and The agricultural and me-
chanical college at saltwater. A new
building has just been completed for the
university. The normal school at Ed
mond aims to prepare teachers for the
public schools and has just completed
rine bnildIng. The agricultural and me-
chanical college at Saltwater is en-
dowed by congress and bids
fair to do most excellent work. The ex-
pertinent station issues bulletin of the
results of their Investigations, which
promise much good 10 the territory.
The presidents proclamation opening
the Cherokee outlet receives the thir-
teenth section for the benefit of the
three colleges. This will make a very
neat income for each of the colleges
once il is leased.
There are two hundred and fifty
church buildings, Protestant and Cath
ollc.
OF the live stock interests, the mining
inf bn 70 int
ests of the territory the governor draws
promising picture.
That Oklahoma possesses vast mineral
wealth cannot be doubted, hut after all
its future is probably principally in its
corn and wheat and cotton, in its fruit
and in its live stock pasture. In speak
ing of wheat the Governor says that he
knows, personally, of several fields from
which was harvested forty bushels to
the acre. All of the field products
Oklahoma.
The report concludes with dissertation
Of observations and of facts touching
the opening OF the Cherokee outlet and
its immediate needs and prospects and
also of the territory's relations with and
interests in the country of the five In-
dian nations adjoining the territory on
the east, the outlet with its fine towns
not 10 say cities, its railroads and its
rapidly developing farms, is an empire
in and OF Itself whose
people will have their say from
now on in all that concerns the welfare
of the territory as a whole. Governor
Renfrow we believe reflects the wishes
OF the ma rIty of both the old and new
sections when he SAYS that ''it is Ger
tainly very desirable that the five nations
of Indians be included in one state that
NAV be formed 60 that the whole may
come in as ons state. The condition of
affairs in The Indian Territory is certainly
very deplorab!e, anu with the crude
forms ST government it will always be
difficult to suppress crime
Oklahomas position between two
mighty states. its location with refer
sace TO the winters OF the north and
summers Of the south. t)cether with is
arabic valleys and mouata n nss q es lis
coal and other alun dant lGel, - soils
and minerals, has a great destiny.
----
The ory that Lings, the Chicago an.
archist, was given loaded cigar and
did not blow his own head off with