The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1896-10-24
IN The ILLUSTRATED AMERICAN,
settlement and Growtn 90 the New Couu.
trs aud Ita Future prospects- Brief
Bnt Iuteresiiug Pen Sketch Of Iariy
iAfe in the Land OF the Fair
Gnd- Marvellous Changes That
Have Tak-n Piacs.

seven years ago, when the terri
tory Of Oklahoma was opened to the
hometeader the press of the country
abounded with picturesque descrip
tions Of the mad rush for free homes
Thousands OF families fiocked to the
border TO await the signal when this
was They ran madly into the prom
ised land stalking out claims with
such greedy haste that each man tres
passed on the Others domain. with
result Of endless litigation
The FIRST train into the new district
was on the line Of the Atchison. TO
peka q Santa Fe IL was run IN six
sections. and every car was 20 loaded
with men that legs and arms protru
ded from the windows while roofs and
platforms were filed with passengers
The first stop was at the railroad
watering tank, where the government
had apportioned the townsite of Guth-
rie. L. was estimated that betwet
noon and night Of the opening day
90, 600 persons arrived in Guthrie and
staked out city lots or farms on the
unbroken rolling prairie Of the dis
trict
"Seven years ego the eHtire territory
YVES in its natural state, absolutely
without cultivation save where some
Indian tribe had planted in the bottom
labd patch Of corn TO Il traveller
of today, seeing the broad and fruitful
La Ind from the window OF the car as
tlle train runs south through Perry,
Guthrie and Oklahoma City, this fact
seems hardly credible.
Clowns Of size are strung along the
railroad, ana rich farms fll the coun-
try between. A, the stations, during
July and August, immense shipments
OF peaches aud melous are to be seen
ready for the markets Of Denver and
Chicago Ia autumn. instead Of fruit
we see thousands Of bales Of cotton
Winter wheat is garnered early in
June; corn grows so bushels to the
acre, and prodigious success has been
made OF castor beans. alfalfa and Afri-
can Kalir corn. This asst has no ear;
grain grows on the top OF the stalk 10
close lunches Broom corn, sorghum,
sweet potatoes and peanuts grow
freely. All small fruits and vegetables
exist in plenty for local consumption.
Guthrie las settled down to pop.
ulation Of about 10, 1000, and Oklahoma
City is not far behind. Guthrie is now
the capital, but the position has other
asp rants, 1t is well situated, and for
so young a child is lusty and pre-
cociors. It has system OF water
works aud is lighted with electric
lamps, which look like bright stars Of
a new constellation whcn seen from
afar by the traveller at night as his
train two miles away slides over the
Clmarron bridge.
In the early days OF the towns,
tents and hasty shacks were put up In
few hours. In The poorer parts OF
the towns these still stand, but the
commercial prosperity of the present
day is exhibited by the dne business
buildings which ornament the princi-
pal streets. These are built manly of
the handsome redstone Of the district.
oklahoma territory is essentially
an agricultural district because Of its
rich soil and perfect climate Winter
is cold while it lasts, but winter is linn
itei to two or three months and is
quite vanquished by February. The
summers are long and warm, favor
able to cotton and corn and pleasant
for man. a cooling breeze blows over
the land at evening aud all through
the night.
1T IS estimated that the cotton ex.
ports this year will reach over $50, OoC
bales, and the castor bean crop $50. 900
bushels The discovery that peaches
grow well in that climate will make
Oklahoma ono OF the largest peach
, raising districts in the country. Trees
bear heavily IN three years Fruit
growers are experimenting on grapes
and promise a fine yield II proper at
b tenton is given them. They are ripe
E us early as the frst Of July.
1T is little short Of marvellous that
ia place which seven years ago wa
wild Indian prairie, men now live il
q handsome homes with lawns and
flowers about read the morning Anc
evening daiies from a local press, ca
rare delicacies from their own gardens
drink beverages cooled by ice manu-
Z featured around the corner and enjo!
:. an the modern adaptations Of elee
trieity
This, our baby territory, is clamor
{ ing TO be made a state. She sends a bl
. men to Washington; and she wa
l. strongly represented at the recent con
vcntions for choosing presidentia
p nominees Her judges are highl
+ learned men, and she has some polit
+ clans who are genuine patriots in thei
devotion to her welfare.
There are men in the territor
3 whose fame will not remain merel
= local as account Of their work has a
ready gone forth to be heard in th
Is wider world. Charles n. Barnes wa
the first land Office commissioner an
first speaker Of the house in the terr
Z torial legislature, and his name is frl