The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-01-07
ghe aa1ehta Daily Eagle Tuesday ormme january $50
boma affairs are in consultation over

homa affairs are in consultation over
| statehood. news will be conveyed e
! them that the supreme court has given
| TO Oklahoma a tract of land larger
the news is true that Oklahoma is to
| get Greer county, the territory is GER
| tainly to be congratulated. Greer
| county lies TO the southwest of Okla
hona, as all readers of the Eagle know
It is already peopled and has many
thriving towns. 1t has been claimed
by the United States and by Texas
This land in dispute lies geographic
ally between the north and south forks
of Red river and east of meridian 100
The dispute as TO the original title
arose over some bad map-making sew
enty-five years ago, and from differ
ences of opinion as TO whether north
or south fork was the main Red river
The treaty defining the boundary be-
tween the United States and Spain
made the southwestern boundary of
this county the Red river and meridian
100. As the map Of that day put mer-
idian 1oG about 100 miles east Of where
it should be, there was no reason for
controversy over the forks of Red
river. But when meridian 100 was
moved back to where it belonged the
question arose whether its intersection
with north or south fork was to be
taken as the corner of the United
States.
Greer county has been settled for
years. 1t has sent representative
to the Texas legislature and Texas,
with magnamity, has recognized him.
In 1879 Texas, through its congress
men had Greer county included
among the counties named in an act
creating the northern Texas federal
court district.
Texas, through its lawyers, before
the supreme court, tried to make out
that this was recognition on the part
Of the United States that Greer coun-
ty was part of Texas. 1t is said the
supreme court will hold differently.
The people of Greer county prefer
Texas TO Oklahoma, and they will take
to the coming decision of the
court. The county is Texan |
in its population and style of govern |
ment and estates, the subdivisions be- |
ing sections instead Of quarter sections |
as under the homestead law. Some |
citizens hold thousands of acres I'M
der Texas state titles. At the same |
time the United States has, over and |
above the Texas titles, surveyed the |
and into sections, and after some leg
Station by congress on the matter, the
big landhOAderS will have to be con-
.ent with a great deal less, and make
loom for 5000 (estimateO more set
lerS
Under the homestead law there is
enough land to make 1900 farms, but
much of this land is not fit for home
stead purposes. Here, indeed, is the
ub, and the real complaint of the peo-
lie off Greer county. With extreme
western Oklahoma, Greer county be-
ieves in the livestock industry.
jereal farming is discouraged and an
that seeks to raise corn
nd wheat will not be given a very
enthusiastic reception.
But if that immigration comes and
demands land, the great ranches will
ave TO succumb, much as Greer coun-
y may object
However at present there Is good
land available to the settler
his side of Greer county, and if the
eople down there will try, they can ;
themselves to be torn away
rom beloved Texas and attached to
oklahoma, for at this time, the great
lnches are in little danger Of being ,
roken up.
SO far as Oklahoma is concerned, it
Till treat the adopted county gently (
nd try to win its respect 1t will
alue its wide grazing lands and those I
eputed mineral deposits, highly and {:
" to appreciate that it has secured ]
good thing through the courtesy of {
ne supreme court Even if the peO- /;
lie of Greer county do prefer Texas. /