The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1896-05-17

agricultural ana mercantile pursuits.
The lands in this territory belong
TO the Indians. and they may not
ALLEVIATE them, the holdings being yet
in common. 1t, therefore, seems
strange To see the many substantial
business blocks and beautiful resi-
dences which have been erected upon
lots 10 which the occupants have no
title other than such . lease rs an
Indian may assume TO give, and With
out the hope or expectation OF ever
securing deed TO the land upon which
their buildings stand. Yet. tie
advance Of civilization has m&.ic j.;
imperative that there should be towns
and the pluCky men who have become
pioneers in this country have taken
tile chances. expended large sums of
money. and are living in the hope
that congress may some day pass a
law allotting the lands. and placing
them in position TO acquire fee
simple title to the grounds which
/ they may have selected. There is no
4 town organization. and there can be
none under existing laws. Al i'm
lprovements of streets and sidewalks,
crossings, and intersections. lights
md fire department. are provided for
/ ny voluntary subscriptions from the
/ business men in general Even the
anitary question is dependent upon
he cooperation Of tie people gcncr-
lily. who contribute toa general fund
devoted 10 thar purpose alone.
40 POOR HOUSES.
Such Il thing as a poor house, an
1 insane asylum. or an eieemuSynarv
institution of any kind is unknown
here except for the exclusive Use of
the Indians The people say they
/ have no use for them. as they have no
pauperS. and there i no occasion for
any one to become insane in such "a
country as this. Scattered over the
territory there are literary colleges.
which are well attended. there being
one in this city. There are business
colleges and many excellent schools,
which are maintained from private
purses, as there can yet be nn public
provision for these by taxation. The
only tax collected here is that of pay
ment to the Indian tax collector. who
collects royalties due from operators
of mineral and other leased proper
ties.
In ArdmOre there is one daily The
ARDMOREITEl and three weekly
papers. well supported. two national
banks a cotton compress. a cotton
seed oil mill. flour and gri~j mills.
large lumber interests. including
planning mills: lodges Of NaSons. odd
Fellows. knights of PythiaS. and
other societies. which occupy heauti-
ful and well-equipped lodEc-ruoms
and every department. of business i,
we'll represented. There is large
three story hotel. the WiSnOr, and
another about the same size nearing
completion. besides other smaller
structures for entertainment ui
, travellers. Saloons are unknown here
: The laws are 50 stringent in rcfercnc,
To liquors hat il is 4 criminal OleH>,
, to even bring liquor Of any kind int
/ the territory. or have it in possession
: and to sell or give it away means
upon conviction. a fine Of 500 anC
sixty days in prison in every instance
There's no need of Institutions here 70
. the treatment of inebriateS. as Their
: are no opportunities for intoxicatiol
or the cultivation OF the habit %
tipping.
There are abobt 3OO. 600 white peOpl
In Indian Territory who are designat
ed as non-citiZenS. as contradiSt
inguished from Indians. and white
who have intermarried with Indians
These people are attracted To thi
- country by reason of the Opportunitie
which have been presented for the az
ouisition of the comforts Of life. Tn
climate is genial, the soil fruitful, tn
seasons regular, and the minera
resources Of the country of divers
fed character, and almost ineXhauStI
bic. These people represent the il
telligence, industry, energy, pei
severance ana pluck Of almost ever
state in the Union, Texas predomini
ting. They have placed under cult
Walton thousands of acres OF as pre-
ductive land as can be found any
where. upon which can be grown corr
wheat, grass, cotton. and fruits Of a
sorts. In one year alone there wcI
g6. 900 bales of cotton shipped frul
this station. the present eXpectatio
being that this season will be equal
good. .