The Wichita daily eagle., 1896-09-16
Is FREE HOME DAY
What the Fair Association is Doing to
Entertain Their Visitors.

What the Fair Association is Doing to
Entertain Their Visitors.
Wednesday, September %, is "Okla-
hona day" at the Kansas State Fair
and Oklahoma is expected to attend en-
masse. Secretary Smith was in COM
nrunication with Secretary McKinlay
of the Territory Free Home league all
day yesterday and Mr.. Mckinley says
everybody is coming and are going TO
attend the greatest fair ever herd in
Kansas. a telegram from General
Passenger Agent Black says 'if neces-
sary to take care of the crowds he will
put on a special train," and from all
reports the crowds VIII be enormous, as
the rate of one fare for the round trip
VIII enable everybody to come and see
how Wichita always enteTtains, and at
tend the fair also.
The management are going to make
special effort to make Wednesday day
20 be rem embered, and the cream Of the
attractions will be put on on that day.
AS many will stay over for two or three
days, It Is we'll to say that it is a diff
cult matter to select 1.-THE cream" for
every day will be red letter day.
Without any question the best racing
ever seen here will be seen this year.
Horses with records down below 2:10
viii be here, and the track record is
sure to be broken, and II will be no sur
prise to see several below 2:10.
Lincoln Mckinley. secretary Of the
Free Home league, in speaking OF the
object of the league, and the reason
they selected September 16 but viii now
take September % instead, says:
THE return of September 16, reminds
the people of Oklahoma and Kansas of
the famous run for homes three years
ago, woen that immense body of land
known as the Cherokee strip was open
ed to settlement. Since that time farms
have been improved 50 far as the limit
ed means of the average settler would
permit; while hundreds and thousands,
almost, have been held back from even
a fair development of their claims by
the uncertainties and disastrous eX-
penses of a. contest in the land office.
LAS is known to most people OF the
west the land Of the strip and some
parts of Oklahoma viii cost the settlers
from $3.50 per acre in this region down
portions Of Oklahoma, and this. too,
only after a residence Of five years on
the lands. The object of free homes is
to give these people the right to prove
up their claims by paying land Office
fees only, as has been the established
custom for so many years Of the United
States under its liberal homestead laws.
The lands of Old Oklahoma were given
the settlers as free homeSteadS and the
people Of the strip, and other parts of
Oklahoma that are now required to buy
their homesteads from the government
now ask the same privilege as the set
tiers of old Oklahoma
And their cause Is just. Many and
many a settler in this region where
each claim will cost nearly $500 in price
to the government viii have TO be sold,
or mortgaged to its purchase price. Few
settlers can accommodate that amount
in five years while enduring hardships
Of a new country, and the principle SO
long observed by our government in
giving homes to those who would i'm
prove a piece of land for five years, is
cast aside. may be urged by some
that the increased value of these lands
by living near the old settled regions
makes up for this increased cost to the
settler, but it does not; for how can a
country spring into existence in a day
with all the expense and more, for coun-
ty government and schools that an old
settled region has, and this with little
property and less products gor two or
three years to meet the necessarily
great expenses. Years ago this was not
the condition. Then a new country
settled more slowly and by the time the
expensive machinery OF municipal gov
was fully established the coun-
try was producing crops to meet taxes.
Free homesteads To Oklahoma means
a saving of about $4,000. 600 TO her
home-makerS and a saving of a home TO
them. This interests not only the set
tier, but every tovn in or tributary TO
The bill now pending in
the senate should be urged 20 prompt
passage next winter by every influence
Of every party in the west. Noble work
has been done for the bin so far and a
along the same channels
viii give 1T sure and speedy success"
The efforts OF the state fair directors
are bearing fruit far beyond their fond |
est expectation Yesterday there were !
added 10 the entries by mail fifty-six in |
the various classes, and the report is |
put from the secretary's office that the |
races this year viii be the best ever |
started and the fields OF horses that |
have a reputation that reaches from the |
Atlantic to the Pacific viii start viii be |
worth the tine and expense OF coming |
B hundreds OF miles to see. While the /
running races win be good every day
The track is in the best condition It |
has ever been and as Superintendent |
ropman says that the time can be |
made this year If ever, and as a pointer |
% some who think the horses viii not |
ls fast II Is reported on good authority /
hat W. W. P. viii be in the list OF fast |
.oers and Wichita knows that he is a /
,oer. HIS record TO wagon iS 2:0SI4 for
/ mile and he likes the track here.
Yesterday a fine herd OF Ho4shires
rom Illinois arrived at the grounds, and |
hey are beaudeS
Hogs-the new breed OF Durocsories,
Viii be IN the swine list as an extra al
raction- Arrangements have been
made with Mr.. Charles Payne 20 place
N exhibition on the grounds fair week
his large and attractive collection Of /
Ssld animals, consisting OF a hundred
.eer and antelope wild cats, panthers,
mountain hons. the larges, animal In
he steer living IN the world. all ot
Sthicr VIII be as an extra inducement TO
attend. Mr.. Payne has speu: a life
Ine IN gathering this large and CON-
Jiete collection ot American animals.
Work at the grounds is nearing CON-
lletion and all Will be ready for the
air week The special premium list Is
low out and any one who wishes can
ecure one by calling at the office OF
secretary Smith.
The change OF the conditions OF the
sayyuent OF entry fees n the races suits |
II. and the horsemen say that there
viii be the largest strnsy OF ss>tiIal START
rs this than ever before. There will Re
novel race by the we'll known and well
rained horse -Atoross, that VIII 80