The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-09-26
1T Is KING COTTON
Governor Refrow Gives the Fluffy Article
the Lead in Oklahoma

the Lead In OklanOma.
Washington, D. c., Sept 25.-Gover-
nor Renfrow of Oklahoma has fled with
the secretary of the interior his annual
report. for the year ending June so, 1896.
The report begins with the declaration
that the development OF the territory
in the past year has been equal TO, II
not greater. than that of other portions
Of the United States. Nowhere has the
year past been one marked for material
progress Oklahoma has, however. hela
tts own and made some progress. The
acreage of land in cultivation mas
steadily increased, and has very nearly
reached the proper ratio of farm land
to pasture The prospect for crops is
good and the ante bellum declaration,
cotton is king seems applicable 70 Ok
iahouna Oklahoma win shortly rank
among the cotton states of the union
Unless the present indications fan the
present cotton crop of Oklahoma viii be
by far the greatest ever gathered. and 1
predict for the coming year one of gen.
uine prosperity
Oklahoma-s Population Is shown TO
have Increased from 212,625 in 1894 TO
275. ST in 1896. The most populous coun-
" rs Woods. with 20. sos. Then follow
ing Oklahoma with Is. ees; Logan with
10 995: Pottawa tonne with Il. 800; Lincoln.
with 16. $50; Grant with 1855; Kay with
1889; Garfield with 1862; Kngisher
with 15.346: Payne with 1872; Noble
with Is, 4O2: Cleveland with IS, COS: Cana
dian with % s37; Greer with $500: Paw
nee with 1928; Woodward with 7.4S7;
Psaina with 6.415: Washita with 5, 404; CT
with 1896; Beaver with AIS; Roger
Mills with Io67 and Day with 611- The
population OF l., 500.
The taxable property Of the territory
for 1896 was assessed at S24, SI6.71 To-
gan county leading with an assessed
valuation Of $3.50, SCI. and D county
bringing Irp the rear with only SIS. 2T6.
In regard to railroads the report says:
NO new lines az railroad have been
built during the year 1896. though sew
eral new lines have been surveyed and
promised II be built in the near future
The four lines now in operation are do
ing a very profitable business; in fact
few lines in the United States are pay
ing better. The increase OF south bound
freight has bean very marked
Governor Renfnow shows that the re-
ceipts and expenditures from the terri
torial general fund for the year under
review were very nearly equal. There
were general fund warrants outstand-
ing June 80. 1896, 10 the amount ~ S163.-
2i0 The only other charge upon the
territory IS SIS 600. in thirty year. s per
cent bonds. Outstanding. the proceeds
Of which were used in erecting the oe7-
ritorial oollsge buildings.
The report shows the state university
az Norman the state normal school at
Edmund and the agricultural college at
Tlr---, -g.-r-gs
ton.
The insa ne OF the territory are orovid-
ed for under contract with the Oklaho-
ma Sanita-ium company, whose asylum
Is located at Mormon. the territory
paving SIS per month and COST Of trans
portation. The total amount paid %
the company during the year was $50
e5S54 Seventy-seven patents We're r.
ceavsd from the jacksonville asylum
and los from the various COUNTIES 4 70
tai Of ls5 received during the year-ils
men and So women. CT this number 81
were discharged, 5 escaped and 10 died
There Is stiil no peni1entiaFy II Ok
lahoma and the les coavicts are con-
fined in the Kansas penitenIisry al Ian
sing at cost Of - caz1s per day fo-
eech convict
There are no pubic buildings belong
ing 70 the territory save the three col-
lege buildings.
The report contains 4 lengthy state
n=nt as 70 the agricultural Interests %
the territory. A conservative estimate.
81 maintains. puts TIE Oklahoma corn
crop az 50. 900 coo bushels ana the Kaffir
corn crop at more than half thar. SpA-
cial attention = directed 10 the nae1i-
tude of the peach and melon growing IN
re-exStS which II IS claimed 4 - rs-S,Srx
becoming OF greatest importance. the
product finding its way TO al the leading
markets n the United States
AS to the Oklahoma Indian problem
Governor Renfrow says: