The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1896-03-18
snMr rAcrs Anour aRFER CouNTY.

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by the supreme court Of the United
states Monday, the decision in the
long contested Greer county case adj
ding to the territory principality as
large and as rich in resources Of some
whsle states OF the union.
Greer county, which by the decision
has become a part OF oklahoma and is
now subject to the laws Of this terri
tory, is so by 30 miles in size and con-
tains 1,5l1 $40 acres, the greater part
of which is 6rst class agricultural
land The great bottoms Of the two
forks Of the Red river are eXcelleG In
fertility nowhere, aud there are hun
dreds Of thousands of acres OF rich
prairie aads as level as floor. A
man could start at the south fork OF
the Red river and plow straight TO
Mangum, the county seat, distance
Of forty miles, without taking the
plow from the ground, so level and
fertile is the country Along the east
ern edge and the north western corner
It is more broken, with some rugged
hills, known locally as the Navajo
Mountains, in which there are indica-
tions af mineral deposits. At several
points rich specimens Of silver ore
have been found end there is much
copper aud = ne and there are ruins
of several old Spanish villages, with
ash pits. near which are believed to be
the remains of ancient smelters. The
western half of the county is more
especially adapted to stock raising, as
the growth OF native grass is luxurlant
and remains green throughout the
year, the crop being abundant even in
the dryest years.
The soil is mostly rich, dark-color-
ed loan and water in abundance can
be found in all parts OF the county at
an average depth OF twenty feet.
Cotton is largely raised the county
having marketed over FIVE hundred
bales the present season. Kaffir corn,
cane and milo maize are the principal
crops raised for feeding. The last few
"
raised because of the dry weather, but
in 1892 the corn marketed over tive
million bushels
At one time the county had popu-
lation Of over $4,000, but, like the rest
of western Texas, the drouth of '93
and "a drove many of the settlers
away, though there are still in excess
of 8, 900 people in the county, all ac-
tive, energetic and prosperous Many
finely improved farms are TO be seen
throughout the county and great
herds Of fat cattle roam over the pas
tufe lands
Mangum, the county seat, is nice
little city, with fine court house, jail
and business blocks and steadily
growing business. Altus and Navajo
ere also good towns and there are
forty other postoffi ,es scattered
through the county. The towns nave
excellent schools and there are sew
enty-two school houses in the county
where school is held regularly.
The dispute about the boundary
line first began to be agitated IN 1860
but as the county did not have any
settlers until twenty years later no
further thought was taken of it, ex-
cept that Texas tried to make good
her claim by naming the county.
In 1888 settlers began Aocking into
the ounty and got titles to their land
from Texas and two years later the
county was regularly organized under
the laws of Texas and mas since had a
regular corps Of county Off ers and
been represented in the Texas legisla-
tire. Politically, the county is very
close between the Democrats and Pop
ulists, the officers at the present time
being divided between the two par
ties, but they go out at once and Gov
ernor Renfrow, upon receiving official
notice, will appoint successors, nam
ing Democrats tor all the places There
are three newspapers in the county
but no railroad touches it, the nearest
railway point being at Quannah, Tex,
afty miles away. The people are al
most entirely from Texas and their
sympathies lie with that state, but the
decision Of the court is final and they
are made citizens of another common
wealth. They are hospitable, en-
terprising and progressive people,
however, aud make welcome addi-
tion TO the varied population of okla
homa. The land is held in large
tracts, having been bought from the
state of Texas, aud congress will un-
doubtedly take action to save the bona
fde settlers and purchasers from loss
and after the matter is settled there
will be left many thousands of acres
Of excellent land for settlers.
The past year has been a very good
one for crops and business in the
county aud it bids fair to grow and be-
come one of the most important parts
of the coming state of OklahOwa.
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