The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-12-28
FREE HOMES PLAN
Virgil M. Hobbs Opposes the
Free Gift Idea.
LET SETTLERS DIG PONDS
And Plant Groves as an Equiv.
aIent, He Says.

Kinghsher, o. T., Dec. 27.-(SpeciaL)-V
gil NJ. Hobbs of this city has written an
open letter to James Kirkwood, president
of the Free Homes league OF this terri
tory, which is given out for publication.
The letter is as follows:
James Kirkwood, President Free Homes
League, Usage City, Oklahoma
Dear Sir-The question of free homes
for the homestead settlers on the public
lands in this territory is OF SO much i'm
portance to all the people that 1 trust /
may be pardoned for submitting few OBJ
servations and suggestions for the consid-
Grafton Of your league.
I address myself TO you, and through you
to the Free Homes league, because the
measure is one that should be kept as far
removed from the influence Of the NAL
versation of partisan politics as is possible.
II may be conceded that the efforts which
have been made heretofore in this direc-
ton have been honest and faithful Let US
all believe that both our delegate in con-
gress, Mr. Callahan, and cur delegate
elect, Mr.. Flynn, have done and will con-
N41OG 10 w al III ll4tii POHN4 ~ SSNoao
free homes, But are we not asking too
much of them? Is it not expecting too
much from the delegate Of this territosy
for him 10 persuade congress to vote an
absolute gift to the peep.e OF the territory,
of approximately s15.O0o, 900? In view of the
stubborn opposition which the measure has
met at every step, is it not futile TO hope
for it's ultimate success on the lines which
have heretofore been pursued2
We are met on the threshold by the Oh
lection that the settlers went upon their
land with fun knowledge of the contract
entered into with the government, requir-
ing the payment of fixed price per acre
for. the lands entered It is not unreason-
able nor improper for the government and
for senators and representatives from
states unaffected by this provision TO in
sist upon a full compliance with the terms
of the contract. In view of the good crops
which we have had in this territory for the
last two years, and OF the flattering and, 1
may say, exaggerated reports of Ok,aho-
mas prosperity, it is useless to urge the
poverty of the settlers or the hardships of
pioneer life.
Now, If a measure were submitted to con-
gress whereby the settler, with little or no
expense to himself, could contribute some
thing to the general good in consideration
for a release by the government of the
purchase price agreed to be paid for the
land, is 1t nit reasonable to suppose that it
would receive better consideration and
more favor from senators and representa-
tives, whose constituents must bear their
share of the loss to the government with
out receiving any direct benefit? Such a
measure would at least possess the element
OF mutually. 1t would eliminate the idea
of an absolute gift; and members of con-
gress could justify their votes for it be-
fore their constituents. Can such a mea-
sure be proposed? I think it can One
that IS not only practicable in its achom-
plishments but also is highly beneficial in
its results.
There are in this territory, in the Potta-
Cheyenne and Arapahoe reserva-
tons and the Cherokee Strip, approximate
ly 1000 homestead claims, for which the
settlers must pay TO the government. IN
der the existing law, from 81 to $3.50 per
acre. Now If there were constructed and
maintained upon each of these claims a
pond or reservoir of water. OF say one acre
or more it would comprise in the aggre
gate an immense body of surface water
From these reservoirs, interspersed as they
would be over a large area of territory, the
south winds, which are prevalent here.
would take up abundant moisture. to be