The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1899-09-28

~ have just finished a trip through
eastern Oklahoma. Having heard tales
Of its wonderful prosperity and stories
OF its marvellous development, I having
lived long enough In Missouri TO ac-
quire native habits, I wanted to be
shown" was shown.
II tried to get into oklahoma on the
first coach 30 that could leisurcly
watch the scenery and smoke. There
was no seat except on the box Of the
news butcher, and he was so busy that
1 couldn't stay there. never saw
even In excursions, car 20 full Of peo-
pie. They were people seeking the
land OF milx and honey. l walked
back into the next car. II was vcri-
liable kindergarten. IL seems there
were ut least hundred children in
that car with their mothers. The
fathers had already gone to Oklahoma
and had sent for their Bctsics and their
babies. The little fellows had crawlcd
upon the seats, placed their fat, dim
pied hands against the windows and
were cooling the newly risen sun.
The next car was the same. II was
chuck full Of people going to share the
prosperity Of Oklahoma.
AT Chillocco the train made its frst
stop. A party Of Indian students aud
a couple of white school ra'ams were
at the depot. In bidding the latter
farewell the redskins proved them.
selves TO be remarkably fn de siclc.
They shook hands with the school
ma ANS at IN elevation Of 45 degrees.
hush, and did IL In u remarkably gem
tecl aud graceful manner.
| From Chillocco to Olslahom CITY,
with the exception of small Indian
reservation, Que could see nothing but
prosperity. IL was piled up in hay
stacks; 1t rompcd in the cattle pas
lures; IL giggled on the depot plat
forms; II bclched out Of the threshing
machines: IL manifested itself In drab
paint and white trimmings; IL loomed
up In the shape Of piano boxes in
freight houses; II rustlcd in the folds
of white dresses and silk sashes; IL
gruntcd In pens; IL cackled in barn
yards; II shonc on the luscious fruit In
orchards; footed its presence from
mill whistles and rang in the merry
laugh OF all the people. II can be seen
At baptisms, marriages and funerals
and at picnics, socials and shoppings.
II is in fact present everywhere in the
land Of the fair god"
1t is less than = generation s.nce
Black Kettle was slain ON the Washita
and yet Oklahoma has at this time,
$4,000 white people, 24,OOO.O 600 acres Of
land under cultivation and pasturage,
$40. .O0O, 900 In taxable wealth on one
third basis, 1879 school houses. 9O. ZOO
school children, a university with 800
students, an agricultural college with
Is chairs and zoo s. udents, u normal
school with 900 in attendance, another
normal with 200 In attendance, a nor
NAL for colorcd people with a large at
tendance, several Indian schools. col
legcs, converts and academies under
denominational control.
From a social and religious stand
point Oklahoma will compare favorably
with any of the older states. A people
who hold religious services in every
town before IL isa week old organize
fraternal societies In the rush and hur-
ry of putting up tents and other tenn
porary shelter; erect churches and
school houses among the first pcrma-
nent structures in community; locate
colleges and universities before they
do capitals, p rnitentiaries or asylums.
and issue their bonds to erect higher
institutions of learning, need nothing
further tn prove their educational
worth, moral aud religious standing.
All OF the leading religious dcnomina-
| tions are represented in the territory,
and every town has handsome and com.
modious church structures. In fact,
some Of our towns have really more
church buildings and church organiza.
tions than are needed, and IL would be
well IL some of the surplus energy was
transferred To the remote country dis
tricts. All of the denominations re-
port rapid growth of their work the
past year. In early days Of the terri
tory's existence, her Christian Endcav-
or union carried of the national ban
ner for most rapid growth Of tn, work
and at the last International Sunday
School convention at Boston. Oklahoma
ranked first as having make the great
est per cent OF incrsa OF any state or
province In America for the three years
preceding.
There are in Oklahoma today, I am
informed, ~ Presbyterian congrega.
tions; II Episcopal; go Raptist; rs
Methodist; 90 tongrega, ional; 2s Ro-
man Catholic; - Methodist Episcopal
South, and 81 Christian.
The Roman Catholics have il.OOO
communicates, Presbyterians iI,iOO:
the Episcopalians, s,0ss; the Methodists
5000; the Congre ationalists, ., 500: the
Christians, 5000; the Methodist Epis-
copal South, 3,as+.
There are 1000 Sunday Schools:
6,OOO officers and teachers and ~, 900
scholars.
There are In the fratcrual organiza-
tions, "a closely allied to religious or.
ganizations; l,4OO United Worlsmen;
Lisa knights OF Pythias: a;395 Odd
Fellows, l,5OO Grand Army comrades:
aud Lass Masops. In addition there
are Elks, Woodmcn, Confederate Vet
erans, Maccabees, Sons of Herman and
then some
"Oklahomn has deaf mute asylum,
biipd asylum, an insane asylum, and
reform school.
There are In Oklahoma 30 territorial
and ten national banks, with n cnpital
Of more than 81, ,Oo0,OO
oklahoma produces wheat, corn,
cotton, hay, oats, kaiiir corn, castor
beans, tobacco, and all other grain,
fruit and vegetable products known to