The times., 1899-12-25
THE PLEA OF OKLAHOMA
Reasons Advanced for It's Admis-
sion to the Union.
The Delegate From the Territory to
Present It's CInims in ConRress--
Population and Resources Such as
to Create II Bich aud Powerful
state-A very Remarkable Growth.

The admission of Oklahoma to the sister
hood of States is a question now occupying
the minds of several Senators and Repre-
sentatives in Congress. Oklahoma has had
a marvellous growth as a Territory. and its
citizens naturally feel that the domain of
which they are justly proud should be
given the full privilege of statehood. Den
mis- r. Flynn, Delegate in Congress from
Oklahoma, is charged with the task of Sc
curing admission of the Territory into the
Union, if possible. at the hands of the
Fifty-sixth Congress
The word Oklahoma implies a great deal
that is wild and woolly to people who are
not acquainted with the men and affairs OF
the Territory. The story of the rushes
made for homesteads when the land was
open for settlement are still fresh in the
minds Of the inhabitants Of the East.
Moreover the fact that a city like Guthrie,
the capital of the Territory, can be built
during ten years and be made q market for
grain and farm products as large as many
of the Eastern cities viii hardly be believed
by persons unfamiliar with the true state
of affairs, but such is the case, and the
Guthrie of today is in a fair way TO out
shine many of its older sisters in the effete
East. In a recent report to the Secretary
of the Interior Governor Barnes says of the
Territory:
with a population rapidly advancing
toward the half million mark; with fer
tile soil that successfully produces every
crop Of the temperate zone, except oranges
and sugar cane; with an area in wheat
greater than that in Great Britain; with
/ corn crop equal TO many Of the great corn
], ,-ls
yards laden with fruit; with public school
within reach OF every home and a college
education obtainable for every young man
or woman: with 700 churches 600 Sunday
schools, and $50 newspapers; with an area
greater than that of the six States of Yer
mont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts,
Rhode Island, New Jersey. and Delaware:
with a rapidly increasing taxable valua-
tion and decreasing tax rate; with ali lines
of business in prosperous condition;
manufacturing industries growing rapidly
and great natural resources on every side
inviting development. Oklahoma offers ia-
ducements TO the capitalist. the laborer, the
professional man, the farmer and the
homeseeller unequaled anywhere.
The Aspect of the Country.
In general, the face Of the Country is
rolling prairie. with a considerable number
I Of rivers ard streams, usually flowing from
I the northwest TO the southeast. and cften
I having high ard steep banks. In the east
eTn half there are considerable areas GOV
! ered with timber, usually OF the different
/ varieties of oak. Timber is found in the
valleys Of the streams in all sections
/ The area Of Chs Territory is IS. 715
( square miles, OF about 26. .000, ,000 acres. cor
/ responding in size to the State of Ohio.
I TIE altitude of the Territory ranges from
about 500 10 over eco feet above the sea
I level, the greatest altitude being reached
in the eXtrsms west. the average being
about 1.500 feet. The ccurry originally
known as Oklahoma. or 'Beaudful Land.
contained less than 100000 acres, but the
Territory Of Oklahoma is much larger"
/ The value of the property since the open
ing of the land TO free settlement ten years
( ago has become $42, ,9S2 414 an increase
/ OF over 81, ,35S.5 over last year. The out
standing debt OF the Territory on June go
1893. was 1890 C36.39 in warIs1.s and
$lS,0o0 in bonds, making the total indabt-
+ edness SECS, ,036.39.
There are ], 962 schools in the Territory
Of which the inhabitants are very proud
On this subject Governor Barnes says:
With considerable over 100 eco school
children within her borders. Oklahoma may
well consider her school interests the most
important Of all. The first settlers Of the
Territory, believing that in the public
schools lay the safety OF the nation built
or rented school buildings and established
subscription schools long before there wa,
any law governing ;ba Territory OF pro.
viding fer schools or other public buildings
When i2ws We're eE2ct-d those first tbough'
Of were for scnoo.s and educational insu-
tEtions and the first taxes levied aul first
bonds issued were for schools and school
buildings II has long b-5n the hcas, and
pride Of Oklahoma that tine only Bonded
debt OF the Territory was that incurred be
fore she was a year Old. to cree; college
buildings and the first public building
erected in the Territory was a school
house"
Agricultural Advantages.
Continuing the report says: In fest /
ity of native soil in equabIe tenn eratIre
in well distributed rainfall in faci'ity OF
tilling the land. and harvesting and ma~-
ketins crops: in freedom from s,ourg S
OF droughts. insects. hot winds and biz.
yards; in cheapness of Ian5-ia 3 T. il all
resources and conditions wht,a unite
promote and maintain prcsp Gus and
successful agriculture, Oklaho,- IS I'm
surpassed.
The soil is Of remarkable fertility an
ranges in depth frcm two 70 twenty et
Il viii need no costly fertilizers. even I
the coming generations providing TIE
renoFatine crops. cOWpeas. ard red snC
crimson clover. which thrive well here
are used judicioualy in crop rotation
The farmers of the Atlantic States pay
annually for fertilizers the prince.y sum ct
forty million dollars This is essentially
an annual tax levied upon the ag. iculturt
Of that section. in return for which III,
farmers do not get as large crops as those
( Of Oklahoma, who are exempt from TIL
burden.
The principal crop which the TerTitcrJ
markets is wheat. Oklahoma prodacad tai!
year twenty million bushels OF this grs in
There was a single wheat field OF hve thogs.
and acres in the southern part of the Ter
ritory which yielded about ninety Thousand
bushels this year
The CoTnfeids OF Oklahoma are the al
nration OF all who behold them The frs
settlers raised excellent corn uron the ral
sod and, as the ground has b -en meliURe
and broken by cultivation and sltu.ltc
10 greater depths by the falling rains. u
{ yield Of he yellow staple has eve. ywHor
increased until it sesms prodigiou -alEos
beyond belief. The corn crop Gf Oklahoma
p this year was. in excess Of soyeny-liy
2 million bushels.
{ "A prominent place in the diversion o
I crops in Oklahoma IS assigned to cotton
} ANA it is the chief ready money crop o
the Territory. Cotton in Oklahoma ] TO
duces from a half to three-fourths Of
e bale on the average and IN many instance
runs bale or over to the acre. Th
| quality is Cf the best the cotton of Okla
homa and the Indian Territory being rate
, al the top of the market The cotton cro
Ct the Territory last year reached abou
10000 bales, bringing in the market abou
s. GOO coo"
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