Arizona republican. [volume] (Phoenix, Ariz.) 1890-1930, 1899-12-13
A SISTER TERRITORY
Report Of Governor Barnes of
Oklahoma.
The History of Its Progress He Says
Reads Like a Tale From the Ar
abian Nights and the Advance
ment Has Only Begun.

Washington, Dec. 12.-The annual
report of Governor c. NJ. Barnes of
Oklahoma has been made public In
| opening he says:
Oklahoma is prosperous and happy,
and she invites all to come and share
in her prosperity and JOY. The story
of the settlement and progress of the
territory reads almost like a chapter
of the Arabian Nights yet the con-
quests of the past ten years but fore
shadow still greater advance, more
wonderful achievements, more rapid
strides in the future.
For general prosperity of all class
es, rapid advancement and bright pros
poets for the future Oklahoma stands
today at the head of the great COM
monwealth of America
No enumeration of the inhabitants of
the territory was made during 1899,
and the census of 1898 showed a total
population of 81, 400. The governor
thinks at the present time the popula-
ton is $4,000, the great majority being
native born. The taxable property
of the territory amounts to $42, 1882, 414,
an increase of 81, 1858, ,59S over last year.
The school population is 115,OOO.
Owing to the great rush of settlers
at each succeeding opening of Okla
homa lands, the struggle to get pos
session of the more valuable pieces and
the constant influx of settlers each year
since, the impression prevails that all
is taken up. This is not a fact. There
are still 6,33S,373 acres of government
land in the territory subject to home
stead entry. While some of this land
is rough, broken and rocky, and by
far the greater portion of it adapted to
stock raising more than farming, there
is still a considerable portion well
adapted to agricultural purposes,
crowded east or cold, bleak north can
secure a home for his family, and by
earnest, persevering effort not only
live in comfort but readily attain a
competence for old age. This land is
to be acquired under the homestead
laws by a settler filing on same at the
land office, taking up his residence on
the land within six months thereafter,
five years. In Greer and Beaver coun-
ties the settler gets his land free at
the end of five years, his only cost be-
ing $14 filing fees. In the other parts
of the territory the land costs him
from 81 to $3.50 per acre
The governor recommends the
leasing of public lands in the terri
tory for stock raising purposes. Much
of this land never will be suitable for
homesteads, and it is advisable that
some disposition be made of it.
Three years ago it was generally
considered that all of the public lands
of Oklahoma fit for homesteads had
been taken up and in fact, many set
tiers who had taken government land
were about to give it up in discourage
ment, but the goods crops of. that year
turned the tide and all who had land
kept it, and in addition, as the story
of the prosperity of the territory went
out over the country, settlers began to
flock in and take up the vacant land,
much of which had previously been
rejected.
During the year ending June so,
1898, 1,127, 1856 acres We're filed upon.
making 7,O46 quarter sections, with
family on nearly every one.
THE annual reports of the officials
of the United States land offices in the
territory just completed show that
666, 747 acres, or 4,167 quarter sections,
have been filed on during the year end
ing June 80, 1899, showing an influx of
at least 10000 families into the terri
tory during the two years, to take up
unoccupied government land, besides
the more than twice as many who
bought relinquishments of former set
tiers on leased school lands.
There is still in the territory $685.
S73 acres of vacant public land sub
ject to homestead entry