The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-05-04
IN FOUR THINGS
Is Found the Measure of
0kIahoma'S Excellence.
PEOPLE AND THE SCHOOLS
Crops and the Climate--Noted
Figuges of Local History.

w. E. Curtis wrote from Guthrie TO the
Chicago Record four Things in which Ok
lahoma excels. as follows:
asked Elmer Brown, who is editor OF
the Oklahoma Times-Journal. magazine
writer of note and the secretary of the
Commercial club of Oklahoma City, in
what four things the people of that terri
tory found the greatest satisfaction.
The most gratifying thing ne said. lis
the diversity of crops OF which this soil is
capable. A single farmer may raise cot
ton, corn. wheat, kaHr corn-which is the
best fodder in the world for fattening cat
t-e, and was brought here from South
Africa-fruits OF ali KINDS and poultry on
the same place and if the season should
be bad for one he is sure 10 get good re-
turns from the other; hence ne never can
fail, The poultry interest is getting 10 be
very important with us. a single firm in
Oklahoma City ships several carloads OF
dressed chickens every week the year
around to Denver, Kansas City. New York
and other cities, and there is always a
good demand for them at profitable prices.
THE next degree of satisfaction, 1
think" continued Mr.. Brown, lis the ell
mate. While we have some disadvantages.
Like an occasional windy day, and dust
storm, such as you have in Chicago, it is
never too hot or too cold, and no malaria.
In midday during the summer the sun is
pretty warm, but 1 never heard of Z sun
stroke, and the nights are always cool
There is no more healthful place in the
world. The death rate is very low, par
ticularly among children. who seem to
thrive here.
The third is the character of the people
their intelligence and education and the
peace and order of the territory. We have
never had a Wild and Iawless period like
the rest of the new states and territories
We have no tough towns. This is easily
explained Oklahoma is filled with trans
planted colonies from the other states
Some Of our towns are almost entirely
settled with people who were neighbors in
Kansas, Missouri, Minnesota and Illinois.
who brought enough money with them to
build comfortable homes and churches and
school houses at the start, and a few
down to farming and 10 business as regu
larly as If they had been here for dozen
years. The railroads were here ahead of
the people, and that made It easy. Some
OF the colonies sent on their household
goods in advance, and when thew arrived
the day the territory was opened to set
tlement they found ar the material ready
for them to begin life. There was a train
load of lumber lying on q sidetrack at Ok
iahoma City before a single settler had
arrived. Thus, you see, it was no place for
toughs. Pubic sentiment would not toll
crate them, and from the start Oklahoma
has been as peaceful and caw-abiding as
any community in Massachusetts or iii
nois. we have no prohibition law. but
make LIQUOR dealers pay high license
*5O0-and they have TO obtain the consent
Of the property owners for a considerable
distance around them before they can OBJ
tain license. The system is very much
the same as in Illinois Many Of our towns
have no saloons at all
THE fourth source Of satisfaction Is our
school system. which is the same that YOU
have in Illinois, and you cannot say too
much on that subject. Our university. our
normal schools and our agricultural COL
lege are young. but they are in charge Of
highly educated and progressive men. and
we have vast endowment behind them in
public lands, reserved for their support.
which are now paying revenue OF g
per capita of the school population. and
are growing more valuable every year. II
is the policy of the territory not TO sell.
but to lease school lands. and. as every
township has two miles square Of good
land. sections Is and IS. you can see what
a splendid foundation Of educational
wealth we have for the future
1T IS matter Of great regret" con-
tinued Mr. Brown. that no provision has
been made for school reservations IN the
Of the tribal lands in Indian
Territory. That seems TO have been en-
tirely overlooked. and the attention ~ the
authorities At Washington ought 20 he /
called 70 it before It IS too late It would 4
be A good idea for the government 70 re- /
serve the mineral lands IN the Indian Ter |
-itory for school purposes. They are ex-
7ressly reserved from distribution among
he people of tho different tribes 20 whom
he remainder Of the area * To be given
n severalty, and they might be leased
That would make an enormous fund. In
iian Territory IS rich IN minerals. The
.oal output last year reached 81. on tons
md there Is an abundance If oil. natural
,as. lead and zinc and traces Of iron. I
m positive that rich beds II iron ore vii.
20 found sooner " later. one tract abo1.
wanty miles square is very rich in lead
nd zinc"
One Of the notable characters in Okla
iona IS Temple Houston. son Of sam
fouston, who was president = the Texas
epubuc. He Is a lawyer. living az the town
I woodward Of eccentric habits and
riilsnt abilities he wears his hair long.
fleets hieh-heeIed Spanish boots and
ses rattiesnake skin FOR q neckte
iou=toa IS a thoroughbred fr9nuersmaa
nd has seen q good deal ~ r9uEh Ife /
Without much education. NJ has managed
D acquire a thorouRh k1ov-cdge n law
IN onnivoT1us reader fond ~ poetry
nd possessed NJ \ fire sentiment During
Is younger years he led a Md and rex
.ss life and has been ;z{ce tried for rnar-
re Is no. vicious mar. bit has ~ ur-
'nt-o'lah'e temper Is very sensitive and
.hs1 ia iiqlor Sc aP- n ee qusrrs sorre. 4
z late however. Be has se5sre5 doz-n
ID Is making p REPUTATION II RS r-afes
or beng Considered one Ct the ases.
wvsrz ir this section
some time ago Temple Houston hal
za. Vtth A1se-e Jerz.1zs 7-ofesefo-s.
s-5lt sr6 outlaw. z-so was che terrier n
.fl2a Te~T5t--v FIe E5TeS e a~ar he- ~
gContau~a O. seeoze Page =
I'VE THE CHILDREN A DRINK $