The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-08-28
WEATHERFORD
IS SELECTED
FOR NORMAL
Barnes Commission Announce
Site for Normal School.
WILL FILE FULL REPORT
With Governor Jenkins Giving
Reasons for Decision.

Gutberie. O. T.. August 27.-The mem
bers Of the commission appointed by Gov
ernor Barnes during the last days Of his
administration to select a site for the
Southwestern Normal school which was
authorized by the last territorial legis-
lature have returned from their trip over
the southwestern country and make the
announcement that Weatherford on the
Choctow has been selected as the site
Of the school. This decision on the part
OF the members of the commission does
not come as a surprise TO the friends Of
the jenkins and the people Of Greer coun-
ty or Southwestern Oklahoma, for it was
strongly intimated that the commission
would locate the normal at Weatherford
and this was what really caused the new
commission to 5e appointed by Governor
jenkins. When this intimation was nois-
ed around, letters and petitions began TO
accumulate in the governors Office and
in order to protect himself and his ad-
ninistration he appointed the new com
mission. The trip of the Barnes commits
sion consumed several days and it seems
that the decision was soon made as TO the
school being located at Weatherford
just what the result Of this decision
on the part Of the Barnes commission
VIII result in is hard to tell. The Jen-
kins commission has not yet made its re-
port and may not until the limit is up
which is September >
Among the majority Of politicians the
whole matter as far as the Barnes com
mission is concerned is considered as a
joke largely. Since the opinion of At
torney General Strang on the question
IS with Governor jenkins. those who were
predicting dire results from the fact that
two commissions were in the field have
about decided TO change their views. The
letters of protest have not yet stopped
coming in and from all indications VIII
not cease until Greer county gets that
normal.
Robert a. Lowery, . member Of the
Barnes committee. while en- route to Still
water. his home. said:
'Yes. we have finished our work, and
when the report Of the secretary has
been filed with the governor ana the
board of education our committee viii
have ceased to Toe in existence. Weather
ford was selected as the place for the
Normal school to be located. but had
conditions been anywhere near equal the
choice would probably have gone to Cor
deli, the county seat of Washita sounty
'CordeH is almost the geographical
center of the Southwestern country and
Possesses a fine site for the school. but
the fact that it is hardly more than a
mere village with a consequent lack of
accommodations initiated against its
chancos-in fact I might say that this
securing the location. You see. the COM
Nittee had taken notice of the hard strue-
81 the Edmond Normal school. the pros
beritv of which has been hampered by
the smallness of the town in which it
Is located and the lack Of the necessary
accommodations and we made up our
minds not 70 repeat this mistake.
"A location in Greer county was not
seriously considered for the reason that
1t would be too far away from the geo
graphical center of the Southwest and
too near the Texas state line. The leg
isiature evidently took this feature into
consideration when after a visit of the
members both 20 Granite and Mangum
the words Greer county were stril1en
from the bin and Southwest substituted
"The city Of Weatherford. in the judg-
ment of the committee. came the nearest
10 filling the requirements Of an ideal
location for a thriving school Tt is
community of 2.W0 inhabitants already
has water works system and win soon
be supplied with an electric light plant
It is within thirty miles of the eeograph-
ical center of the Southwest territory.
For railway facilities it is on the main
line Of tha Choctaw. which is being rap
IDLY extended through Roger Mills and
Greer counties. The Rock Island crosses
the Choctaw six miles east of Weather
ford and eight miles to the west is the
Frisco"
DELEGATIONS from the different cities
thar want She normal are beginning to
arrive 10 press the claims of the various
locations with the Jenkins commission.
Mangun. Altus and Granite Of Greer
county. Mountain view in Washita coun-
n. Cordeu and Cloud Chief. also in wa
sh.ta county. and Elk City I'm Roger Mills
county. are stu aspirants. rs the matter
win be settled before the 2oth day Of Sep
tember