Evening star., 1901-12-05
oKLAHoMA's GROWTH
DELEGATE FLYNN ENTHUSIASTIC AT
TERRITORY's PROSPERITY.
Large Influx of Inhabitants Caused
by Opening Public Lands-New
Lines of Railroads.

+ Ruddy ana vigorous, V1rlle ana enlQuSlaS-
| tic for the fertile territory which he is TO
| represent for the fifth consecutive time in
the present Congress, Delegate D. T. Flynn
| linked his arm in that of a Star man this
morning on his way to the Capitol. as he
! told about the remarkable growth and pros
| perity of Oklahoma.
There never was such a steady flow of
good people with money into any new pos
session of this country as has been and is
| today converging into Oklahoma he said.
''and the people of the east have no real
| conception of it.
IF you don't believe 1t, try to get seat
| in Pullman car going through the terri
| tory They are as crowded as the day
| coaches. 1t Is impossible for the average
| passenger at a way station to get seat
| on any train in the territory, so great Is
| the multitude of people travelling. 1t is es-
| tlmated that aside from the great rush of
settlers that 10000 people from the two
| states of Iowa and Illinois alone have come
| to us and bought farms inside of two years.
| Notwithstanding the fact that where the
| main lines formerly operated one through
| train each way a day three are now run
| to meet these conditions of immense passen-
ger traffic.
Something Doing in Oklahoma.
"And what do you think of this: Many of
the farms that were given to settlers as
now selling for $4,000 each. There is some
thing doing out with US.
Oklahoma has territorial extent nearly
as large as that of the great state of Ohio.
1t has a population of half million. 1t
has an assessed valuation Of taxable prop
erty of s300.0OO,000. 1t has the largest ma
tive-born population of any state or terri
tory in the Union. We boast of the largest
and best public school system of any state
admitted within recent years. Our climate
is unsurpassed, and we can raise corn,
wheat oats, cotton peanuts, rye, sweet po-
tatoes and other agricultural products on
the same piece of land which is a good
combination to play to for farmer.
THE opening of the new lands under the
wise and able administration Of Secretary
Hitchcock has added fully 100000 new people
to our population. The manner of opening
these new lands was an entire change from
al; precedents since the government was
organized. and has redounded not only
be Eeficially to the people of the territory,
buc to the administration as well.
oklahoma has more state and national
banks and more money on deposit in them
than any other agricultural section in the
country. Brick and frame houses are be-
ing erected faster than the material can
be supplied. The people are not only pros
porous, but are happy. They only ask now
for but one right to which they are entitled,
and that is statehood. We raised a surplus
of 30.000000 bushel of wheat last year, and
the total crop was 40,O00OOO bushels. We
various Industries and occupations are all
thriving, and, while there has been a short
cotton and corn crop, by reason of the
drought, an abundance of other crops and
great commercial activity has prevented
any stringency in financial matters.
Improved Method of Opening Land.
when we come into the Union we will
come in with colors flying. Oklahoma raises
the finest of staple cotton, only being sur
passed by that of the South Sea Islands.
More miles of railroad have been and are
being constructed there during the past
two years than in any other part Of the
country. The territory is fairly being grid
ironed by the old trunk lines, as we'll as
by new companies who want our traffic.
The fruit crop, of which little is said, is
one of the best. The jobbers are now using
our peaches to compete with the best Cali
fornia brands. The prospect of the next
wheat crop is very promising, and thou
sands of cattle are being wintered on the
wheat lands. The opening of the kioWa
and COmmanche country has given great
impetus to the development Of these rich
lands, and oil and gas have already been
discovered.
II shall advocate that all future lands
shall be opened to settlement in the same
manner as were the last lands opened.
Under the present management by the In
terror Department the settlers are guaran-
teed freedom from blackmail and contest,
while the counties are guaranteed freedom
from Indebtedness by the sale of lots in the
county seat towns. and the proceeds used
for improvements.
Just think of three county seats con-
tanning 320 acres in what was a wilderness
on the 9Th of August last bringing within
twenty days thereafter about $750,000 from
the sale of lots, the money to be expended
for improvements in the counties in which
they are located. And we still have sew
eral Indian reservations Of several million
acres of public lands which can be entered
in 16O-acre tracts under the homestead law.
''Our people have a great personal admi-
ration for President Roosevelt, as they
think he is man Of great courage and
ability. and concluded Mr.. Flynn, as he
disappeared within the door of his commit
ter making Oklahoma a state we will love
him all the more"