The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-01-03
ARE GATHERING HERE
Hundred Wichitans Said TO
Have Share in Okla, Colony
BOOKS CLOSE JANUARY 6
Leaders Say That Options on
Land Are Secured.

| Preparations are being made in this
city for the colony which is being formed
% go to the Oklahoma country about the
10th of this month. There are at present
over 100 people in this city, according TO
the statements of those who have charge
Of the matter. who will leave here during
this month for Oklahoma. The plan
seems to have taken here among a GER
tain class Of people who want homes, and
they are all confident that the plan viii
be a success.
W F. Piper who resides at 147 South
Lawrence aveue, has charge Of the Wlch-
tia business Of the colony. There is an
other party forming at Lyons to join the
colony. The people number about 100 at
that place. Over in Missouri, nesE the
Kansas line, is another party gathering
and they number nearly 900. as Mr.. Piper
stated yesterday.
The idea is to get 10000 people together
to move to the colony land This mum
Der viii be secured, the manag cement
think, by the time that they are in readi-
ness to move their effects to the land.
One Of the persons who IS a member Of
the colony from this point said yester-
day to & reporter for the Eagle: There
are nearly 80 men in this city who have
taken shares in the colony for Okla
bona. The books will close on the 9Th of
this month, and then the final trans
actions will be made. The land has been
selected. I cannot say just where it is,
but we have an option on II and when
Fbe r-c inn nil
Fitzgerald, who was at the head Of the
Georgia colony, is at the head Of this
and his headquarters are IN Indianapolis
The plan II to have each person pay
s25 for a share. This will entttle them to
one town lot or forty acres of land Two
shares will double the amount and If q
man takes four shares, equivalent to 800,
ne gets Leo acres. Half of the money for
the shares is payable as soon as the
share is taken and the other is payable
after the colony Is established. You are
given thirty days notice and have that
tine to secure your money to pay the
balance Of the share money.
The plan is to reserve every other lot or
piece Of land to DO sold for the colony
The other land is to be allotted to the
persons who have shares. Back from the
towns the hand tracts become larger and
those nearer town are smaller
I'VE fully expect that we viii get the
1000 people by the time that we secure
the land. It is surely bound to be
success and believe that It is one Of the
best plans for this country yet started"
It has been understood by persons who
were familiar with the Fitzgerald col
ony in Georgia that it was not sue
CESS When the followers Of the Okla
homa colony are confronted with this
argument they say that the reason Of the
failure OF the other colony IS because
too many people had to be supported on
account Of fitness, etc.
People Of Oklahoma believe that this
thing is a myth. They state that there
rs no such thing forming, nor IS It pos
sible for them to secure an option on 49,
900 acres Of land as the management
state they have. People in Wichita, !
many Of them, have an opinion that it
Is merely a money making scheme, but |
those who have taken shares are just as
confident as can be that the project Is a !
SUCCESS.
As the time draws near for the move /
ment Of the people to Oklahoma the
plans Of the colony people viii be more
closely watched.