The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1901-08-15
Territory Owes Its Prosperity and
Rapid Growth to Home
stead Law.
HER SMALL FARMS MAKE WEALTH
/ In Ten Years an Uninhabited Country
4 Has Gathered to Itself Popula-
tion OF 4OO,OOo-Hns 100000
4 Acres Left for Settlers.

was made that of all the methods for
acquiring the public domain the home
I stead law was the only one which car
ried out the purpose of the government
! honestly and fully. Under the provi-
sions Of that law the land grabber finds
no opportunity and speculation is re-
duced to the minimum. The results
have been significant and marvellous,
tor in ten years an uninhabited country
has gathered to itself nearly 100000
4 people, taxable property to the value
I of $3.50, 600, 900 and it's annual production
of the treasures of the earth now APP
\ proximates $75,000000 in value.
When Oklahoma is admitted to the
union, as 1t probably well be during
the coming session of congress, 1t
I should be known as "the homestead
j state" No other commonwealth can
/ claim this title, and to the homestead
character of her settlement will Okla
homa owe her admission, for by no 9TH
err method could she have obtained so
quickly the population, wealth and sta
bility now necessary to secure recogni-
ton from congress.
To the south of Oklahoma lies the
great state OF Texas, with it's big
ranches, vast tracts Of land under
fence, with no annual output but few
cattle. With it's landlordism due to the
ownership of thousands of acres of fer
I tile cotton and corn lands by men who
4 will not sell to the homeseeker, but who
exact of the tenants rental or tribute
equal to "all the traffic will bear" 1t
was with some idea Of the evils of land
4 absorption that congress tried the eX-
pertinent of forcing the division Of a
new and fertile territory into small
farms The results have been so emil
nently satisfactory that the defeat of
any proposition which may be made TO
congress to allow the control of great
areas Of the public domain to pass un-
der other and single control may be
reckoned In advance.
Rather Big Patch.
When Oklahoma was organized as
territory there were about 25,000,000
acres OF land within the boundaries as
Established. Over 100000 acres was
reserved from settlement for Indian
Ind other purposes. In ten years home
steaders have filed upon 100000 acres.
That Is to say. $4,000 single men or
heads Of families have used their right
to appropriate 100 acres Of the public
domain. Nearly all Of this land is now
patented to the owners They have
complied with the requirements, the
principal one being residence.
The parties who filed on the land or
igina1ly are not in many instances the
same who have secured the final deeds.
On the whole, the population Of the ter
ritory may be said to have changed
several times during the past decade.
However this may be, the result has
been the same In the end. Actual res
ldence and Improvement of the prop
erty was a requisite to securing title,
and II one settler relinquished his
rights another purchased or appro-
ira fxAd $1rfav
contract with the government. which
scontemplates results rather than In
dtvtdualS, being in.ADersonal.
Every men who takes up q home
stead and complies with the law builds
house OF greater or less pretensions.
TO build this house takes labor and
material. "A sufficient amount Of Gull
tivation must then be given the land
70 prove good Intentions To cultivate
land horses and implements are neces-
gary. these being barns. fences and all
the other appurtenances Of a farm. The
result IL q home. It may be poor one
and generally Is at first, but 1t Is an
important unit In the community new
e.theless. II there Is no family in this
home At first one Is not long In coming
1orsof the farm 1t was evidently written
that " Is not good for man to dwell
alone.
Room for Pent-Up Energies.
Rs A few OF the Oklahoma homesteads
have been held, and even title has been
secured without observing the spirit as
we'll as the letter of the homestead
law but In the very fact that on these
gt,Q00 homestead claims and In the
towns dependent upon them for BUSH
ness, now live A00, 900 people, Hes the
proof that g great majority Of the set
Elements have been honest, have been
the making OF the people who accom-
Epltehed them, and that In Oklahoma
several hundred thousand people have
found an outlet for energies cramped
I'm older communities.
es Oklahoma, by virtue OF the yery
manner In which 1t has been settled
J was refuge for people OF limited
tnean m. The rich had no need to brave
the hardships OF sod farming. Those
who were we'll enough OF where thew
were saw no inducement to leave q
seure thing FOR q questionable venture
lli uni known land, which ten years
SAlIo possessed not entirely senviable
ot me $3.50. 900. 900 a iii Tangible
sjprcperty now possessed by the people
s01 this territory II newly created
SMAAlth. and this amount does not In
zoltly the value of many thousands g.
sn0ree 81 Ands, the title to which has
from the government.
|sass zeAe homset ders nave built towns
"A A1lroAds. opened banks ana coal
Nh tied great merca Mile busi l.
q C9 All 1eecffp tions. In short they
ME- nIlalt lar = prosperous comfncn-
M A3fn n0WS0eMandtnGo OF congress the
n n4ning thereto. OF the 400.
T. 0pla IA the territory 100000 are
snrol TED IN the public schools.
~ 81 living testimony to-
es1ss IS IS n !: Yen snd ths