The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1901-11-19
COMPREHENSIVE
FACTS AND FIGURES
Upon Which is Based a
Strong Argumennt for
Statehood
Washington, D. G., Nov. 1s.-The

Washington, D. c., Nov. 1S.-The
first annual report OF Governo, William
NJ. jenkins to the secretary Of the in
terror and made public at the depart
ment today. ~ Is "a comprehensive re-
view of the development Of the territory
during the past year. in nil rs various
branches commercial, agricultural edu-
catioral professional and population. The
governor also submits many recommenda-
tioHs 20 the secretary the most import
ant being In favor of statehood for Okla
homa. Upon this question the governor
makes no specific recommendation In Ia
vr of either single or double statehood
for Oklahoma and Indian Territories, bu'
merely submits facts and figures FOR the
guidance Of the secretary and congress In
dealing with the problem.
In commencing his report tho governor
refers tp the past history Of Oklahoma as
SOME HISTORY
Historically considered, Oklahoma as
Territory Is Of recent origin, but as
small portion Of the great tract OF south
western country, known az various times
and under various circumstances as Lou
lslnna, Mandan territory, the great Amer
lean desert, bninhabitable lands and the
Indian Territory, il has n place In the
history OF the nation dating back TO
the days Of the Spanish explorers, VINO
sought IN the great southwest unknown
empires and their reputed fabulous.
wealth.
Following tho course Of travel described
ia many early Spanish manuscripts and
books. one Is readily convinced that the
original Oklahoma boone. s We're The little
army OF adventurous spirts who travers-
ed the southwest under the leadership OF
DE Soto, ani thaJ they were followed by
Jesslits and othgrs who sought wealth In
the mineral veins OF the mountains ana
hills of the territory. there are unmis-
taxable signs IN lately discovered ruins
OF mines and places of early abode.
Lewis and Clarke visited the territory
IN one OF their early exploring eXpedi-
tions and the prairles and valleys Of the
territory were the hunting grounds OF the
early tribes Of Indians, from the earliest
time OF which there Is record Of the
movements OF the aboriginal Americans.
When the Indian Territory was created
as a home for all OF the Indian tribes and
with the Intention OF some day building
there a great Indian state, most OF what
II now Oklahoma territory. was included
within it's bounds, and Washington irv-
ing who, In 1884 made a hunting trip here,
describes most graphically the beauty and
wealth of Oklahoma's natural endow-
ments In his sketch, "A Tour Of the
Prairies."
Some time early IN the seventies the
name Of Oklahoma first appears, IN politl- |
cal history, the occasion being the intro /
duction .n congress Of bill TO create |
territory out of portion OF the Indian /
territory to be known as Oklahoma. The I
measure failed of passage, and for more /
than a decade little OF nothing was heard /
Then came the agitation started by
Payne and Couch and kept up by their /
l1trepid little band OF boomers until. IN 1
March. 1889 In the dying hours OF con
Eress, an amendment was tackled on the /
Indian appropriation bill providing FOR the |
opening To homestead settlement OF the |
little area OF land then known as OKLA /
homa. embracing less than 100000 acres |
now lying IN the heart OF great terri |
tory
This land was opened on April q, iSSs |
and then occurred the hrst great OKLA !
honla rush, The bricf legtslnt on opening /
the land provided no form OF government /
and for over year the people OF the |
territory were a law unto themselves. The 1
only government during this period was
that created and maintained by common
consent yet there was no lawlessness or
uutlawry and prope IS and life were AIDE
quately protected al all times.
Ia June. 1892 the territorial government |
came into existence and hy the same act
Of congress the strip Of country known as
No Mans Land embracing 5b>luh I
acres. was added 40 Beaver county M
September OF the same year the 2NRi3i
acres embraced in the Sauk and Fox,
Iowa aud iottuwutomie reservations, in
the eaatc.n part ol The territory were
opened go settlement and the following
spring came the i.Hsttl acres Of Chey-
cnne ana Arapaho land September 8.
1895. the Cherokee Strip was opened 60
settlement ana the counties OF Kay
Grant N onNts MhouNAiNs 'fAtllHlNs NNule
and Plwuee created from its o,WAtSs
acres OF fertile land, in 1870 the lNickapoo
reservation az 3i6 N2 acres was settled,
and the year following Greer county,
which had hccn p eylous Go that cousid-
cred portion OF Texas was given 20 the
territory ga decision OF the supreme
court OF The United states.
All these, with the Niowa, comanche
and Apache and Wichita Indian reser-
Vatlona Just opened. give the territory
settled ara1 uf 3iNuN.Ul0 acrcs, Las, ,bib sul
being included ln Indian reservations
STRUGGLES ANOTHER STORY
This, in brief. Is the story Of the c-e-
alton of oklahoma territory but OF the
actments Of congress required 90 bring
Il about of the successive great rushes
OF settlers 90 the country, OF the struggles
10 build up here an idcal American com-
monWcalth. and of The g'eat measure 90
success attained. volumes might he WRIT
fen.
In the httlc more than a decade which
has elapsed since the creation OF the ter
rit0ry The people have accomplished hero
mOTe than nuy other C0mmun ty had ever
accomplished la quarter Of century
The story OF the achievements Of TINS
people, Nhose p-ogressiVcness. energy in-
dustry. aud American eitzena MP mas
neves been eoualed reads almost IKE "a
fairy tale ard ihe great ana lasting re-
suits attained can only he realized by him
nhO comes and views aud ronders
THE PRESENT
Looking back over Uhc brief but event
f,l history of their imr tory ftgpuntins
nlaceutiy viewing their comfortable aud
nrospe Gus surroundings, the people oi
oklahoma are well satisfied With their
prescnt conditions and believe their ia-