The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1901-05-30
Letter from Oklahoma.
Judson, Okla. Nav q

H.
Editor REPORTER:
Perhaps few of your numerous read
ers would be interested to know of the
welfare of your humble servant and the
outlook and condition of the MANY diff.
ferent crops of Oklahoma. Early in
the spring small grain looked very
promising, but just at present it is not
very encouraging. Firstly, rain was
badly needed and then it began to rain
and now the water is rolling the red
sand instead of the wind, which sent it
heavenward for weeks, and / hope it
has washed the bugs and insects to some
other sandy land. All kinds exist and
thrive here. The Territory should have
been christened Buglahoma, for Ok
does not mean, all right, in my buggy
garden. There was destructive hail
storm ten miles northeast of US May 10,
which ruined 10000 acres Of growing
wheat, and another near Calumet, Okla,
that did damage to the amount $50, 600.
| will now tell of my mistortunes and
calamities. There is a creek runs close
by our house or board shack, rather.
have not named the creek yet; wanted
to call it Goose creek but j. d. objected
to geese. First we had three big rains,
gully washers, then came food, a
modern Noah's. only on smaller scale,
1t washed my washing machine, big ket-
tie, ash barrels. chicken coops, and
about 70 young chickens away. The
boys took after the pigs and saved them
and by that time the water was running
in the house and was up in the attic
as close to the roof as could possibly
get, Watching the rolling deep, or /
thought 1t was deep, and looked down
stairs and saw my new dress floating on
the water. The first step | made on the
lower floor went over shoe top deep, |
rescued my dress and saw Lela's $500
white shirt waist and other things in
her valise floating under the bed, she
said she never saw such a wretched
country. thought so too. John 10.
siah. my contented husband, says we III
move out of here. l thought we would
swim out and be glad to get out that
way. George Barr, of Iineyilie, and
the boys were wading around where they
dared to catching and diving after the
floating debris. George Barr likes
cream, and he was in the cave trying to
get it in high. and dry place. He
could not get to his home mile up the
stream, for he could not swim up stream
and was liable to have his brains dashed
out against those big red rocks which
wall the canon in places. Seibert Barr's
gun stock drifted toward the river a
thing of the past. His mother was
packing her valuables ready to go some.
where, but where, she did not know.
She finally concluded to ditch the tent
with the garden rake, and Fora Barr
took the hoe which she manfully used,
while Noble swept back the water of the
floor, and by the time George arrived
on the scene Mrs. Barr was as serene
and jovial as ever. This country is a
never ending surprise, it first blows,
floats, and then booms. But they had to
get an Iowa editor to write up the town
of Geary and surrounding country. He
calls Oklahoma the bread and meat bas-
ket OF the world, but 1 think he was in
needy circumstances and got we'll paid
for his appreciation. There is u stead y
stream Of people crossing the river to be
ready for the opening of that new coun-
try. There are about 500 people living
in tents in Ell Reno and other towns
more or less. Ten men to every claim.
How it will be decided for the taking
will puzzle Uncle Sam or his deputy,
VIM. Mckinley. Some claim he has the
authority to say when it shall be open
for settlement but not the way. When
some other unexpected crisis takes
place will try to inform you.
ATE STpnNn