The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-05-26
HOW SHE HAS GROWN.
Wonderful Progress Made by the
Town Of Cleo, O. :.

Wonderful Progress Made by the
Town Of Cleo, Q. :.
Cleo, o. T., May z5-The adept and
| past master in knowledge Of the west
and its possibilities is often surprised in
the way Of a discovery of a new portion
Of the new west, or a new town but little
known before the investigation following
a chance discovery. Cleo has been little
known until Of late. and until the sp-
pearance OF the homeseeker and investor
its advantages and possibilities remained
unspoken of and its present desirability
unheralded
Located thirty miles west OF the Rock
Island and reached by stage from Enid
its difficulty Of access rendering It in a
manner isolated; Handicapped by the
false understanding that when you leave
the Rock Island railroad west you leave
Gods country" Cleo in spite Of all has
become established firmly as the trading
mart for a country fifteen miles to the
east, ten miles TO the north. twenty miles
to the south and twenty-five miles TO the
west. A hamlet Of but few houses
and $50 people up to October l, 1900. the
resident can now count 104 houses built
since that time and a population increas-
cd to ass.
The best Indication Of the business Of q
town is found in the business of the post
Office and banks taken with the state
ments of merchants as TO their volume Of
business for given period. For the year
ending December 81, 1900. the postohice in
Cleo sold 1880 worth of stamps, issued
2.G2O money orders and handled 2,194 reg
istered letters and packages. The volume
Of business reported by the merchants
and business men upon that day for the
year then ending aggregated $50. 900, and
the Cleo State bank, which commenced
business IN June, had in deposits 81, 900.
At the close Of business Saturday, May
IS. the Cleo State bank had in deposits
S92.Ol9, and the Farmers State bank,
which has been doing business but 10
days. s1O054
Heretofore distant from a railroad, the
distance is being surely and steadily re-
duced at the rate of a mile and a half a
day. for that is the rate at which the
Choctaw is being built toward Cleo from
the south. When completed as proposed
and connecting with the ldisouri Pacific
at Kiowa, cattle and hogs shipped In the
morning win be in the Wichita stock
yards in the evening.
Cleo was born Of the necessity Of the
settlers surrounding. Woods county made
by the government 48 miles wide by IS
miles long, was without a town in the
south half. a hill breaking abruptly to
the west In a high bluf. from which flow
twenty springs, each making a little riv-
ulet of its own, finding g way into Eagle
Chief creek; the hill sloping gently 20 the
creek north and to the Cimarron river
two miles south, naturally invited their
attention as a location for town which
would have the two things essential
good water and good drainage. At the
instance Of proper committees duly ap-
pointed and upon their representations
the general land Office board authorized
the townsite board which entered and
proved UP Alxa to enter the land neces-
sary and prove up the townsite Of Cleo.
To the original townsite an addition
was later plated to the south, and with
in the month the Choctaw has laid OF
additions aggregating $50 acres. These
are to the south and east.
The country tributary to the town IS
ore of corn. wheat cattle and hogs. and
with fruit farms increasing IN number
with each y.ar. Cotton is a good crop
also but the acreage this year IS small
Speaking OF fruit there IS no question
but that in q very few years Cleo VIII
he The shipping point for the fruit belt
Of western CHis hcma. The gIades Of the
black jack count seem TO be the best
naturally adopted for the growing Of
peaches eprles and small fruits than any
other in the southwest Il VIII be the
home Of the big peach. Peaches grow
and keep on growing. Orchards at an age
Of three years WELD three bushels to the
tree. and cherries. plums and spricots.
with hlackberries and Strawberries. in-
vite those familiar Herewith TO future
and fun Interrogation
CleO's schools are the equal 81 any n
Oklahoma OF Kansas based upon the
needs and requirements Of the commun~
Try. Last school year three teachers were
employed. and the coming year VIII re-
auire three or IL may be more The
represented are Methodist. Bap-
list. Christian and Friends.
with the advent Of the Choctaw q new
era for Cleo and its people VIII dawn. and
anticipating the approach Of CHE neces-
sarfly changed conditions the town voted
upon t4e question OF Incorporating on
May Is the vote resulting - for and
against Following the vote on election
has been called Tor Nay 8 and city of5c-
ers nominated
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