The Green Forest tribune., 1901-11-30
OKLAHOMA OBSERVATIONS.
An Interesting Interview with C. E. Foreman.


 about five months, c. E. Fore man is again at his home in Green Forest for a hort stay.
 Knowing Mir. Foreman to be a man who observes closely and that Oklahoma is a country that IS now attracting a good deal of attention, THE TRIBUNE sought an interview with him upon the subject. In answer to our ques- tion as to what he thought of Oklahoma he said:
 "What do I think of Okla- homa? Well, it is fine country and no mistake. Oklahoma is that part of the Indian Territory reclaimed for the white man, and as such stands as monument to An glo Saxon enterprise; and having been opened part at a time 1t offers an int eresting dem- onstration of the rapidity with which new lands are developed in this 20th century. Old Ollla- homa, the first opened to settle ment, shows a condition in busi- ness and society which seems very remarkable for only 12 years of evolution of raw unde- veloped prairie to well tiled and well improved farms, towns and tidy little cities.
 "Tne strip the next opening of importance shows even more rapid progress, due in some measure, no doubt, to the fact that it's eastern half is superior to Old Oklahoma, and although it has been but eight years since Uncle Sam decided it was not good enough for the Indians, it is now for the most part one vast wheat field and, especially at this season of the year, when one expects to see but little save the scar and yellow leaf,' tits 8 gratifying sight to see the hun- dredS upon hundreds of acres of green wheat, stretching as far as the eye can reach, like one immense well-kept lawn, with here and there large, fine farm houses, barns, granaries, usually surrounded by a grove of shade trees, and backed by a young orchard already bearing, in many instances.
 Every one has followed the course of events in the opening of the Comanche's and Kiowa's country and it's subsequent rapid strides toward development; but it must be seen to be appreciated. This last opening being a lottery instead of a horse race and squab- ble to file and afterwards a fight for possession, made it possible for many more people to become competitors; hence the sixty -odd thousand people trying for the thirteen thousand claims, five thousand of which, possibly are worth having.
 s'There. is great deal of good land in this country, but the first choice was allotted to the Indi- ans. The first few hundred who drew claims finished the disposi- tion of what remained. Ofcourse, every thing was taken, but even a good 16O acres of prairie without a stick of timber-just soil and buffalo grass-is no short to q fortune, much less the many thousands of poor claims which have been gob5led up by people who are wholly unable to develop them themselves or hire it done. Although we have practically had no winter at all, two women have perished from exposure or 'chil.- ed to death.'
 "I was in Lawton three weeks. l 1t was declared a city of first class by Gov. Jenkins when it was organized, and although only a few weeks old, it is already city of fine business and residence houses, the shack, and tent, hav- lng already nearly disappeared.
 "AnadarkO and HObart have