Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1901-12-28

Delegate Dennis T. Flynn is enthusI-
astic over the growth and prosperity of
Oklahoma. In conversation with the
st. Louis Globe-Democrat's Washington
correspondent he discussed the develop
ment of the territory enthusiastically.
He said: There was never such q
steady flow of good people with money
into any new possession of this country
as has been and is today converging
into Oklahoma. and the people Of the
east have no conception of it.
IF you don't believe it, try to get a
seat in a Pullman car going through
the territory. They are as crowded as
the day coaches. 1t is impossible for
the average passenger at a way station
to get a seat on any train in the terri
tory, so great is the multitude Of peo-
pie travelling. 1t is estimated that,
aside from the rush of settlers, 10000
people from the two states of Iowa
and Illinois alone have come to us and
bought farms inside of two years. Not
withstanding that, where the main lines
formerly operated one through train
each way a day three are now run to
meet these conditions of immense pas
senger traffic
and what do you think of this:
Many of the farms that were given to
settlers as free homesteads only two
years ago are now selling for $4,000
each. There is something doing out
with us.
oklahoma has a territorial extent
nearly as large as that of the great
state of Ohio. 1t has a population of
half million. 1t has an assessed valu-
alton of taxable property Of $3O0,OOO,-
000., 1t has the largest native born pop
uIation of any state or territory in the
Union. We boast of the largest and
best public school system of any state
admitted within recent years. Our eli
mate Is unsurpassed, and we can raise
corn. wheat, oats, cotton, peanuts, rye,
sweet potatoes and other agricultural
products on the same piece of land,
which is n good combination to play to
for a farmer
''The opening Of the new lands under
the wise and able administration Of
Secretary Hitchcock has added fully
100000 new people to our population
The manner of opening these new lands
was an entire change from all prece-
dents since the government was organ
lied and has redounded not only bene-
ficialIy to the people Of the territory,
but to the administration as well.
oklahoma has more state and na-
tional banks and more money on de-
post in them than any other agricul-
turaI section in the country. Brick and
frame houses are being erected faster
than the material can be supplied. The
people are not only prosperous, but are
happy They only ask now for one
right to which they are entitled, and
that is statehood. We raised surplus
of 100000 bushels of wheat last
year, and the total crop was 100000
bushels. We wear smiles with our good
clothes. The various industries and &C.
equations are all thriving and, while
there has been a short cotton and corn
crop by reason of the drought, an abun-
dance of other crops and great COM
merciaI activity have prevented any
stringency in financial matters.
when we come into the Union, we
will come in with colors flying. Okla
homa raises the finest staple cotton,
only being surpassed by that Of the
south sea islands. More miles of rail-
road have been and are being con-
structed there during the past two
years than in any other part of the
country. The territory is fairly being
gridironed by the old trunk lines as
well as by new companies who want
our traffic. The fruit crop, of which
little is said, is one of the best. The
Jobbers are now using our peaches to
compete with the best California
brands. The prospect Of the next
wheat crop is very promising, and
thousands of cattle are being wintered
on the wheat lands. The opening Of the
Kiowa and Comanche country has Civ
en- great impetus to the development
of these rich lands, and oil and gas
have already been discovered.
81 shall advocate that all future
lands shall be opened to settlement in
the same manner as were the last
lands opened. Under the present man.
agement by the interior department
the settlers are guaranteed freedom
from blackmail and contest, while the
counties are guaranteed freedom from
indebtedness by the sale of lots in the
county seat towns and the proceeds
used for improvements.
'Just think of three county seats
containing 800 acres in what was
wilderness on the 9Th Of August last
bringing within twenty days thereafter
about $4,000 from the sale of lots,
the money to be expended for improve
ments in the counties in which they
are located. And we still have several
Indian reservations of several million
acres of public lands, which can be
entered in 160 acre tracts under the
homestead law.
"Our people have the greatest per-
sonal admiration for President Roose-
welt. as they think be is a man of