The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1902-09-11
Oklahoma Letter.
Elg!n, Oklahoma, Sept. LIST 1902.

iI's'a3 oSpt. 81 lOOS.
Since putting up my tent pins in Dec
atur County and emigrating to this
great American Desert, have received
50 many and varied inquiries from
friends and acquaintance about the
merits and dement's of this country as
home, It makes it necessary for me
to impose on your Indulgence for space
in The REPORTER in which to answer all
as nearly as possible at one writing.
In the first place | want it distinctly
understood that do not and will not
advise any one to pull up and come here,
without first coming on trip of inspec-
ton OF the resources of advantages ect.
What we claim for this new country and
from its own estimates of them. But |
will briefly summarize some of my own
lmpressments and my judgment of the
outlook for the future of this country,
formed from ten months residence in
it. AS | see it, it can not as yet be we'll
termed good general farming country,
that is in the common accepta,ion of
what that means. In regions where
thelheavens weep more copiouslv some
seasons than they do here, but here we
have deep and loamy soil, ranging in
depth from two to six feet, a soil that
retains moisture az does no other in
Oklahoma, a s3il that is unexceled for
Its almost inexhaustible fertility. Itis
easy titled when in proper condition.
One main reason of its drouth resisting
property it is said. is the depth OF this
very porous soil, and in addition to
that open porous textures Of the subsoil
to an indefinite depth which permits
evaporation to come from great depth
below and as said when this evaporation
Is consumed by proper and thorough
tlllage forming an earthen mulch the
evaporating moisture is held about the
plant roots to quench their thirst and
render soluble plant food which is
easily assimulated by growing plants.
A large part OF the earth has had an
overdue allowance of rainfall, while we
have had a liberal allowance, neverthe-
less our crops in the main look luxuriant
and of nice color, having a rank
growth, that is where the soil has been
fairly treated.
Land is still steadily climbing sky
ward and will am reasonably conyinc-
Oh roocb n ,,lnra If FROM, 1o0 ~ ctO 49,
acre at no distant day, this may to
many appear an extravagent estimate.
! don't say but there may be at times
some t1agnant tluctuation in their values
such as ale incident to all new coun-
tries but the fact remains that we have
country of more resources and unex-
cclled climate and much better soil than
other portions of Oklahoma land values
Have long ago gone beyond these figures
in value and with less prospects in their
first settlement ten to twelve years ago
than This country has at present.
AS said we have here at least three
great essentials and unexcelled soil
/ ClludlC huu WdIGI ldItSI Is III
abundance.
AS yet there is but little known of the
great variety of crops that will ultimate
ly be raised here in abundance as farm
ing is as yet barely in the embryonic
stage of development. Wheat does it,
best here as there was large tract O
wheat just east Of me, two miles tina
averaged 20 bushels; owing to the wet
weather we had in the spring that
counted a large yield.
Stock peas do superbly in fact Their
seems TO be hardly limit to the var
ie,ies of crops that do fine with intelli
gent cultivation yet with all these essen
tials Of coming country beg leave t.
insist that no man take for granted an,
statement made relative to them with
out first making necessary trip .
inspection for himself.
+. L. SPR1NGER