The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1902-11-24

There were returned for taxation in
1902. 2So,ss9 hor-es; 5sI43 mules and
asses s5es1s cattle. ss.sos sheep and
goe s. and 1Ss.21s swine.
The prevention Of disease among
cattle Is under the special supervis
'cn Of a board Of Ave stock santa y
commissioners. Il is their duty to
enforce all sanitary laws intended TO
prevent the spread Of and 20 eradicate
infectious diseases among domestic
animals They have met with graft
flying success, working through
corps OF efficient inspectors. in pre-
venting TO large extent the ravages
Of Texas fever.
The governor states that If there Is
an idle man in Oklahoma It is from
choice rather than necessity The
enormous amount Of railroad building
during the past year ma given steady
employment to hundreds Of men.
many Of whom had TO be importe
from the North and East Farm labor
is in demand The year around Tn
settlement Of the new country eated
a demand for sod breaking and genera,
farm work that could moi be supplied
and hence many claim holders were
unable TO Get their lands TITO cultiva
tion this year The increase of mann
featuring industries. together with the
general rush OF building throughout
the country and cities of me territory.
con inually drain the labor supply
even with the ever increasing flow Of
immigration The wages paid are
equal to or even greater than those OF
any STATE IN the union.
There has been phenomenal
growth in the banking business dur
ing the year; he number OF national
banks has increased from 81 TO GO and
the territorial from 119 TO 152.
The establishment Of so many new
towns in the country opened to ser
tiement year ago necessitated proper
business facilities, and in many in
stances the bank preceded the post
office. The continued and unusual
prosperity in Oklahoma makes # au
inviting field for the banker and
capitalist.
There have been four building and
loan associations chartered during tho
past year. making total Of ten
home institutions doing business in
he territory; there are also several
associations incorporated IN adjoining
states but operating in the territory
through agents.
There Is now in the public fund of
the territorial treasury $2O5 1925
which is being annually increased by
the additions from rentals Of land
granted to the territory for building
purpose; the public buildings which
are most needed at present by the
territory are an insane asylum, deaf
mu.e school, blind asylum. reform
school, and penitentia-y. The terri
tory. however, is powerless TO locate
or erect any public buildings, in view
Of the fact that congre-s has. by leg
islatiye act. prohibited the exercise OF
that power by the territory. This
should be remedied at an early day.
While Oklahoma is generally looked
upon as an agricultural and stock
country. yet the cities have grown to
such proportions thai they are no
without manufacturing industrie7,
many of which will compare favorabIy
with like establishments OF older and
larger oi.ies. There are 23l manu-
featuring ablishments employing
3 1851 hands. and 1875 wholesale estab
lishments employing s59 hands There
are in the territory 22s elevators, hay.
ing a combined capacity Of 2S57'OOO
bushels. and As Touring mills, having
an aggregate daily capaci y Of S,7Go
barrels.
There are 20 cities Of the first class
in the territory. having been incor
porated during the past year. Assess
ed value Of town property is Sil,629'
1ss. During the past year there havi
been erected in the cnies and towns
l734 business buildings and 14l arr
now in course Of construction; S86.
residence have been erected, and 55l
are ia course Of construction
There have been completed Z water
works systems. electric light plants
G school buildings, II churches, man.
lmilss Of street grading and paving
and several court houses and tele