The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-11-26

1 e----~-A- TIE AtDtG supply CsC sF4NA
the ever increasing flow Of immigration
The wages paid are equal TO or even grea-
/ ter than those OF any state in the union
There has been phenomenal growth in
! the banking business during the year;
the number OF national banks has in
creased from 81 10 50 and the territorial
from rs 10 152.
The establishment OF so many new
towns in the country opened 10 settlement
q year ago necessi -ated proper business
facilities and in many instances the bank
preceded the pcstoffice. The continued
and unusual prosperity in old Oklahoma
makes it an inviting field for the banker
and capitalist.
There have been four building and loan
associations chartered during the past
year. making total Of ten home insti-
tutions doing business IN the territory:
there are also several associations incor-
porated in adjoinin states. but operating
in the territory through agents.
There is now in the public fund OF the
territorial treasury SOS. .12. IS. which is
being annually increased by the addi-
tons from the rentals Of lands granted
to the territory fer building purposes;
the public buildings which are most need
ed at present by the territory are an in
sane asylum, deaf mute school. blind asy
lUn. reform school and penitentiary. The
territory. however. is powerless TO locate
or erect any public buildings. in view of
the fact that congress has by legislative
act prohibited the exercise Of that power
az an early day.
JE-r,fI. galrra t,-.,-, f..f-.-.
on as an agricultural and stock raising
country. yet the cities have grown to
such proportions that they are not without
manufacturing establishment Of older and
larger cities. There are 2Sl manufacturing
establishments. employing s.C51 hands. and
l35 wholesale establishments. employing
s5s hands. There are in the territory 22s
elevators having a combined capacity Of
2,s57,0 900 bushels. and As Touring mills. hav-
ing an aggregate daily capacity OF S.76o
barrels
There are twenty cities OF the frst-class
in the territory, FIVE having been incor-
pCrated during the past year Assessed
value Of town property is 81. .s29. .1S9 Dur
ing the past year there have been erected
IL the cities and towns 734 business build
ings. and 1417 are now in course OF con-
struction; 1852 residences have been erect
ed, and 552 are in course OF construc-
ton.
There have been completed seven water
works systems. three electric light plants.
six school buildings eleven churches.
many miles Of street grading and paving
and several court houses and telephone
exchanges.
Forty-three fire and tornado insurance
wrote sS4,977.7s7 Of insurance.
collected $55s.25l.s4. and paid slSs ,l13.i7 in
losses.
Twenty-one life insurance companies IL (
censed to do business in the territory
Y rote s. 6S9. .99S .o9 OF insurance in 1901 coll
lected s2S0.e5L25. and paid sse.4s4.5l in (
losses.
There was also $l2.SsS .052. 81 OF miscella-
neous insurance written. which was col
ected S165. 1883 and SIG. Is paid.
Seventeen fraternal insurance compa-
MES wrote s11.172. $50 collected $n4s4).50 in
assessments. and paid $Ss.7 50 in losses.
The various churches in the territoEs-
nave membership OF over 5000. and the
value Of church property is given as
;el2. .S24.
The business Of the courts has always
been transacted as expeditiously as possi-
de, but the increase in population ne
,cssitated the increase in the number ~
districts from five to seven.
There were docISeted 4s7S cases during
he year. and 1910 were disposed Of The
otal number of cases on the docket June
O. 1902 was 3.SSS
In discussing the question Of statehood,
he governor reports that in his judgment
oklahoma is in every respect qualified 10
axe place among the state OF the
'nion: that in population wealth. and
ducation il IS eminently fitted for imme-
late statehood. and that no reasonable
rgument can be made against such ac-
ion. while the territory has vast array
T logical arguments in favor OF its early
omission
The question OF the admission Of the
arritory as state is one wholly within
be jurisdiction OF congress. and this de-
artment can do no more than direct your
ttentlon to the views Of the governor in
be premises. j