The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-04-11
GREAT STATES IN EMBRYO.

With fOrty-f1Ye states anu 1oui .eA
tories to look after, to say nothing Oh
Alaska, the Philippines, Cuba, Porto RICO
and the Danish West Indies, it is not sur
prising that we should sometimes ignore
the tremendous development going on IN
some of the continental territories. The
report Of the house committee on terri
tories favoring the admission to state
hood of the territories of Oklahoma, Ari-
IONA and New Mexico, presents in con-
else form some very surprising informa-
ton regarding those territories.
Oklahoma had by the census of 1900,
3ss, 331 people, or more than Manitoba and
the entire Canadian Northwest. 1t now
has not less than 100000 people. The
total assessed valuation OF the territory
exceeds 100000, 900, it has 1900 miles OF
railway, and last year it shipped 49,0Oo
car loads of agricultural products and live
stock and 26S,222 bales of cotton. The
land is rich and very largely under Gull
tivation, business is booming and a high
degree Of prosperity exists. The people
are Of the best class Of Americans, only
per cent being foreign born.
Compared with the 10000 square miles
of Oklahoma, Arizona with it's $4,000 is
like an empire. It Is a territory abound
ing in mineral and timber wealth and the
committees report declares that the part
lying south Of the thirty-fourth parallel
is destined to become "the most famously
productive part of the globe" The popu-
lation numbers 175,OOO and probably con-
tains larger proportion Of native-born
than any other subdivision of the United
States. 1t has 1000 miles of railway.
When New Mexico is admitted it will
be the fourth state in the union in point
of area, having 122,5S0 square miles.
Though it's assessed valuation is only $685.
900, 900, its actual valuation is 83,000,-
00O 1t is estimated to have 100000 peo-
pie. There are 1000 miles of railroads
and more sheep than in any other state
or territory of the union. Cattle and
horseraising are very successful, mining
is profitable industry and in every ma
terial way the territory seems to be en-
LltlSu W StdCeAOOu 1uo ldCL IudL IucI .
are $4,000 children in the pubic schools
indicates that however great may be the
number of those now speaking Spanish or
Of the illiterate these conditions will dis
appear in the near future.
1t is certain that Oklahoma ought i'm
mediately to be admitted into statehood.
The enabling act makes provision for the
future addition of Indian Territory to
Oklahoma, the committee not holding it
wise to admit Indian Territory as state,
at present, or as part of Oklahoma We
are inclined to think also that New
Mexico and Arizona ought to be admitted.
On the score Of area, population, wealth
and prospects they are entitled to state
hood. They will never go backward, as
Nevada did. Each Of them has larger
population than four or FIVE of the states,
and while it may be objected that 1t is not
we'll to give small population so much
senatorial representation, it should be
remembered that the senate was never
intended to represent population directly,
but the people of state en- masse, and
that it can not be denied on that score to
populous territories while granted to
sparsely settled states, such as Wyoming
and Nevada.