The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1902-01-30
Oklahoma Letter.
Jan. IL, 1902, Apache, 0. 7.

Jan. IL, 1902, Apache, o. T.
Editor REPoRrER:-I will endeavor to
write through the columns of your
paper brief description Of this new
country in which l drew a claim in
August, on which | am located. To be-
gin with left Leon December 9th and
when l arrived here 1t was 80 below
zero. hired team to haul my house
pattern out to my farm. We started
from Apache in the morning and were
all day on the road. We got to my
farm about sunset and if it had not been
for some kind neighbors we would have
almost froze. The next morning we
commenced building my big house. 1t
is ten by twelve and that is big house
for this country at present. We finish.
ed it in about two days and have been
occupying it ever since. There are quite
good many wolves down here. They
come within about fifty yards of the
house. M. T. Shelton the young man
that is staying with we killed large.
brown wolf. We expect to get enough
hides before spring to make a robe.
Game is not SO plentiful owing to SO
many people travelling over the country
and every man that comes in mere
brings all the fire arms that he can get
of his neighbors and expects to kill bear
when he lands in o. L. but there are
prairie chickens that you can eat three
times day if he wants to. M. L. Shell
ton and went over to the Keichee hills
for few days hunt bat we were not
very successful and only got two
turkeys but we came upon party OF
travelling men from Kansas .City who
had been there week and had just
killed a bear that day and they gave us
about five pounds of fine venison. We
offered to pay them but they would not
take anything so we came home with
the thought of roasted venison on our
minds made it in all pleasant trip. @ ]
will now give a description of this
country and its surrounding towns
Last August when l was here it was
nothing but vast plain but to-day it is
y clothed with houses. 1t is a beautiful
lcountry and l believe it will be as ricf
a farming country as there is in thu
surrounding states. Land is changing
hands fast here. 1t is selling all th'
way from 5000 to $500 a quarter, clos
to big towns of course are higher, ant
if any of my Decatur county friend
want cheap homes come to Oklahoma
Land will be five hundred dollars highe
a quarter before spring. If any on
should be interested in this part of O
7. and write me l will give them tn
number of some choice claims that al
for sale and will meet them at the trai
and show them the country. Th
country is settled up with good elias
of people but they all have dances. w
were at dance last night. Had
pleasant time and are going agai
Tuesday evening. l danced with ].
little girl from Iowa. There are lots
Iowa people here. o yes, l must tie
you about our oil excitement. There
an oil well just two miles west of her
They are just down two hundred an
fifty feet and struck oil it is in lively
feet Of the top of the ground. II
people we're just crazy. 1t is quee
stuff it looks like harness oil. They al
going to dig deeper. l have not bee
over yet but saw the samples of it
town Saturday. must bring this to
close and if it escapes the waste bask
| will write again and give more ar
better description Of this country.
FRANK G. SPRINGER.