The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-12-15
HITCHCOCK
ON OKLAHOMA
Secretary of Interior Makes
His Annual Report.
QUOTES GOVERNOR FREELY
Explains the Municipal Affairs
of the Cities.


The annual report of the governor.
thompson b. Ferguson, presents in ar
interesting and comprehensive manner.
the growth. progress. and resources Of
this territory.
The territory embraces 100000 acres of
fertile and productive land, ard is situat-
ed between the twenty-fourth and twen-
ty-seveath parallels north latitude, and
principally between So degrees 80 minutes
and 100 degrees west longitude. The cfin-
ate is similar TO that o. Tennessee and
northern Texas.
Portions of the territory have been
opened to settlement on six different oc
casions, one county added from the state
of Texas and one mace from mo mans
Land The altitude Is lowest in the
eastern portion and gradually increases
toward the northwest, where il attains
800 feet at one point in Beaver county.
The country as a whole is well watered,
there being many small streams and
rivers. the general course of which is to
the southeast
In the space of fourteen years since the
first land was opened TO settlement the
wealth OF the inhabitants has steadily in
creased until at the presetn time it ap-
proxiplates S400.0oo,0C0. There has been
steady increase in population, the imnli
grafton ranging from IS. 900 TO 14300l each
year. The enumeration this year was in
complete. h1,A the gain in population
shown in ty-se counties and townships
from which returns have been received
evidences a growth of about % per cent
hn Gf
estimate of the population of oklahoma
az the present time is $4,000. The num-
ber of foreign born is not over > per cent,
and percentage of illiteracy is less than
tnat. The Indian population is only about
12,o9o and gradually decreasing. The col
ored population is most numerous in the
southeast portion. having immigrated
from neigfbor;ng states. In some coun-
ties there are no representatives of the
race.
The amount of taxable property return
ed by the assessors was i,13i,412. an
increase over last year of some s1l, i57 019.
AS the values fixed by the assessors are
less than one-fourth the actual value the
total valuation of taxable property in
the territory may be stated at S4Oo, 600 00J
the dollar and the indebtedness amounts
to 1851. .7ee 43. which includes siS,0J0 worth
of bonds which were ussied some years
ago for educational purposes. \ fund has
accumulated for the payment of these
bonds and now amounts 10 $751; The
territorial funds are deposited in banks
and draw rer cent interest. Territorial
repositories are required to give bond
equal to or exceeding the deposits There
is now to the credit Of the seevral funds
57t269.17.
The number of acres taken up by the
homesteader was less than in former
years, as the bulk of the land now vacant
is better adapted TO grazing than agri-
culture, ard there still remains vacant
3,eS9 7eS acresc. There has been reserved
for the benefit of the schools of Oklahoma
2,o55000 acres, which is all leased and
brings in an income of $4,000 this year
There are nearly 5000 leases. The term
for which these leases are made is three
years. Railways in crossing school land
have condemned and taken right of way
for which they have paid the sum Of
$l9.60l.2S. The legislature. at its session
the past winter, provided for special
distribution from the school-Iand fund To
the school districts Of Kiowa. Caddo, and
Comanche counties. they having been
omitted in the apportionment last year
owing to a technical failure to comply
with the law. The amount 50 distrib-
uted aggregated sS5.Ses.2,
There are 2.lsl school houses. valued at
81 -2i7 ,2571.15; 5o3 having been erected dur
ing the current year. at a cost OF sleo.-
sel.ff; and there has been expended dur
ing the year for teachers salaries. sites.
buildings. rents repairs, library. and ap-
paratus for the common schools the sum
OF 81 1,ll6.25077 The expenditures during
the same period for the seven higher in
stitutions Of learning were S2ss. 1888.
Their combined enrolment was isis The
seven Institutions of higher learning un-
der territorial supervision are the Uni
versity OF Oklahoma, located at Norman:
the Agricultural and Mechanical College.
at saltwater: Edmond Normal. at Ed
mond; Northwestern Normal, Al Ava:
Southwestern Normal. at Weatherf0rd:
the Colored Agricultural and Normal
University, at Lansston. and the Univer-
sity Preparatory School. at Tonkawa.
The sources OF income for the common
schools are three: Direct d.strict-tax.
county tax. and the rent from the Ieas-
Ing OF the school lands.
During the past year normal Institutes
have been held in every county in the
territory. The separate school, law Is
working satisfactory. the total eRrcIIi-
meat OF children of school age being rs
sta. There are IL Indian boarding schools +
and mission schools for the education q
he Indian children located at various
points in the territ0-x
Oklahoma Is well supplied with rail-
roads. the principal trunk lines of The
southwest being represented; every cooa-
" has some railway mileage Total mile
age n the territory on March !. 1915 was
e.52.si- Fully loo miles OF main track
has been completed during the year.
The total assessed valuation q ral-
road property vas. or March :. Is5e.
s1sIis7. Several electric inte-urtan lines
are chartered. ard one Is Eow berg COR
siructed between Oklahoma CITY ana
Guthrie. Both the Western Uaioa and
Postal Telegraph companies are doiag
business IN shc territory. Several pubic
lines cE telephone brizs into dzrect com
uuuication all cities. toms and viilages.
The exteassvensss q okiSho-za-s corr
nerce IS Indicated by TIE rcro-ss q sAip-
rents made By rhe varaorS rzlsHzy COM
panies whose lines enter theh fsrTitcrT-
There were received a. v1siogz r-7.nts
Z-.gIs carloads OF c1nlErOdlz-es. 1oasisfias
q aEz machinery. immigrant goods. an4
other supplies There wsTe shl2ped fr0r-
The territory s Is ea-ia1ds ot Pgoducts-
N fl.eae a-t.-~s ere frrlrFed .Essll az