The Wichita daily eagle., 1903-11-25
,een raised by any Of the rentals in the

been raised by any OF the rentals in the
past.
owing to a tendency 10 speculate IN
these lands, The board has amended its
rules TO prevent the hypothecating OF
leases aand security for loans and the
transferring of same in blank. and has re-
quired that in the future all leases and
transfers shall be executed before no
tary public or other officer empowered to
take acknowledgements in the same man
ner as required within the territory will
be allowed TO rent for a single season
such portion of their land as is deemed
advisable by the board, upon application.
During the year 30S new public school
houses were erected, making 2.l9e school
houses in the territory. The law proyid-
ing for separate schools for whites and
negroes has operated satisfactorily and
the governor reports that a better feeling
prevails than ever before in the terri
tory
In discussing the undeveloped resources
of Oklahoma, Governor Ferguson says:
Among the more important natural de-
posits. the extent and value of which only
a meager conception is entertained by the
people in general. may be mentioned gyp-
site anad gyp rock. from which is manu-
factured cement and several grades Of
plaster.
Professor Van Fleet. territorial seolo-
gist. has made careful investigation
throughout the counties lying in the gyp-
sum region and estimates the available
amount deposited in these beds TO be 125.-
800 million tons. They are practically in
exhaustible. The problems of transpOrta-
ton and cheap fuel are the most inpor-
tant ones TO be solved. but since the ex-
tension Of several lines of railroad
through this region the greatest him
drance 10 its development seems to have
been overcome, thus assuring the sue
cess of this industry. With oil as a fuel
instead of coal, the cost of manufacture
will be much lesseRed.
"OiI and gas have been discovered in
several locations, and further investiga-
tions are being made by companies who
find sufficient encoura cement in the out
lock to warrant them IN leasing thou
sands of acres Of land and bringing TO the
territory extensive drilling equipments.
The oil thus far produced is very heavy,
and the output of several wells commands
a good price for Iubricating purposes. At
the west end Of the Wichita mountain
range, in the vicinity of granite wells
are producing from ten To fifty barrels
per day from a depth Of less than POO
feet. Favorable reports have been re-
ceived from other points. and at Law
ton and NewlIirk oil has been obtained
in paying quantities. The gas wells at
Newkirk are producing sufficient flow to
afford light for the town. At a depth Of
Go feet the true gas sands were struck.
The granite fields are located in Greer
county. They consist for the most part
of high. massive mountains, and there
is such an abudance Of the rock exposed
above the ground that that portion alone
would supply the granite using world fo-
years TO come. The quality of the granite
is of the very best. a large portion of it
is solid red Scotch granite and equally
adapted for monumental and building
purposes. The granite can be taken out
in immense blocksd which adds much to
the monetary value. as well as increasing
its desirability for building purposes"