Rock Island Argus., 1903-10-02
THE PRODUCTS OF OKLAHOMA.
They are of q More Diversified Character
Than In Any Other Portion of
the Country.


The products of the soil of Okla
homa are of "A more diversified char
acter than any other portion of this
country. Wheat, corn, rye, barley,
oats, cotton, potatoes, sweet potatoes.
buskwheat, castor beans, Katfir corn.
alfalfa. hay, and numerous other
products of the soil grow successfully
side by side The wheat fields pro-
duce 25,O0O,00O bushels Of wheat In
the season of 1902 the cotton crop
amounted to 21S,0O0 bales, so far as a
record was kept. but no doubt much
was marketed which was not count
ed. During the past few years farm
ers in Oklahoma have been raising
from Is to 45 bushels of wheat per
acre, from 80 to 10 bushels of oats,
from 40 to so bushels of corn. and
one-half to one bale of cotton per
acre.
The old familiar romance attached
to cattle raising is fast fading to Il
mere memory. The old days of the
cowboy, the mess-wagon and the
roundup are things that have had
their little day and left the stage
forever
With the passing of the Cow punch
err goes one of the most unique and
interesting characters of western
life, and with his extinction comes
the science of stock raising The adj
vent of the eastern farmer has revo-'
lutionized the stock question and the
vast ranges of the central and east
ern portions have almost entirely dis
appeared, although large herds are
still grazed in some sections of the
territory. The smaller lunches of
Shorthorns and higher bred cattle
generally are continually increasing
in numbers, and the characteristics of
the country are such that it is not re-
marllable. as stock of almost every
kind can be fattened more readily and
made comfortable with less shelter
than in almost any other section of
the union. Hogs thrive to perfection
and shipments Of them are increasing
to a phenomenal degree. Alfalfa
grows in abundance. Almost every
root vegetable used i'm swine fatten-
ing can be raised with but little at
tentiOn. Corn can be profitably fed
and fine mast is found in large
quantities in many localities. In some
portions Of the territory sheep are
advantageously handled. but not in
numbers it would seem conditions
justify. Anyone familiar with the
breeding of the better grades of
horses and mules will at once recOg-
nize in Oklahoma latitude and eli
mate that can not be surpassed in
this particular. Everything from the
thoroughbred to the plow horse will
be found there.
Further information about Oklaho-
ma and Indian Territory is given in
Rock Island States Southwest Ca
page booklet recently issued by the
passenger department of the Rock
Island System. For Il copy. write
John Sebastian. general traffic mana
ger. Chicago. Ill.
The Rock Island System also issues
monthly paper called the Western
Trail and devoted to the territory
traversed by Rock Island lines. Each
issue contains letters from men and
women who have bettered their con-
dition in life by removing to the
southwest. The Western Trail will be
mailed you for one year for - cents,
in stamps or silver.
Homeseekers' excursions twice Il
month via Rock Island System to
points in the southwest. Full infor-
nation at all Rock Island ticket Of
fees