The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1903-07-02
LEON. IOWA. THURSDAY JULY 2. 1903 1FERMIgf VOL.
The Cherokee Nation.

|
| EDITOR REPoRTER;- | have been
here long enough write our Decatur
county friends regarding this country.
| We have at present fair prospects for
good crops generally, the rolling land
especially. We have had it very wet.
The land of the Cherokee nation com
prises more than four million acres The
main agricultural part is north and west
of the Grand river with Missouri and
Arkansas on the cast, Kansas on the
north, and Usage Indian nation on the
west and the Creek and Choctaw nations
on the southwest.
There is some good farming land in
the north and west part Of the nation.
The land is mostly rolling prairies with
small streams running through them,
along some of which is much timber.
The largest streams are the Grand.
which heads in southeastern Kansas,
the Virdigris, which heads in Kansas
and enters the Nation about twenty-five
the Illinois river coming into the Nation
from the cast side, heading in Benton
county, Arkansas.
The southern part is much broken, in
some place mountains but it is said
these hills and mountains are full of
lead, coal, zinc, marble, stone and other
valuable minerals. There is consider
able fine valley farm land i'll this part of
the territory. The minerals in the
Cherokee nation are practically tln-
known, as yet but little progress in
| their development has been made. The
entire territory abounds in valuable
| minerals.
The best agricultural lands are in the
north and west part. Here are thous-
ands OF acres Of as fine land as lays out,
waiting to be made to produce. it is
said to be q much better farming coun-
try than Kansas or the northern states.
All it needs is good farmers to make it
the best all round farming country to be
found anywhere. The eaply farmers of
this country paid more attention to
raising stock than they did in making
the soil produce. When good farmers
take this rich soil and farm it the change
will be wonderful in what comes ont of
the ground.
The rainfall here is equal to that of
Iowa, Missouri and Illinois. The vari-
Gus streams generally produce enough
water for stock the year round, while
for family use good water can be had
from ten to thirty feet. Fruit of all
4
an ideal fruit country. Corn yields from
thirty to seventy and often eighty bush
els to the acre, wheat ten to thirty-live,
oats twenty-five to thirty-five and it is
said would produce more if care is taken
in handling the crop.
Wild and tame grasses grow luxuriant-
ly; alfalfa is especially productive and
for stock alfalfa is unexcelled. The sea-
sons are mild. the winters never severe
nor long so that stock do we'll. Being
practically on the dividing line of tenn
perature both winter and summer are
never severe. The summer nights are
always cool and quite pleasant.
Plenty OF good surface coal is found
in the territory, which is generally used
and it is thought that by proper mining
q fine fuel could be obtained in the,
northwest part.
At Bartlesville, on the Santa Fe coal
Oil and natural gas have been found in
large quantities and already there are a
number Of wells in operation. The
Standard Oil Company pays $1.15 to
$1.25 per barrel. Oil claims are rapidly
being taken. The country for miles
around Bartlesville is staked off by oil
prospectors. All of the land in the Cher
okee nation belongs to the Indians
and other citizens of the nation. The
allotment Of this land to the Indians
and citizens by the government began
through the Dawes Commission on the
1st Of last January and is still in prog
ress. The people to whom this land is
allotted cannot sell it until they have
held it for five years. Farm lands can
fifteen years by the person to whom it
has been allotted. There are great OPP
portunities for good farmers to make
this country blossom as the rose. If
those who are paying high rent in the
north, sometimes all they can raise dur
ing the year, would come here and rent
this productive land, by the time the
lease expired they will be able to buy
their own farms. Good farms can be
leased for ST per acre per year.
The railroad facilities for reaching
the markets are good, the Santa Fe is
on the west and other roads in the
eastern and southern part. We are 1S0
miles from Kansas City and 800 from ST.
Louis.
The wealth producing possibilities of
this region are little known and appre-
ciated as yet by northern and eastern
people. 1t is rare that such valuable
farming land as this is underlaid with
large quantities Of rich minerals. This
country is attrac ting capitalists. A
number of well known Illinoians to-
gether with citizens here have organ
lied the international Bank and Trust
Company with 100000 capital under
the laws of congress and will open in a
few days. NOAH WoRNsTRFF
June 18. Vinita, |. T.
To Whom it May Concern.