The Wichita daily eagle., 1903-11-25
REPORT HAS
Been PRINTED
Governor Ferguson's Annual
Paper on Oklahoma Is Out
TELLS MUCH OF VALUE
His Views on Statehood Are of
Great Interest.

Guthrie, O. T.. Nov. q. Dispatches sent
out from Washington state that oklaho-
ma. according to the annual report Of
Governor Ferguson to the secretary of
the Interior made public today. has
population of 650.00o and taxable prop
erty worth not less than S400oooO09. The
growth and development of the territory
has been so remarkable that its governor
has taken 70.0oo words TO acquaint the
public with what has been accomplished
since the first lands were opened to set
tlement. April %. 1889 In 1899 the pop
ulation of Oklahoma was in round num-
bers 6o09O in 1896 it was 275,o0o; in 1906.
10000 and in 1903 it is $4,000.
oklahoma is entitled TO statehood,
says Governor Ferguson, entitled 10 it
now. There are in the territory $4,000
intelligent American citizens who are de-
prived of the right of elf-government-
a conservative estimate of the wealth OF
Oklahoma places it at s4o0, 100000. There
are seven educational Institutions of high
er learning under the control of the ter
ritory, besides numerous high schools
and colleges under the control of relig-
ious denominations. Our people are in
every respect entitled to that which is
dear to the heart of every progressive
American-the right TO govern them
selves.
Against this proposition there can be
no logical objection. Oklahoma has the
intellect, the wealth, the moral force, the
energy, the natural resources, the devel-
opment already achieved. and the promise
of a splendid future sufficient to justly
entitle her to careful consideration and
congressional action. No logical reason
can be urged against her early admission
into the sisterhood of states
The number of acres of land appropri-
ated by homesteaders during the past year
has been much less than in some former
years. This Governor Ferguson accounts
for by the statement that much of the un-
appropriated land is in Beaver and Wood
ward counties and is suitable only for
gfrazing purposes. From the 2,900, 900
acres of school and reserved lands the
territory derived \an income of $4,000
for the year 1893, an average of more
than $1,000 day. Discussing the system
voked SO much discussion in the territory,
Governor ferguson says:
The present system of leasing the land
for a term of three years, with the privi
lege OF renewal for another succeeding
term at the appraised rental, gives gen
eral satisfaction. In the past there has
been some difficulty in securing an equit-
able aand uniform appraisement in all
parts of the territory, so it has been de-
cided for this year 10 have force Of
viewers so upon the lands whereOn the
lease is about to expire, observe a COM
plete DESCRIPTION of it and file it with
the department, together with a plat Of
the land. These descriptions and plats
Will be taken up and passed upon by a
board Of five practical farmers and bust
ness men, TO be selected by the board for
leasing school lands. and they Will clas-
sfy the land aand the manner in which
he farms it will be taken into considera-
tion in fixing the rental, and it is be-
lieved that this will result in satisfying
all reasonable objections that may have