The professional world. (Columbia, Mo.) 1901-192?, 1903-10-02
A POOR MANS EDEN
Has Travelled Much, but Never Saw
the Equal Of Indian Territory.

l moved to the Chickasaw Nation
from Texas in November, 1899, and
stopped in the town of Comanche near
ly two months. Owing to the unset
tied condition of the country, could
not have purchased land If | had been
able, so / rented land on Cow creek,
three miles north of Comanche (about
fifty acres). planted thirty acres in
cotton and twenty in corn. Made twen-
ty-two bales of cotton and 500 bushels
of corn, worth ~$1,1S7.50, and only with
the help of one grown son and one
boy ten years old; made about $lOO
outside of my crop, besides $50 BUSH
els of oats, and sold $64 worth Of hogs
and $500 worth of chickens, over and
above home needs, all from a very
small beginning, for l only had $15
when l landed in the town of Co
manche.
Thinking it would improve my wife's
health, / moved back to Texas in he
winter of 1900. When the Comanche
country opened / came to Fort Sill
and registered, but got no claim, so
came over in C%hickasaw and rented
again, four miles southwest of CO.
manche; planted thirty acres in cot
ton and gathered twelve bales off it;
ten acres in corn and gathered 22O
bushels. Corn and cotton both were
xra,+I QnOn T hnrnbt a email dtart 0f
hogs-ten pigs-and have sold $42
worth of pork, keeping 700 pounds for
my own use. | have a SOW n five
pigs left. l also raised twenty-five
bushels of Irish potatoes and twenty
bushels of sweet potatoes, fine turnips
and all other garden vegetables that
will grow anywhere in the north tenn
perate zone.
There is an orchard on this place OF
about thirty peach trees, bearing ex-
cellent fruit for the past three years.
This Is confessedly the best country
: ever saw for a man of moderate
!, means to make a living or to get a
start, if he will only use industry and
} economy. 1t is a fine country to
raise stock, the winters being short
and mild. Cattle and horses go
through the winter. here very often
without feed. 1t is also a fine country
} to raise fowls. bought my wife eight
l hens to start with, and she has sold
$3.50 worth of chickens. We have sew
!, e~nty-four left, besides those for our
own use. We have kept no account OF
the eggs sold, but they are selling all
the time at 20 cents per dozen; butter
at 25 cents. My wife preserved fifteen
= gallons of peaches and canned three
- dozen half-gallon jars, put up four gal
; Ions of sweet pickles and preserved
!. three gallons Of grapes that grew on
> the place.
We have good health and good wa
. ter here. Can get water from wells
u at from sixteen to forty feet. In my
II Judgment this is the place for a mar
of limited means to make money.
have travelled over several states ant
have never seen anything that will
1t compare with this for farming.
D. o. e. MARTIN.
20 Further information about Oklaho
q ma and Indian Territory is given il
l. Rock Island States Southwest" a "a
g page booklet recently issued by tn
d. Passenger department of the Rocl
Island System. For a copy, write job
Sebastian, Passenger Traffic Manager
Chicago, Ill.
r. The Rock Island System also issue
II a monthly paper called the Wester
el Trail, and devoted to the t~erritor
s. ~traversed by Rock Island lines. Fac
X issue contains letters from men an
IL women who have bettered their cond
d. ton in life by removing to the Soutl
d. west. The Western Trail will be mai
ed you for one year for rs cents i
stamps or silver.
Homeseekers' Excursions twice
rt month via Rock Island System t
We points in the Southwest. Full informs
OF ton at all Rock Island ticket offices.