Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1904-04-09
A Visit to the Territories.

that gems the MisSl9'ippi Crossing the
there at night and looking into
The placid depths Of the river. a myriad
Of electric lights are reflected, and IL
seems that heaven had unrolled and low
cred her starry canopy along the waters
edge. 20 magnificent and brilliant 10 the
scene. When the Choctaw and Gulf
railroad sent her laundering train across
the timbeie cd swamps Of Arkansas, OH
the sandy belt where fruits
flourish. into the ten ritories OF Oklaho-
ma and the Indian. civilization followed
and built towns and cities, giving to
them electric lights am! ears. paved
streets and sidewalks. handsome school
buildings, churches and all that the pro-
gressive times call for. Lying east OF
the sweeping Arkansas river in the In
dian Ter. tory is a beautiful scope Of
undulated. valley like sectioI Stretch
ing westward and far over to the north
and south. are blue Topped mountains
They give y royal setting to the valley,
Some OF the land H. timbered, while
there are little copses. and then for g
long distance few trees are seen. Into
the Arkansas flow two tributaries, the
San Bots and, as their name indicates,
their banks are without wood. Here
was found an outcrop Of coal, soft bal
Of excellent quality. its incarceration
being perfect when fred. Soon a mi
ming company "laid a corner, - and
three different mines were put-into ope
ration. The company styles itself the
''San Bots. Over a hundred houses
have been built and stores, markets,
boarding houses &c. have followed.
From Fort Smith a railroad has been
biilt to Guthrie. Okla. where it meet:
the Frisco. The passenger coaches are
new, the road bed smooth and the usual
fast time is made. Little towns are
springing up. new houses and tents
house the constantly incoming popula'
ton. The Indians work but little. They
lease or rent their lands and many small
farmers from various sections have 10.
Gated here, cuttiag and clearing, tuild-
ing the primitive rail fences and rush
ing the plowshares into their rich, east
ly cultivated land. There is almost a
continuous breeze from the southwest.
sweeping for miles as a tide wind. The
atmosphere is dry and this winter there
we're several light falls of snow, n ac-
~conpanied by sleet. but to-day patches
Of green are vieible everywhere and the
1 Inhabitants are welcoming spring,
As a rule miners are a rowing people
and they seem as we'll satisfied at one
mining camp. in the pit, delving the
black diamonds, as in another. Not.
w~ithstsnding the wages they make only
a few Of them accumulate anything.
Prohibition is complete here. The of
6cers are strict and often severe in their
vigilance and men who indulge in drink
ing must leave the territory. The bssI
Kansas City beef is carried to the dooI
Of each home, tho stores send out dc
livery wagons. and the otders are ,taker
for each day. Every edible is obtaina-
BILE and the rivalry between the mel
chants for the miners trade is close ant
sharp. Fast driving and riding is nc
ticeable and many Of the horses are thu
swiftest Indian ponies. There are man'
wellg and the water Is pleasant. cool ant
wholesome. West of the San Bots is
group Of mountains denominated tn
| seven DEVILS" They are like unit
the seven hills upon which Rome wa
built. The Indian men and women mar
ry the whites to elevate themselves
while grsed--a desire to possess th
lands and money Of the Indians-is tn
object of the whites. The fine huntinI
grounds are fleeing before the whit
mans tread, though there are still som
wild turkeys, rabbits and ducks.
There are no negroes here. Ladie
who desire assistance about househol
affairs employ a white or Indian woman
There lie very little demand for help a
the women of the west learn to be self
helpful. Farther west in the farmin
District there are negroes, and also at
mine.
The Indian Territory was once a plac
of refuge for wrong doors. AT tina
time the federal court was held ut Fol
Smith, Ark. Statistics show that ther
was a greater per cent of men trie
there than in all the other courts of tn
world. In consequence Judge Carter
name is world famed Bnt now, tn
dove of peace spreads her snowy wing
over the beautiful fertile and richly EN-
lowed earth. The verdant plains bios
som, the fields yield their abundant re
turn, fruits bud, blossom and grow t
almost incredible size and perfection
aud man rests in quietude, dwelling an
worshipping under his W roof, in tn
sweet security that the strong arm {
the law has given. The territories c
Oklahoma and Indian are inviting field
to the stout, enterprislng young man =
The agricultural districts are fair an
fertile. the towns have various plan
ready for investment. But those VIII
are comfortable in their homes in tn
settled states would do we'll to remain
The life here for ladies is trying. tn
conditions new for older people. and of
ten cannot be grasped nor appreciated.
MRS. M. TWEEDIE.
- - HN F'