The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1905-01-28
VINITA AND SURROUNDINGS.
A Brief Summary of Advantages
= Possessed by the Cherokee Nation
Over Other Parts OF Territory.

Territory, and who has travelled over
the greater portion of the domain o.
the Five Civilized Tribes, there can
be but one conclusion reached as 70
the superior natural and commercial
advantages Of the Cherokee Nation
above all the rest. What is meant by
this is that we are ahead of all other
sections OF the universally fertile and
beautiful country known as the Indian
Territory, IN everything that pertains
~ the agricultural, mineralogical,
commercial and climatic conditions.
Bounded on the north by the great
etate Of Kansas, on the east by Mis-
souri and Arkansas, and on the west
~ our sister territory, Oklahoma, $50
soon, let us hope, to be welded to us
and forming one Of the grandcst states
In the Unionl, and on the south by
two progressive Indian nations, the
Creek and the Choctaw, we are, geo
graphically speaking, located far more
advantageously than any OF the Others
Had your correspondent time end
tile necessary space allotted 70 him,
he would like to discourse upon the
many marvellous natural and physical
beauties here abounding, mentioning
more particularly her romantic rivers,
meandering creeks and multitudinous
springs Of living water, her grand and
fertile prairies and pricelessly richer
bottom lands, with their forests OF
giant trees and wild vines. But that
feature is prohibitiye for the present,
% only few OF the more prominent
practical features will be referred 70
First on the list comes the agricul-
tural feature. From Grand river on
the east TO far beyond the Verdigris
on the west is strip Of country that
will compare fayorably with the fam
bus grain belts Of Illinois and Iowa.
rhe valleys are rich in alluglal soil
That produces enormously corn, oats
SSsnd wheat, and it IS the belief Of the
writer that the Indian Territory will
become the banner corn-producing
section OF the great southwest; espe-
cially that portion embraced 10 ths
Eherokee nation There are several
reasons to confirm this view Firsu,
We have the most regular rainfall of
I'm the nations; second, We have the
Nine. warm, humid wcatherso essential
b tile perfecting OF corn. Even the
high upland prairies are rich ID plant
iood. and some Of thefinest corn raised
IN the Nation last season grew on up
land prairies. These lands WIN become
even more productive later on. under
ihe stimulus Of the fertilizing meth
bis prevailing IN the Older states
Itisaiso just becoming apparent 20
bar people that we are ia the famous
huit belt thatcxtends through north
Mestern Arkansas and Southwest Mis-
a5url, and that we can produce as fine
Beaches, apples and pears as either Of
Enc states mentioned. The past five
Fears has seen a large area Of land
blanted 10 fruit trees, and many or
cbards are now more than making a
ifing for tleir owners.
PORTLAND CEMENT
We have here. within radious Of
fEenty. miles. m Of the essential ma
tefials for the manufacture Of the best
IualIty Of Portland Cement, the con-
siituent elements that enter into the
manufacture Of this famous cement
being limestone. clay and shale, an Of
which we have in inexanstiblsqnanti-
fies. The same conditions that are
.rommon IN northern Alabama are TO
be found here. There are within two
miles Of Vinita immense outcroppings
BIZ limestone Of the variety known as
Frottenr or "horsebone" limestone.
When the value Of these extensive
deposits Of concentrating materials
81 realized there will be another great
industry established that will add to
the material wealth Of this section.
There is an abundance Of limestone on
DIE Smartt ranch. near Gwendale, and
u extends in a synclinal form all over
De Lightning creek region. As to
e'ay and shale, It is everywhere in
Hrge quantities.
IRON OytE.
A great deal has already been pub
shed in various journals regarding
Ne iron ore Of Gwendale. This ore is
ii the variety known as red hemitite,
ana the critical analysis made for c.
~ SIaliett, lessee Of the mine. by an
inert assayisu at St. Louis. reveals
lle fact that the ore is GO to 20 per
ot. red hemitite, per cent. silver,
rer cent. copper. with tracings Of
h. From outcroppings on the iron
W spoken OF, there appears to be an
immense quantity Of the mineral.
a..