The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-02-23
From the New York American.

From the NeW fofk American.
 % AIKEN together Oklahoma and In- (U dian Territory will make a state
 substantially the size of Kan sas. This is smaller than most of the states west of the Missouri, but the new commonwealth will come into the Union with much larger population relatively and with much more definite resources than almost any other state has had within the last two or three generations.
 According to the Federal census of 1900 Oklahoma had a population of sOs, ,Ss1 and Indian Territory S92 06O, making a total census population for the new state of approximately SO00OG. There is no doubt at all that the population of the new state at the present time is over 100000
 The new state, of course, will have two representatives in the United States Sen ate, but it will be fully entitled to them
 because it will begin with population
 larger than that of the states of Maine,
 New Hampshire. Vermont, Rhode Island.
 Delaware, Florida, North Dakota, South
 Dakota. Montana, Wyoming. Colorado. Utah, Nevada, Idaho, Washington or Ore
 gon.
 Even according to the last census it has these sixteen states to follow 1t in the sis basis.
 The two territories have much in com
 mon. Upon their prairies were located the great reservations set apart by the Federal government as the red man s home. Oklahoma is made up of such reservations as, by treaty or purchase from the Indians, have been given later to white settlement. Both lie at the meet ing place of north and south, Upon their fertile acres may be grown wheat or cotton, corn or sugar cane, oats or to- bacco Neither the fierce blizzards of Nebraska nor the enervating heat of the south is felt. Equal access is given to the 1 Gulf ports and to the eastern markets. Three great "openings' have made | Oklahoma-the original one, in 1889, talk l ing in the central portion the Cherokee strip, in 1893, including the whole north ern side; and the Kiowa, Comanche and Arapahoe lands in August, 1891. which I gave to the white the southwest corner I The first and second were opened with l ''rushes," wherein the first man on a | claim after the signal for starting became l it's possessor. The last was a drawing
 the order in which applicants might file | on their choie of claims being determined 1 by lot Three periods are evident in the development of the territory, depending | on the time since the opening, but every where is reason for astonishment that | so great a change could be made from an Indian reservation and hunting ground Oklahoma, bounded by Indian Territory and the states of Texas. Kansas and Col l orado. included what was formerly thu western portion of Indian Territory, to- | gether with the public land strip north o | the Texas panhandle. The public lant
 strip ceded to the United States by Texa:
 at the time of It's annexation, was. bl | oversight, not included in any of the ad | jacent states or territories, and. until it' incorporation in Oklahoma territory, wa l known as No Mans Land.
 Its area is s.0sO square miles. Oklahoma is for the most part an upland territory
 rising gradually toward the north ant
 west. the most important elevations be
 ing the wichita mountains in the south ern section Oklahoma is fairly well wa
 tered by the Red and Arkansas rivers am