Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1905-08-02

found IN paying quantities.
Strictly speaking the Indian Ter
ritory is not territory at all, it hav-
ing no organized territorial govern
ment. The governing power is re-
posed in the chiefs Of the several
Indian tribes and the federal gov
eminent, and owing to the laws re-
stricting the sale OF real estate the
greater part of the territory still re-
mains undeveloped. Some new laws
will go into effect next March from
which great results are expected.
The eastern portion Of
OKLAHOMA
is nearly as good an agricultural re-
gion as the Indian Territory, but
much of the western part Of Okla
homa adjacent to the Rock Island
railway is dry, treeless, sandy
plain. Unlike the Indian Territory
on the east and the Panhandle of
Texas on the west, Oklahoma is
thickly settled. For a country but
sixteen years old it is mammoth.
1t has we'll built cities and towns
which will compare favorably with
many of our cities and towns here in
Iowa. l think, however, that Okla
homa has nearly attained it's full
growth, although it now claims to
be the best cotton producing section
of the country.
The dividing line between Okla
homa and that part of the state of
Texas called the
PANHANDLE
is very apparent. Houses and cult
waited farms are visible as far as the
|eye can see on the Oklahoma side,
and broad unoccupied prairies are
the rule on the Texas side. The
reason for this is said to be the diff
culties surrounding the purchase OF
lands owned by the state of Texas.
But the Panhandle country is far
better than | expected to find it. l
+ consider it better than the western
half Of Oklahoma. The surfaceiis
f level and treeless, but quite green at
; this season of the year, and dotted
, with numerous small lakes around
which large herds Of cattle are pas
, tured.
, Arun of nearly 400 miles through
81 NEW MEXIco
y brought us to Ell Paso, the gateway
n between this country and Old Mexico.
8 The territory at New Mexico is I'M
questionably within the arid por-
e tions of the United States. Its sur
face is mountainous, practically tree
less along the line of the Rock
Island railway and of little value
= iexcept where it can be irrigated.
Mining is the chief industry Of the
people, and gold, silver, copper and
!. lead are produced in large quanti-
ties.
= Ell Paso is in the state of Texas, a
commonwealth of gigantic proper
tions. In area Texas is PAP times
larger than the state of Rhode Island
: seven times the size Of the state OF
Ohio and fourth larger than the
great German Empire. The city of
Ell Paso is booming. Store build
;, lings, no better than some we have
> here in Manchester, rent for $500
. per month. 1t Is probably the most
T. cosmopolitan place of its size on the
= continent. There is a nice little
. park near Tie center Of the city
!, which is surrounded by the leading
:, hotels of the place. The people
~ y. gather in this park Sunday after
;, y moons and listen to the music Of a
= good band. 1t was my privilege tc
:, be present at one of these meetings
, and l do not believe that more Ian.
: guages were spoken around the
- - Tower Of Babel than around that
: band stand. There were Americans
:. and Mexicans in about equal num-
% Der, with good many Negros, lndi.
= ans and Cinnamon mixed in between.
= All were well dressed and we'll be-
= haved and seemed to be enjoying
themselves. Allison Doolittle, who
formerly represented the American
Express Company in Manchester, is
the treasurer Of the Wells-Fargo
k Express Co. at Ell Paso. And Frank
d A. Spence, formerly of South Fork
: township, is now engaged in the
d real estate business at I'll Paso, and
i making all kinds Of money out of
]. the rapid increase in the price of
It real estate in his town. We spent
n the greater part OF two days with
J, these gentlemen and think that we
}. saw about everything worth seeing
r in and near Ell Paso.
X Next week | will try and tell
Y something about the country south
: of the Rio Grande.
J, Slandering the Defenseless Hog.
r