The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1905-06-22
the wells from go to 100 quarts
of nitroglycerine were ;. used. From

shooting the wells from go to 100 quarts
of nitroglycerine were ;. used. From
Cleveland we proceeded to Tulsa, stop
ping before that city was reached to see
the famous Booher gas we'll, the second
strongest gas we'll in the world. 1t was
turned on full force and the roar of the
escaping gas could be heard for many
miles. AT Tulsa the citizens served the
editors dinner in the fine new hotel
which is being built there. Here we
met Allie Merwin, we'll known Leon
boy who is employed as pharmacist in
the Sells drug store, one of the leading
stores of the city, and we enjoyed an
hours ride over the city with him. 1t
is one of the most progressive cities we
visited, numbering about 5000 and
every street is crowded with material
being used in the erection of new build
ings.
From Tulsa we went to Muskogee. the
leading city of Indian Territory, where
elaborate entertainment was provided.
Here we met L. B. jackson, formerly of
Leon, who is now practicing attorney
at Sapulpa, about 80 miles from Musko-
gee, but was in that city trying an i'm
portant law suit. Mr.. Jackson's many
friends here will be pleased to hear that
he is building up fine practice at Sa-
pulpa and is greatly in love with that
country. We also met Earl Bells,
another old Leon boy, who runs as news
agent from Muskogee to Fayetteville,
Ark. From Muskogee we left the edi-
torial party which was going to Texas,
then to California and Portland, and
made quick run back to Leon, arriving
Tuesday afternoon.
| AS to the future of Oklahoma and
Indian Territory, there is no question
but what it is bright. The land is very
productive and good crops are raised
there, wheat, corn, alfalfa and cotton,
and while Of course there is some cheap
land there, the good lard is selling at
high prices. We saw farms which were
| held at 500 per acre and in our opinion
land is as high there as it will ever be.
Parts OF the country are very rough
and will never be fit for anything but
grazing purposes and if it is broken up
into small farms we believe the country
will suffer for it can never be farmed
successfully. The one cry of the whole
country is for statehood, and it was the
unanimous opinion of the visiting edi-
tors that they are entitled to it. The
country is settled to large degree
with progressive farmers from the
northern states, the cities and towns
are enterprising and up-to-date. Okla
homa and Indian territory have com
bined population OF more than 100000.
They are certainly better entitled to
statehood than many of the present
western states which have already been
admitted. Statehood will mean much to
them, for until they have it the country
is at great disadvantage in regard to
building roads, bridges and making
many necessary public. improvements
If the congressman at Washington could
make personal inspection Of the coun-
try we do not think they would hesitate
a minute in granting the request of the
people that they be added as another
star in the flag. They have the coun-
try, the people, and all that is necess.
airy to make it the garden spot of Eden
is that the resources of the country be
developed, and nothing will assist in
the development as much as statehood