Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-10-13

clearing where an immense pipe had
been sunk into the ground, caution
notices were posted in all directions
warning the public not to bring any
light or infammable matter near the
we'll This was the second strongest
well in the United States, the property
of the National Gas Company, ana
shows a pressure of 700 pounds TO the
square inch. The pressure was gradu-
ally turned OH by means of a wheel
and the roar was simply deatehlnS'
while the gas and vapor shot up 1000
feet in the air like clouds. Large
ntandpipes have been erected at con-
venient distances all the way into the
different towns, and at night the whole
country is illuminated with natural
gas. Gas for heating, manufacturing
or Illuminating purposes is supplied ut
10 cents per thousand. This has been
the magnet that has drawn many
large manufacturing interests into the
country. There seems to be an mex
haustible supply, and even should this
well fail the company already have
several prospects they are developing
so the prospect of natural gas bccom-
remote.
Once more we boarded our special
and iourneyed on to Tulsa where we
arrived in ample season to do justice
to the delicious spread that had been
provided for us by the ladies of the
town in the new hotel. The committee
with carriages and brass band were
waiting as we pulled into the station
to receive lis and escort us through the
city to the reception hall, where the
banquet was served. The ladies in
sisted upon decorating us with tasty
badges, which read as follows:
Tulsa, Indian Territory, extends
cordial greetings to the National Edi-
torial Association. We have a grow
ing city Of 800 people full Of energy
and confidence in the future, but who
are unselfish enough to invite the de-
sirable outsider to join their prosper
ity Our aspirations are in keeping
with your best thoughts. Good ideas.
good deeds. good fellowship is part
of our being"
We gracefully submitted and We're
then declared duly adopted by the city
of Tulsa. After the banquet the
half of tho people and President Dy
mond and others of the n. E. A., feel
ingly responded 1t was very pretty
reception. long to be remembered.
Tulsa like other cities we had visited
in the Territory is Il bright, prosperous,
widc-awakc city of some 1900 inhab-
tarts. Her streets and avenues are
particularly well laid out. showing good
taste and business judgment; her
buildings are substantially built Of
bl icll and artificial stone the product
of the West. OF the residential /
caught but a passing glimpse, as we
rode through, but even the limited
view ! got, it impressed me very IA
bly,. Her people are the same
broad, liberal. whole-hearted people
that the West is overlooking with,
broad-minded people that one feels
better for having met. We passed the
afternoon as guests of the people of
Tulsa and when our train pulled out it
was with a feeling that we had once
more added to our long list of friends
in the Territory. Once more on the
move we reeled off mile after mile of
our journey towards the southern gate
way of the Territory. l saw from the
car window many a town and city in
embryo. towns that will eventually be
heard frcE as boom towns of the
West; town sites simply staked off and
one or two families living in tents, or
prairie SchoOncrS, their mules grazing
in what will eventually become the city
streets Men who have staked their
all on the turn of the dice, if they strike
oil or gas, the town is sure to boom,
and the little tracts Of prairie land OF
today will become oil cities of tomor-
row. Buildings will go up as If by
magic. There is always u spirit of
gambling to be found in a new town in
the West but the proSpectOr in the
Territory has this to fall back on. He
is pretty sure of his crop and with
broad and boundless prairie for his
stock to roam over he is destined to
come out handed.
Through wise forethought, Of the
government, every fifth or sixth sec
ton. as the case may be, is reserved
for school purposes; these school sec
lions cannot be sold except by special
act, thus insuring good educational
privileges. The rental of these lands
go t. the support Of the schools, 4 man
who is willing to work need have no
fear Of starvation, for all he has got to
do is to tickle the ground with hoe
and crops will laughingly come forth.