The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1906-02-19
.NPiRE BUILDING IN THE GREAT
SOUTHWEST.

OWlng information regarding Ohld-
oma and Indian Territory in a pro-
usely illustrated article by Chas. NJ.
hrvey, bearing the title Empire
nilding in the Great Southwest"
f"Oklahoma and Indian Territory, in
mbination. are three times as popu-
nus as the other twin territories, are
rowing far more rapidly, have a two
tate fight on their hands and like
leir neighbors will come In as one
tate. They will come in as one
tate because G) a majority of their
aople, exclusive of the politicians,
al majority of the newspapers
ant union; (2) economically they
Implement each other, Oklahoma be-
IL rich agriculturally and the Indian
sritory internationally; (3) the
ilways. knowing It is easier to han
e one legislature than two, mi see
that the Senate at Washington
: already 50 large that it bothers
.em in some of their schemes, will
Ebby against a two-State bill; (D a
so state scheme would be antagon
~ by the East, by some of the
Eddie West, and by much OF the
.Huth, and could not pass congress.
&"In broad outline here are some of
4lahoma-Indian Territory's physical
Qualifications for admission as one
Hnte, and a few of its attractions for
Mtlers: An area of 10000 square
les, which is larger than Missouri
q Arkansas, smaller than Kansas or
>g,lorado, and about the average d.
Sension5 of the Trans-Mississipp
@nmonwealths.
aA population OF over 100000 in
DC, several times as large as that
any other State at admission. Hon
Etble Bird S. Mcclure, Oklahoma's
-alegate to Congress, tells me the
Apulation Is fully 100000. Esti
tltes made by Governor Thomas B.
E.guson Of Oklahoma and by promi-
-<h3t Indian and whites in the Indian
@rritory foot up approximately the
10000 figure Possibly they are
Erect. This would entitle the State
Aleight Congressman.
ARich deposits of coal, iron ore,
ID, zinc and other minerals; vast oil
Ids; great quantities of valuable
sliding stone: immense tracts OF tim
lands, all of these sources of
Elalth being practically untouched;
0l soil which produces anything
-1m corn to cotton. And finally some
- thousand miles Of railway, to
Hich there is a more rapid increase
~1ery year than in any other commun-
- in the country.
expansion in Oklahoma
Vian Territory has been swifter
-n 1t has been in any other part of
~ country. Oklahomas inhabitants
RE from the Run" at noon on April
.SX 1889, when 1t was thrown open
b}Ssettlement From a combined pop
R}}tion of PAP 900 for both territories
there was a jump to 100000
sW 1900, and to possibly 100000 in
|R>>S6. The population, too, has been
k$}.Hn from the entire country, and
R&as enterpr;sing. enlightened and
P>2gressive as is found in any state.
E}T indian Territory, as a name, sug
R}Xts vain things to the mind Of the
Mirage dweller east of the Mississippi
S9e Indian Territory is a Territory
h very few Indians. The Five Civ
Ell (and the term civilized is to be
" en- literally here) Tribes-Cherok-
s, Choctaws, Creeks, Chickasaws
M eminoles-comprise about $4,000
ntirsons. Only a mall portion are
bntd bloods, the rest being descend
oass of the negro and mulatto slaves
the era before 1865: mixed breed
'snians OF various shades of dilution
to persons who cannot be disting-
Beuhed from the whites; and white
Etino and women. who have been adopt
IN into the tribes. And their are
cHgments OF eight tribes, aggregating
eoSut 1000 persons, in the Territory's
oontheast corner AS against these
maAO0 Indians, actual and construc-
MT there are six times as many
anfes in Indian Territory. These
maAourse constantly increase through
nigration, while the Indians, r..
I. cted to- the growth in excess of
hs over deaths, remain practically
'6' Qonary.
The Five Tribes have schools.
rches. cultivated farms, towns
h electric lights and other accom-
thNiments and appliances of advanced
I: ilization. For generations, through
Fir local legislatures, executives and
nts, they have been governing