The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1908-04-21

demand for finishing these public
buildings, and the growth Of our cis-
les, the tendency toward smooth
istreois and metropolitan highways will
hut our people IN a high degree of in.
dependence of the combination com.
/ modify If HE state viii put itself I'm
IN position 90 protect them against lhe
I lexactions OF The trust Our smaller
towns would be enabled to greatly en-.
lhance the comfort of their walks ard
! in many ways TO adOrn their places OF
4 ly produced materials OF modern CIV
/ iilizaiion
When we come TO consider the vast
1 possibilities OF salt production. your
Icomniiiee believe that II is wholly
within The bounds OF probability. nor
only TO make our penal Institutions
1 self sustaining but ALSO in a few
lyears. TO pay the entire cost Of rum
ming Tie state government IN view
of the fact that quarter section Of
school land adioins The IlenQuehet
/ tract with equally as fine mineral. and
/ II is our Judgment that the two to-
eether would give The state absolute
control Of the Salt creek situation and
would afford a place for working the
lconyicts directly in line with the
/ fundamental policy OF The state
As we read the constitution, we be-
lieye the undertaking herein suggest
/ cd would be directly responsive 20 the
provisions Of that document Nature's
wealth is the inheritance OF The peo-
lple, ana We believe that IN the muta-
ton Of the public affairs il has been
/ lett Tor the State OF Oklahoma. TO wipe
away the musiy maze OF conservatism
and set the pace for future generations
| I'm the Eue of civic and Industrial wis
dom
There is one other thought that your
committee would beg the Indulgence
of itsreoun bth,noaYfme a qnwypnp
not only a matter of common knowi-
edge but is becoming a question OF
state concern tnaS sooner or later
our government must take some steps
TO avoid the almots annual uyer1ows
in the low lands from the waters OF
the Canadian river IL seems almost
las IL by providential coincidence the
same spot or stretch of country that
contains this vast mineral wealth, Is
lteh identical spot that viii more com
lpletely and with a nominal cost, can
be made to give relief from the great
destruction of property which too Often
occurs from the floods OF the river
lhereinbefore mentioned Oklahoma
holds the distinction of being the seat
lof a Typographical condition almost
without a parallel in the geography
lof the world. II may not be generally
known, but IL Is a demonstrated fact,
nevertheless, that for a long distance
and particularly in northwestern
Blaine county, the North Canadian
Iriver finds its course along a divided
and at a point nearest the salt can
yons spoken of in this report the bed
of that river is three hundred feet or
more above the bed of Salt creek
(which empties into the Cimarron The
lnearest point on the North Canadian
river from the head of the Salt creek
lcanyon Is two miles, or possibly less
so we are informed. and how easily
land with convict labor-how cheaplv
lcould a canal be cut from The north
side OF that river to he head of the
lcanyon thereby turning the overflow
waters of The Canadian river into the
lCimaron thence into the Upper Ar
kansas, where the water is so much
needed for navigation, and in this
manner save the crops and other prop,
lerty in the valleys of tne lower Ca
nadian. This proposition is consider
led admirably practical by competent
land skilled men i'm this line OF engi-
lneering and we indulge the hope that
those who control the destinies OF the
Estate Eill write their names IN the inn
lperishable memory of the people by
promptly taking hold of this golden
opportunity Vt the state gets In now
lit will always hold the key TO the sit
luation, but II MIR Henquenet is forced
10 deal with others this state will for
lever be shut out unless later on il is
lwilling 10 pay several hundred thou
lsand dollars FOR what IL can now get
for less than thirty thousand As a
location for one of our penitentiaries
lit is without a rival in point Of ad-
vantage and convenience for the rea-
son that by way Of .lnid This location
can be reached from every point OF
fe compass. We do not deem 1t
, necessary TO say more-neither could
We say less.
We cannot close this report without
Z acknowledging the kind hospitality and
assistance of the Commercial Club
, and citizens of Watonga in sending
forward a number of carriages to con
2 vey our party up the canyons as well
as competent guides for our direction.
Respectfully submitted
CROUCH.
Chairman.