Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1908-12-24
THE TRUTH ABOUT OKLAHOMA.
Rev. ]. N. HaFman Writes Interestingly
OF This New State.

On the 7th instant, with Mr.. Sam B.
Thompson, started to this, the newest
of all States. We came by way of Col
umbus, Ohio, Indianapolis, Ind, through
Kansas to McAlester, Oklahoma.
have been told that Oklahoma being in
terpreted means "a home among the
oaks
McAlester is the most desirable town
to live in that have seen in the eastern
part of the State.
AS health is before anything else, my
first inquiry was as to this feature.
From prominent physician, whom in
terviewed, / learned that pneumonia
and typhoid are here, but not so preva-
lent or malignant as in Tazewell. Ma
laria is also in this goodly land. If it is
caused by a vegetable parasite, he is
right on the ground ready to do bust
ness. If malaria is the result of a mos
quito bite you do not have to go far to
find him. In fact, he will visit you un
hidden as soon as he hears Of your pres
ence. Screens on doors and windows of
all the houses indicate the fact that the
"skeeter" is not welcome. l saw a note
in the paper stating that the school had
closed in a certain neighborhood on ac-
count Of an epidemic of diphtheria, and
that three had died in one family from
the dreaded disease. This sounds SO
much like items from Tazewell. Then
saw notice on the gate post which
read: 'Scarlet fever in this house. "
This also looked little homelike. A
local in paper reads: ''The friends Of
Mrs. -- will be glad TO hear that she
is fast recovering from desperate case
of pneumonia"
Now / conclude that the fountain of
youth and health is not in Oklahoma;
and that health conditions are as good
here as in Tazewell, if the malaria was
extracted.
The farming lands are level and some
are very productive, while in some good
hooking prairie sections the farming
value remains to be demonstrated, A
man can miss it in land here Just like he
does in Tazewell. There are miles and
miles of prairie lands that have never
been tested in anything but the native
prairie grass. While this grass is not
as good as timothy hay, it will keep
stock from starving. Comparatively
very little alfalfa is grown in the east
erD part of the State. Don't know if it
would do well here or not. In other
sections hear that it does well. Veg
etables do well and the markets are
good. From Wilburton on the east to
McAlester on the west, the coal field is
being developed. These miners make u
good market for truck" but the
trouble is the people do not raise the
truck"
The State is developing splendid ed
ucational system. The social feature
strikes me as attractive. The religious
interests are well cared for by the same
denominations that look after Virgin
ians- The people are enterprising and
are pushing business. / conclude l
would enjoy these things we'll enough to
live here alright, if l were young and
had to leave homei but while the people
of Tazewell continue to treat me as well
as they have hitherto, am very much
inclined to stay there. / do see great
opportunities here for many people to
better their conditions as to cheap lands.
But let these not forget that this is a
new country and that they must suffer
many privations and hardships of pio-
neer life before they can enjoy the COM
forts of farm life here. OF course, in
the best developed farm sections they
have plenty and to spare, but the man
of small means cannot buy these lands.
| want to be fair to this country as well
as to my friends at home, who have
asked me for my opinion on these mat
tiers. l really think that this is going
to be one of the best States in the
Union, but it will not reach that dis
tinction until have been laid in Maple
Cemetery in Tazewell county, Virginia,
for some years.
Some three years ago l travelled
through the entire State from east to
west; this time have travelled the en-
tire eastern part from north to south.
/ have just finished the trip, passing
through Vinita, Wagner, Muskogee,
McAlester and various other towns too
numerous to mention. reached this
town, Durant, last night, which is just
Is miles north of Denison, Texas. On
my arrival at McAlester l found my
son, James, in the hospital, GONZALES
cent from short spell of sickness. AS
he thought best to go to warmer eli
mate we are now en- route to San An
tonic, Texas. He is improving nicely
now and hope for his speedy restora-
tiOn to health.
Now, final word as to the desirable
ity of our people coming here; l will
illuminate my opinion with Henry's ex-
perience, which he told me recently.
about his entering the army. He was
only about sixteen years old, but being