The weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Craig County, Okla.) 1905-1913, 1910-03-25
VINITA AND HER
ENvI0RNMENNS
Location or Our City And Climatic
condltlons-Fertilty Of Soil
Agricultural Advantages.


World instinct of truck and ticker
that even our young people, who are
rather proud of not yet having forget
ten their multiplication table and syn
tax, are not a little pat to it to de-
fine the boundary lines of our great
United States. Especially is this the
case with the last new state admitted
to the galaxy of states by act of con-
gress-the most beautiful and fertile
and wealthy comparatively of all
the middle states-Oklahom Indeed
no map-maker has been able to keep
up with onward progress of events
within the boundary lines of our
state.
We, from the older states, remember
when the Indian Territory was look
ed upon as being the abode OF wild
and semi-wild savages, and a rendea-
vous for desperadoes, and that human
life was hardly safe anywhere within
its borders. The writer confesses
that such was his opinion, based upon
strange tales that were current at
that time. But when he migrated to
the Indian country, and came into
close contact with prevailing condi-
tions, he found a high type of ciyiliza-
ton. and state of morals superior
In many respects 10 that of The
States" There were bad Indians Of
course, yet II was notable that the
large proportion of degenerates were
white vagabonds who had emigrated
to the Indian Territory to escape the
clutches of the laws they had violated
In their home land back up north or
back east. But the object of these
papers is not so much to discuss the
primitive times and customs Of thirty
or more years ago, but to endeayor TO
give a truthful resume of the marvel
Ions transformation that has come to
this mgnly-fayored new state Of the
Union. and to state facts regarding
the eastern portion of Oklahoma;
facts that relate to her agricultural,
her mineral resources; her CONNER
cial enterprises and social status along
with many other features that com
mend this commonwealth as the ban
ner state of the Great Middle South.
Twenty-Five years ago the land com
prising what was then known as the
Cherokee Nation, was largely virgin
soil untouched by the plow, there be-
ing very little of it under cultivation.
Much of II was given to the herding
of cattle Ind the 'cowman" who
made his advent here IN time to
lease large areas Of the fine pasture
lands. became the autocrat and great
man OF the nation whose power and
Influence was on a par with that of the
Standard oil eompany-on a small
scale. For years this state of affairs
existed. and there was very little
chance for the small farmer. But
when statehood came. a change pass.
ed over the scene, and now, in less
than twenty years, the whole immense
state. from east to west and from
north TO south. is literally covered
with almost numberless farm houses
of a solid and enduring type and mil
lions OF acres of land are now in q
high condition of cultivation, and
there Is no state in our great repub
Tic where there Is greater prosperity
| It looks as though the hand of tn,
magician had been passed over ou'
fair land and transformed It into one
OF the most fertile garden spots OF
the face of the earth
And not only that the amazing
feature of the whole matter has beer
the dotting of the state with almos
numberless towns and cities. Rail
roads are spanning and girdironinl
the state from east to west and nortl
10 south, SO that communication ant
. inter-communication has been brough
TO a perfection unparalleled in the his
j tory Of railroad building in any sec
! tlon OF the Union, facilitating the moN
ing OF the products Of the farm, ant
: expediting business in the CONNER
cial world to an extent never dream
ed of twenty years ago And more
there are at least twenty addtcna
railroads building and In prospect
Take Vinita and It's environment
/ as an example No city In the con
monwealth Is 50 favorably situated a
is this beautiful little city, whose POI
5 ulation now numbers over 5000 souls
+ lying south of the Kansas line thlrt
8 miles. and about the same distanc
: west OF the Missouri boundary, and |,
: Gated right in the heart of one Of IN
+ most fertile plains or prairies in IN
f state OF Oklahoma. marks II as th
!. coming metropolis Of eastern Okli
A homa. Il naturally holds the dlstln'
e tlon OF being the gateway city Of th
s eastern half of our state. And q
1. | ..+-gtf,t.s thara ,ra s,,.ea "a