Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-03-16
Never a Crop Failure.

Diversdfcation of crops is the best kind
of insurance for farmers because it Is
| Impossible for every crop to fail in the
! same season. But there have been no
crop failures in Oklahoma since the set
| tlement of the territory.
Another interesting and significant fact
| is that the average acreage or the farms
| of Oklahoma is smaller than that or any
other state. and that six out of every
ten farms are worked by their owners
This is due, of course, to the fact that
in the settlement of the territories no
man was allowed to take up more than
100 acres. and that the largest proportion
I of the settlers were practical farmers VINO
Immediately began to pillow. There were
many transfers during the first few years
| by those restless beings who are found
| in every new community and are never
satisfied to remain long in the same place
But during the last ten years the sales
| of farm lands have been comparatively
| few. The practical farmers find that 100
acres is enough, and there is no danger
that Oklahoma will ever be exposed to
the perils that have retarded Mexico and
other countries of large farms and alb
| sent landlords.
Another interesting fact is that the
variation in the values of farms and I'M
provements is less in Oklahoma than in
any other state. While the City of Okla
homa and other towns have many beauti-
full and expensive residences, the average
| farm home costs about $3.50 and the
average value of improvements upon
ouarter-section farms is about 5000.
! None of the farmers is rich and Few
are poor, except the shiftfess. ne er-do-
wells, such as may be found In every
/ community. The average wealth of
| farming community is about the same as
that of Ohio and Illinois.
| 1t is contended by those who turn their
thoughts to that line of business that the
mineral wealth of Oklahoma is even
/ or1d
the revenue from coal and oil are already
very large. Along the seven rivers which
water the state are tracts OF valuable
timber which has scarcely been touched.
source Of revenue. The abundance of
water and fuel and the geographical sit
uation offer favorable opportunities for
manufacturing. which are being slowly
agricultural state, and .he wealth OF the
people will come from the cultivation OF
the soil because that will yield the larg-
est and the most regular returns.
! Nearly all the Indian lands have been
| allotted in severalty to the members OF
| the different tribes, which formerly own
ed them in common, and the surplus have
| recently been sold at auction. During
the last few months agents OF the land
| office at Washington have been going
| from town to town holding forced sales
as if the government was compelled to
| get rid of it's real estate as soon as pos
sible like a speculator who fears bank
ruptcy Sixty per cent of the land that
has been sold in this way has been
bought by neighboring farmers. and
about 40 per cent by strangers from
| Iowa, Indiana, Ohio, Missouri and other
| central states. Some Of them have bought
/ it on speculation just as they are buying
government lands in Canada. A small
| portion has been purchased by actual
| settlers who have sold more valuable
| farms in the older states and have come
/ down here because of a milder climate
and less arduous obligations. Another
| class Of purchasers are the sons of farm
ers in the older states. who are ambitious
to have homes Of their own.