Durant weekly news. (Durant, Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 190?-1944, 1916-04-07
BuILDING TRApE rERRIToRY
The Bankers, Merchants, and Rail-
roads Are Cooperating 60 Build
Trade Territory in East
eIn Oklahoma.

tion of Eastern Oklahoma has been
worked out by resident bankers.
merchants, and real estate dealers.
The organizations principal object is
the building Of trade territory by the
sale of farm lands to farmers who
have the money and experience ne
cessary to convert these fertile lands
into producing farms. Eastern Ok
lahoma, for the most part, is very
fertile and its farms can be made as
remunerative to their owners as any
in the United States.
Several years ago when Eastern
lOklahoma lands were divided among
the Indians, and the allottees could
sell and give clear title, the lands
were purchased by spectators in
practically every walk of life. Most
of these investors had no experience
in farming and did not acquire the
lands with any idea of development
they simply expected to resell at
a profit. Land values rose quickly
and many local deals were made.
only limited acreage was purchas-
ed by real farmers. Most of these
lands are still in the hands OF the or
iginal purchasers, only a Few of
whom have been able to operate
them profitably. These owners have
discovered the difficulties to be over
come in Transforming raw lands i'm
to farms and. being convinced that
TO accomplish this result money and
labor will be required in excess OF
their ability to furnish, they now
want to dispose of their holdings.
Many merchants, lawyers, doctors,
and other business men with large
land holdings have such heavy de-
mands upon their time from their
land interests that they are unable
! to give proper attention to their reg
ular vocation. They have found It
t, difficult to secure satisfactory ten
ants, and have learned that brains
and experience are as essential on
: the farm as in the store or office. In
fact, most of these paper-and-pencli,
, would-be farmers are ready to sell
| their lands to someone who KNOWS
about farming. so they can give at
= tentiOn to their regular business.
: Having definitely and unanimous
: ly decided that the community inter
, ests and their own can best be served
= by selling these lands to farmers,
they have put them on the market at
= low and attractive figures, hoping
to make quick sales and induce a
e large immigration. To this end,
! Farm Bureaus have been organized
H.,
. Eastern Oklahoma. These County
/ Bureaus have as voting members on
ly bankers, and as non-yoting mem
0 bers, the dependable real estate
1 agents who are recommended by a
s banker-member and for whose hand
: ling of real estate transactions the
d banker-member, who recommends
: MIN, is willing to assume responsi-
t bility. Merchants and professional
j. men may become honorary members
i and assist in it's work. Many jobbers
e and merchants have become identi-
:, fled with this movement. Each
e County Bureau has a President, Sec
J. retary, and Treasurer.
:, The Presidents of these County
5, Bureaus constitute the Eastern Ok
o lahoma Farm Bureau. This main
e Organization outlines the policy. de-
e termines the methods and directs the
a work of the County Bureaus so there
4 may be uniformity in all matters per
3 tanning to sales. The officers of thS
State Bureau are: -
y President. G. T. Thompson. Com
Y mercial National Bank, Muskogee
e. Okla.
IS Secretary, E. M. Bowers. Citizens
r Bank & Trust Co., Pryor, Okla.
IF Treasurer, Green Thompson, Stat
It National Bank, Durant, Okla.
is Each County Bureau has raised
of fund for advertising. part o
10 which has been used for compiling
a. data and publishing a booklet de
IS scriptive of that county; the balanc
a. will be used by the State Bureau 70
Exploiting in territory where 1t i
is hoped farmer investors can be inter
nf ested in Oklahoma lands. In pre-
he pairing the county booklets, the Stat
RS Bureau has directed the most careful
e, censorship, that only true and actua
ce facts be used-no exaggerations o
~ misstatements have been permitte
OF --as it is the intention and desire @
40 the men back of this movement t
IN sell these lands at their real values
based upon their actual earning pow
cy er, so that each farmer investor ca
d. begin to make good from the tim
er of purchase and occupancy.
ur Lands have been listed at preseI
ly bargain prices. titles have been iI
p vestigated, committees have been al
pointed to receive farmer investor
H and show them the lands and tn
sale has been launched. Every e.
fort will be made to intelligent
place each new farmer coming int
tn this section. He will be advised