The Muskogee cimeter. [volume] (Muskogee, Indian Territory, Okla.) 1901-19??, 1916-06-17
FOREWORD

For a number of years thousands of men have
made fortunes in the oil fields of Eastern Oklahoma.
and the number of men who are making these for
tunes is constantly increasing. The reason the
number is increasing Is because the oil fields this
wonderful section of the country still i'm their
infancy and biologists say that the actual oil sup
ply has been little more than simply tapped"
Geological surveys and production already proven
show that practically the whole of Eastern Okla
homa from the State of Kansas on the north to the
State Of Texas the South is continuous oil
field the richest production already proven being in
the counties of Kay, Usage, Washington, Nowata
Craig, Rogers, Tulsa, Wagner, Muskogee. Okmul-
gee, Creek, Okfuskee, Mcintosh, Hughes Pittsburg,
Pontotoc, Marshall and Carter There many
other counties which are positively known to have
oil and gas but the production in the above-named
counties is already proven fact, and they
producing millions of barrels of oil each year
Space forbids detail, but an examination of official
statistics will bear out every statement herein made
Giancing at the above paragraph one might nat
urally ask the question: "Who are the men who
are making these enormous fortunes?" The an
swer is easy; they the shrewd men of business
from Pittsburgh, New York and other large Eastern
cities who have become convinced of the possibility
OF this vast oil field and have dared spend their
money to develop 1T and the results have been most
fattering These men have been followed by thous-
ands of local men who have made the same efforts
and acquired the same results. These results have
been accomplished by local men largely by
OF corporations formed among themselves for the
purpose of development, they having followed the
old adage, "In union there is strength"
WHO ARE WEI
Thus far we have said nothing about the color of
the men who have made and are making these enor-
nous fortunes the to which they belong
We might naturally presume that they are eau
casians and in fact, such presumption is exactly
correct Practically all Of the oil companies of Ok
lahoma are composed of white men. Now, what
part is the colored man playing in this great
gamer" He has played a very small part, so far.
However, the race has just to be proud of its
leaders, who are willing to shoulder burdens for
the benefit of the and take the initiative fos-
tering Industries for the colored man. The race
has every reason to be proud of such institutions
the Black Panther Oil Company, composed of col
ored men and white men, for ii now stands along
In the front rank of Independent producers in point
OF wealth and production. 1t is practically the only
company OF Its kind in Oklahoma. Some of the
most valuable oil land in the State of Oklahoma is
owned, or has been owned by colored people. The
enormous incomes of some of the owners of oil
hand in this rich country bear testimony of this
fact Some OF the striking examples of this fact are
Sarah Rector. of Muskogee, whose income requires
the entire time OF her guardian to take of it:
Luther Manuel, of Haskell, Okla. whose income is
now more than 10000 90 per month, $4OO 90
per day, and who now owns one of the most valua-
bic business blocks in the City of Muskogee; Dan
Tucker, whose guardian is Mr.. Jess w. Watts a
prominent attorney of Wagner, Oklahoma, and
hundreds Of others who cannot be mentioned here