The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1917-09-26
NJ CLAIM COUNTY
BOASTS Of FARMS
Progressive Methods Used
by Farmers; Rich Land
Adds to Success.
GOOD SCHOOL SYSTEM
Old Chickasaw Area Had
Nothing at Statehood;
Growth Rapid.

PURCELL, Okla, Sept O--<Spe-
eiaL )--McClain county is one Of those
counties of the state that claims no
special distinction OIL account OF COM
mercial or industrial development.
There are no large commercial or 10
dustrial cities in the county and no
minerals or oil so far As is known lie
buried in her soil But nevertheless
there is that in the county's soil which
gives il place OF its own in the ooun-
ties Of the state. A fertile soil and an
intelligent and we'll read populace
have given McClain a prominent placr
in the agricultural development and
educational work Of the state, The
county's educational enlightenment and
agricultural development go hand in
hand They have not come about sep
arately, but it is impossible to say
which is the cause and which the ef-
feet
Part of Chickasaw Nation.
McClain is one OF those countie,
that was carved out OF the Chickasaw
nation in the old Indian Territory and
at the time of statehood had no more
or less in the way of development than
any Of the other parts OF that territory.
Free schools were unknown and an
entire system of schools had to be
built up under the greatest Of difficult
lies, that is in country where as yet
very little land had passed out of the
hands OF the Indians and the means OF
raising taxes were limited on this ac-
count.
Agriculture was in the same bad way
that the schools were, or even worse.
Land was cultivated under lease,
much of it for shor, terms, and no ten
ant had any interest in the land or its
future productivity The one idea was
10 get the best out OF 1t during. that
year regardless OF the future The fu
ture belonged to someone else and the
motto was in many cases what do we
tarc for the next mani" The Indian
owners would not build houses for the
'enants and the tenants who were there
or only one year or two could not put
money in house that was more than
a shanV for the barest shelter.
Growth Dates From Statehood.
The above, in brief way, gives the
conditions in McClain as well as other
indian Territory counties at the time
# statehood. Since statehood things
educational and agricultural have prog
-cssed in all the counties Of the state
bu, in none have they gone forward SC
rapidly as in McClain The building
OF a school system was enthusiastically
started and country schools were built
over the county in places convenient
for the various districts into which the
county was divided In an agricultural
way development began by " selling
OF much OF the Indian land. AS this
land passed into private ownership the
desire for improvements arose and men
built homes. They saw that their soil
was being depleted OF its fertility yea.
after year and they began systematical.
" to cultivate il in way that would
conserve its fertility for the future gen
erations and at the same time make
the most from it each year,
During the past two years the school
system Of the county has had its great.
est development. One OF the men who
is more responsible for this than any
one else perhaps is S. M. McCuistion,
who was county superintendent OF the
county for two terms and who never
lost an opportunity in his office or out
of his office to do good deed or to
say a good word for the schools OF the
county. Several of the schools Of the
county now have teacherages, and the
schoohouse has been made a place OF
meeting for the entire district for the
discussion Of all community problems
In all these districts McCuistion is con
sidered one of the most wide-awake
county superintendents that McClain
county, or for that matter, any other
county in the state has ever had.
Agricultural Conditions Improve.
Along with the schools has gone the
agricultural development The COM
munities where these schools are To-