Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1918-10-04
Interesting Letter From The West.
Oklahoma City, Okla,

Sept. 20, 1918.
Editor Sentinel :-About a month ago |
wrote you something about this region of
country and about drOuth then prevail
ing here which had scorched or killed all
vegetation for miles around this city. On
or about the last day of August, with
scarcely a moments warning, a terrific
wind storm swooped down upon US, bring
ing with 1t a perfect deluge Of rain. In
less than an hours time nearly two inches
Of water fell from the angry clouds. A
day or two later there was another heavy
shower. making in all three inches of rain
fall 1t diSpelled the oppressive heat and
brought delightful atmosphere, but was
too late to revive the withered crops; the
blazing sun and furnishing drouth had
done their fatal work. These rains are
said to have been Of some slight benefit
to the pastures upon the prairies, which
we're In such condition that thousands
Of cattle had to be rushed to market to
save them from starvation. This years
drouth is said to have been the worst in
the history Of the State and the most ex-
tensive In area Last year the crops were
almost total failure In the southwestern
section, and this year the outcome was
even worse. The farmers Of twenty-one
counties were left without any means
whatever to put in a wheat crop this fall.
In the eastern and northern sections con-
ditions are very much better. and fairly
good crops are reported from those parts.
OF course the State Of Oklahoma has
rich resources not directly related to agri-
culture. out Of which many large fortunes
have been and are being made, such as oil
wells, coal mines. salt mines. natural gas.
copper, cement, ETC., and with favorable
crop conditions it would soon become one
of the richest States in the Union. Ac-
cording to the national census of 1910, the
population of Oklahoma was, in round
numbers, 1900, 900. and is now estimated
to be largely in excess of that
Since have been here have come into
contact with two brothers who are natives
of Montgomery county. They are Arthur
and William Magruder, sons of the late
DIR. Julian Magruder, whose home was
near Redland. There are also two other
brothers here whom have not as yet run
across. Their names are George and Julian.
The former two live short distance north
west of the city. and the latter twelve or
fourteen miles to the east. They are en-
across Arthur in connection with the
watermelon traffic. Later visited his
and Williams place of abode. They pay
more attention to melons than to any other
crop. and this year raised very little of
anything else, on account Of the lOng-cOn-
tinued drouth William explained to me
that the melons were raised on what is
called sandy highland, and will prosper
with very little rainfall. He said that the
tap roots penetrate the ground to a depth
Of more than three feet, and | suppose
that by this means they are supplied with
moisture to keep them alive. This year,
however. they we're rather inferior.
The Magruder boy" seemed very much
pleased to meet some one from their native
county.
The people of this section are patriotic
to the core. and Notwithstanding the I'M
favorable conditions Of which have writ
ten they have contributed very literally
to every demand made upon them in con-
nection with the prosecution Of the war
for worldwide liberty.
A. A. b.