USA > Louisiana > The province and the states, a history of the province of Louisiana under France and Spain, and of the territories and states of the United States formed therefrom, Vol. III > Part 47
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Mr. Flynn was re-elected to the Fifty-fourth congress, and Speaker Reed having taken a fancy to him, assisted him. The "free homes bill" was favorably reported and passed the lower ; house. Flynn was renominated a third time by his party, and was defeated by a combination of Democrats, Silver Republicans and People's party adherents. His successor, James Yancy Cal- lahan, had been a resident of Oklahoma since 1892 and was engaged in farming. He had been a local minister of the Meth- odist Episcopal church and had also engaged in sawmilling and mining. Ile was nominated by the Democrats and Populists on the Free Silver ticket. The house of representatives being Repub- lican, Mr. Callahan was unable to accomplish much during his term of two years, and the "free homes bill" did not obtain recog- nition.
Over his vigorous protest Flynn was again nominated by his party in the fall of 1808, when it was believed that a Republican could not possibly be elected in the territory, but he was success- ful and obtained a majority of about 10,000. It was after his election to the Fifty-sixth congress that the "free homes bill" was again introduced, passed the house and senate and received the approval of President MeKinley May 17, 1809.
The stipulations of this bill provided a relief to homesteaders throughout the United States, but applied principally to the set- tlers of the Oklahoma territory. The agitation for its passage had been persistent and general. In February, 1895, a free homes convention was held at Perry, Oklahoma territory, and a Terri- torial Free Homes League was organized. In 1896 planks were inserted in each of the platforms of the three parties advocating legislation along this line. It is estimated that its passage assured relief to the struggling homesteaders of the territory of Oklahoma in the sum of seventeen million dollars or about thirty- seven dollars per capita. The bill is given below in full :
"AN ACT PROVIDING FOR FREE HOMESTEADS ON THE PUBLIC LANDS FOR ACTUAL AND BONA FIDE SETTLERS, AND RESERVING THE PUBLIC LANDS FOR THAT PURPOSE.
"Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That all
474
THE PROVINCE AND THE STATES.
settlers under the homestead laws of the United States upon the agricultural public lands, which have already been opened to settlement, acquired prior to the passage of this act by treaty or agreement from the various Indian tribes, who have resided or shall hereafter reside upon the tract entered in good faith for the period required by existing law, shall be entitled to a patent for the lands so entered upon the payment to the local land officers of the usual and customary fees, and no other or further charge of any kind whatsoever shall be required from such settler to entitle him to a patent for the land covered by his entry, Provided, That the right to commute any such entry and pay for said lands in the option of such settler and in the time and at the price not fixed by existing laws shall remain in full force and effect : Provided, however, That all sums of money so released, which if not released would belong to any Indian tribe shall be paid to such Indian tribe by the United States, and that in the event that the proceeds of the annual sale of public lands shall not be sufficient to meet the payments heretofore provided for agricultural and experimental stations by an act of Congress, approved August 30, 1890, for the more complete endowment and support of the colleges for the benefit of agricultural and mechanical arts, established under the provisions of an Act of Congress approved July 2, 1862, such deficiency shall be paid by the United States; and Provided further; That no lands shall be herein included on which the United States government had made valuable improvements, or lands that have been sold at public auction by said Government. "Section II. That all Acts, or parts of Acts inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, are hereby repealed."
Mr. Flynn was renominated and elected to the Fifty-seventh congress, from which he later retired, having absolutely declined a renomination, but nevertheless worked energetically for his successor, Mr. Maguire. The committee on public lands in the house at its last meeting passed a eulogistic resolution of regret on the retirement of Mr. Flynn from congress and from the com- mittee.
Hon. Wm. M. Jenkins, secretary of the territory from 1897 to 1901 under Governor Barnes, succeeded the latter in the guber- natorial chair. Mr. Jenkins was born in Alliance, O., April 25, 1856. In his youth he attended the Mount Union college at Alliance. Subsequently he removed to Shelby, la., where he was admitted to the bar in 1883. He removed to Arkansas City in 1884 and in 1888 was a delegate to the Republican national
475
OKLAHOMA, THE TERRITORIAL ER.A.
convention. He was an "original Mckinley man." He was appointed by President Harrison a special Indian commissioner in Oregon. Mr. Jenkins removed to Oklahoma in 1893. He resides at Guthrie.
In the fall of 1902, the resignation of Governor Jeukins was demanded by President Roosevelt, on account of charges brought against him relative to the conduct of the institution for the insane. Governor Jenkins was acquitted upon investigation of the charges of any dishonest act, but as he was a stockholder of the insane institution, the president stated that he did not feel justified in reappointing Mr. Jenkins as governor. The position was given to the lon. Thompson B. Ferguson, an editor of prominence and chairman of the Republican territorial committee.
In 1898 the territory was well represented at the Trans-Missis- sippi and International Exposition at Omaha, Neb. The exhibi- tion was an agricultural and horticultural display, and the follow- ing awards were captured :
Oklahoma territory, silver medal for state agricultural exhibit, bean exhibit, grain exhibit, cotton exhibit ; Eagle Mills, Edmond, gold medal for soft wheat flour and hard wheat flour ; Ponca City Roller Mills, silver medal for Oklahoma flour; Perry Mill Com- pany, silver medal for Oklahoma flour; Hennessey Roller Mills, gold medal for "Perfection" flour; Kingfisher Milling Company, gold medal for Oklahoma four; Oklahoma Mill Company, King- fisher, gold medal for Oklahoma flour; Canadian Milling Com- pany. Elreno, bronze medal for Oklahoma flour; Elreno Mill & Elevator Company, silver medal for Oklahoma flour.
Nowhere else in the United States can the three great staples, wheat, flour and cotton, be successfully grown upon the same quarter section, with a half dozen other farm products besides garden vegetables and luscious fruits. Five successful crops in succession have made Oklahoma a great wheat country. In 1897 16,000,000 bushels of wheat were thrashed, and the crop for 1901 aggregated about 25,000,000 bushels. The average per acre for the wheat crop is 22 bushels, but in numerous localities 30, 35, and 40 bushels are harvested per acre. The railroads are kept busy handling the wheat and there are 249 elevators in which it is stored.
About 75,000,000 bushels of corn were raised in 1901, the crop per acre being from 50 to go bushels in the valleys and from 25 to 50 bushels in the uplands. In the valleys of the Arkansas, Salt Fork, Cimarron, Canadian and Washita rivers is raised the finest corn in the West.
470
THE PROVINCE AND THE ST.ITES.
Cotton is raised in sixteen of the twenty-three counties, Lincoln county leading the rest. Oklahoma cotton was given the highest award at the Paris Exposition. Potatoes, oats and kaffir corn are raised in the territory to a considerable extent. While certain sections are devoted principally to wheat or corn, the Oklahoma farmer has found that a diversity of crops brings the best returns.
The sandy soil of certain parts of the territory, particularly in the vicinities of Lawrie, Waterloo, Bliss and Blackwell, is well adapted to the growing of watermelons and cantaloupes. Over five hundred car loads of melons were shipped from the territory in 1902. The raising of castor beans is found to be a profitable industry in certain sections, about 14,000 bushels being raised in 1900, which sold at prices ranging from ninety cents to one dollar and fifteen cents per bushel. This crop is confined principally to Logan, Payne, Kingfisher, Blaine, Dewey, Garfield and Noble counties. Peanuts also flourish in the territory, and are successful where other crops fail on account of lack of rain.
The last of the public lands to be opened to settlement, were the reservations of the Kiowas, Comanches and Apaches, and the Wichitas and affiliated tribes, containing 3,712,503 acres, and lying in the southwestern part of the territory. They were prob- ably in many respects the richest lands thrown open to settlement in the whole United States.
Congress ratified the agreement with the Wichita and affiliated tribes March 2, 1895, and that with the Comanches, Kiowas and Apaches, made October 21, 1892, on June 6. 1900. By the same act congress declared the lands of these tribes public lands and open to settlement under proclamation of the president. A large amount of lands in these reservations was withheld from settle- ment under the provisions of the bill. . A large tract of grazing lands for the Indians was reserved, also a forest reserve in the Wichita mountains, and sections 13, 33, 16 and 36 which were set aside for the public schools and public buildings of the future state of Oklahoma. Each Indian was allotted quarter sections in this tract and given first choice.
To avoid the rush that took place at subsequent openings and prevent "sooners" from entering the lands and selecting the best quarter sections, the interior department devised a scheme, which resembled a "grand land lottery." The manner in which these lands were given away by the government has been criticised severely, while it has also been highly commended.
The proclamation of President Mckinley relative to the open- ing of these lands to settlement was dated July 4, 1901. Under
477
OKLAHOMA, THE TERRITORLIL ERA.
its terms two land districts were established, one at Elreno for the northern portion, called Kiowa county, and one at Lawton (near Fort Sill) for the southern portion, to be known as Comanche county. Settlers were required to register at one or the other of these land offices, registration beginning at 9 o'clock A. M. Wednesday, July 10, 1901, and ending at 6 o'clock P. M. Friday, July 26, 1901. Each applicant was given a non-transfer- able certificate entithing him or her to enter the lands in advance of the drawings in order to examine same. The "lottery" was in charge of three judges of unimpeachable character. The name, age, residence, and description of every applicant was placed on a card, which was placed in an envelope, and then scaled. These envelopes were placed in a big box and kept there until the draw- ings took place. There were over 167,000 applications and the government had only 13,000 farms of 160 acres each to give away. Each of the applicants had a long shot at a dozen choice claims, worth from twenty-five thousand to fifty thousand dollars each. There were present at the registration booths, school teachers from Maine, woodsmen from Oregon and cotton raisers from Alabama. On July 29th the drawings commenced. The first name drawn from the box gave that person the first choice of all the claims in that district. The order of names drawn from the box indicated the order of choice. Fifty thousand people were massed on a sloping hillside near Elreno, on the day of the drawing, standing shoulder to shoulder, under a boiling sun. Ten beardless boys were selected to draw the names from the box. A struggling clerk drew the first prize claim and a telephone girl secured second choice. The first took a quarter section adjoining the new town of Lawton, which was to be the chief town of the reserva- tion. One hundred and twenty-five names were called each day until the whole thirteen thousand were drawn. After sixty days the lands were thrown open to settlement and the homesteader who had been unsuccessful in the drawings was given a chance to locate on a claim which had not been claimed by the person drawing the same. In this way many fairly good farms were settled.
Three towns had been surveyed and platted by the government. They were Lawton, Hobart and Anadarko. By an act of con- gress approved March 3, 1900, the town lots were sold at auction, and the proceeds were to be turned into the town treasury. By this method four hundred fourteen thousand eight hundred and forty-five dollars was realized from the sale of lots in Lawton, one hundred eighty-eight thousand five hundred and ninety-five
478
THE PROVINCE AND THE STATES.
dollars in Hobart and one hundred thirty-two thousand five hun- dred and ninety-three dollars in Anadarko. These towns have each had a wonderful growth, particularly Lawton.
The following Indian lands still remain in the territory of Okla- homa, and are located in the northeastern section. They will be shortly thrown. open to settlement, upon the completion of the allotments to the Indians occupying the same.
Tribe.
No. Indians.
No. acres in reserva- tion.
Osage
1,783
1,470,088
Kaw.
215
100,138
Ponca
566
26,328
Otoe and Missonri
372
129.113
Total
2,936
1,725,647
.
OKLAHOMA, MISCELLANEOUS EVENTS, STATISTICS. 479
CHAPTER V
Miscellaneous Events, Statistics, Etc.
B ARELY had the mantle of territorial government been thrown around Oklahoma before her citizens were clan- oring for statehood. The phenomenally rapid develop- ment of the country along all lines was one of the causes for this apparent haste on the part of the new commonwealth to assume the dignity of a state, but perhaps the principal reason for the early efforts in this direction was due to the fact that ninety-six per cent of Oklahoma's population is American born, and these Americans, having once enjoyed the full privileges of American citizenship in their former homes, were loath to have these privi- leges taken away from them. Personal liberty and the protection of the law was theirs in the new country, but that priceless attrib- ute of American citizenship, the right to choose rulers and repre- sentatives and those who make and administer the law, was denied them. It is therefore with great unanimity and persistency that the people of Oklahoma are forcing their claims to statehood upon congress.
Every governor of the territory has recommended statehood in his annual report, the delegates to congress have introduced bills at every session since 1803, and organizations have been formed and conventions held by the citizens to keep up the agitation. In support of her claims Oklahoma has presented to congress a for- midable array of statistics covering the population, wealth and literacy of the territory ; the solidity of her social, industrial, and political systems, and general preparedness for statehood.
As shown by the returns of the county assessors in 19oz the population of Oklahoma is 541,480, of which only four percentage is foreign born. This population is greater than any territory ever admitted to statehood and greater than twelve different states
180
THE PROVINCE AND THE ST.ITES.
of the Union at this time. The percentage of illiteracy is five and one-half per cent. The increase in the value of property has kept pace with the increase of population. The valuation of property shown by the returns of the assessors aggregates seventy- two million six Imindred sexenty-seven thousand four hundred and twenty-three dollars, and is divided as follows:
Value of farm lands as returned $22,614,650
Value of town property as returned. 11,629,199
Value of railroads as returned 6,339,462
Value of moneys and credit as returned. 3,068,273
Value of other property as returned. 20,025,839
The taxable valuation is greater than that 'of any state at its admission, and as only one-fourth of the actual value of the prop- erty is returned by the assessors the real value of taxable property is about three hundred million dollars. The territorial tax levy for 1902 was seven and sixteen twentieth mills, the resulting fev- enues from which are estimated at five hundred and fifty thou- sand dollars. In 1902 there were listed for taxation 6,344,662 acres of farm land, being an increase of 1,792,815 over 1901, and the railway mileage as returned for taxation in March, 1902, was 1,413.23 miles of main track and 178.55 miles of side track. Over 500 miles of railroad were built during the year 1902.
The territorial indebtedness on November 30, 1902, was four hundred sixty-six thousand nine hundred fifty dollars and forty- three cents, or about eighty-five cents per capita. A bond interest fund has been created which it is expected will so increase that at an early date the bonds may be redeemed. The public building fund now aggregates about two hundred fifty thousand dollars. which can be utilized toward the erection of a penitentiary, reform school, insane asylum, deaf mute school, and blind asylum, upon the favorable settlement of the statehood question.
In 1901 there were 2,278 schools in session, with an aggregate attendance of 116.971, of which 112,048 were white and 4,923 colored. The school population is nearly twice the average popu- lation of all the states when granted self-goverment. The num- ber of national banks has increased during 1902 from 31 to 60, and the territorial banks from 113 to 152.
Average reserve held by banks, per cent. . 5.4.1
Total capital stock $1,2.17,940.26
Total deposits 6,962,1 20.00
Total capital stock national banks 1,919,800.00 Total deposits 10,000,917.00
OKLAHOMA, MISCELLANEOUS EVENTS, ST.ITISTICS. 481
There are twenty cities of the first class in the territory, of which 5 were incorporated during the year 1902. There are 338 registered pharmacists and 141 licensed dentists in the terri- tory. There are 12 companies in the National Guard, a troop and battery comprising 825 men. There are 231 manufacturing establishments, employing 3,051 hands; 125 wholesale establishi- ments, employing 959 hands; 228 grain elevators having a com- bined capacity of 2,857,000 bushels, and 48 flour mills having an output of 8.760 barrels per day. Twenty-two daily, 168 weekly, 20 monthly, and 4 semimonthly newspapers and periodicals are published in the territory. At the election in 1902, the following vote for delegate to congress was cast :
McGuire
45,803
Cross .
45,400
Socialist
1,963
Prohibitionist
1,035
Total 94,210
In view of these facts and the persistent efforts of the citizens of Oklahoma to gain a recognition of her claims, congress cannot hold out much longer in refusing to grant statehood rights. Con- ventions of the two great political parties in 1900 adopted planks in their platforms advocating the principle of home rule and the early admission of Oklahoma to statehood, but it was not however, until the first session of the Fifty-seventh congress that serious consideration was given to the matter of statehood for Oklahoma, and also for her neighbors, New Mexico, Arizona and the Indian territory. A number of bills were introduced in the house of representatives for the admission of one or more of these terri- tories. The committee on the territories, to whom was referred H. R. 4570, "To authorize single statehood for Oklahoma and Indian Territories as the State of Oklahoma, and for other pur- poses ;" HI. R. 9675, "To provide for the union of Oklahoma Ter ritory and the Indian Territory, and to enable the people thereof to form a constitution and state government, and to be admitted into the Union as the State of Oklahoma on an equal footing with the original states, and to make donations of public lands to said state ;" 1I. R. 11802, "To enable the people of Oklahoma to form a constitution and state government and to be admitted into the Union on an equal footing with the original states ;" II. R. 12543, "To enable the people of Oklahoma, Arizona, and New Mexico to form constitutions and state governments and be admitted into
TIT-31
482
THE PROVINCE AND THE STATES.
the Union on an equal footing with the original states," reported the last named bill without amendment and recommended that it pass. The bill became known as the "Omnibus bill," called so from the fact that three territories were provided for therein. It passed the house without much opposition and was then referred to the senate for consideration. That part of the Omnibus state. hood bill pertaining to the admission of Oklahoma is identical with H. R. 152 and H. R. 11802, introduced by Delegate Flynn, who had long been a champion of Oklahoma's cause.
As stated the bill provides enabling acts for the admission of Oklahoma, Arizona, and New Mexico. In the case of Oklahoma it is provided that the constitutional convention shall by irrevoc- able ordinance express the consent of the new state that congress may attach all or any part of the Indian territory to the state of Oklahoma, should the events of the future justify such action.
Section VII of the bill provides for granting to the state, sec- tions 16 and 36 in every township in the territory, or indemnity land equivalent thereto, for the support of the common schools. These lands are to be disposed of only at public auction to the highest bidder, preference right to purchase being given to the lessee at time of sale, the proceeds to constitute a public school fund, the interest of which only shall be expended in the support of such schools; but it is provided that the lands may be leased for a period not to exceed five years under such regulations as the legislature may provide.
In Section VIII of the bill, section 13 in every township is granted to the state under the same conditions for the equal use and benefit of the university, the normal schools, and the Agri- cultural and Mechanical College.
Section XXXIII in every township is granted for charitable and penal institutions, and is to be disposed of as the legislature of the state may provide.
All of these lands have heretofore been reserved to the territory under various acts of congress.
In addition to these grants the bill provides that, in lien of grants of land for the purpose of internal improvements hereto- fore made new states by acts of congress, the following grants shall be made to Oklahoma: For the benefit of the territorial university, 200,000 acres; for the benefit of the Agricultural and Mechanical College, 250,000 acres ; for the benefit of the Colored Agricultural and Normal University, 100,000 acres; for the benefit of normal schools, 250,000 acres, and to be disposed of as the legislature may provide, 650,000 acres, all of said land to be
OKLAHOMA, MISCELLANEOUS EVENTS, STATISTICS. 483
selected by the state with the approval of the secretary of the interior.
The bill provides that until the next general census the state shall be entitled to two representatives in the lower house of con- gress. The constitutional convention is authorized to provide for the election of officers for a full state government, members of the legislature, and representatives in congress, but said state gov- ernment shall remain in abeyance until the state shall be admitted into the Union.
By senate resolution adopted June 27, 1902, a subcommittee of the committee on territories of the United States senate, was authorized to visit the territories of New Mexico, Arizona, Okla- homa and Indian territory, for the purpose of investigating con- ditions relative to the admission of said territories to statehood. This subcommittee was composed of Senators Beveridge (chair- man), Dillingham, Burnham and Heitfield. The subcommittee visited the territories mentioned during the month of November, 1902, and heard a great deal of voluntary testimony from wit- nesses which was included in a report submitted to the senate committee on territories upon the return of the subcommittee. Nothing in this report was disparaging to the territory of Okla- homa ; in fact everything tended in her favor. The question, how- ever, of statehood for Oklahoma alone or statehood with the con- tiguous Indian territory, was decided by the subcommittee in favor of the latter proposition. The result of the subcommittee's work, therefore, was the substitution of a bill which provided for the admission only of Oklahoma and Indian territory, and these two as one state, in place of HI. R. 12543, under the terms of which Oklahoma, Arizona, and New Mexico, were to be admitted and no provision made for Indian territory. This substitute was pre- sented to the senate on December 3, 1902, by Hon. Knute Nelson, senator from Minnesota and chairman of the senate committee on territories. The minority members of the committee on territo- ries, under the leadership of Hon. Matthew Quay, senator from Pennsylvania, submitted an adverse report to that of the majority, advocating the passage of H. R. 12543, known as the Omnibus bill.
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