USA > Oklahoma > Polk Oklahoma gazetteer and business directory, 1902-3, Pt 1 > Part 5
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This is a better experience than we have had with an other section of the United States. We doubt whether such a statement could be made in regard to any other State of Territory.
The laws of the Territory are especially favorable to outside investors. The legal rate of interest is 7 per cent when not otherwise specified or contracted for, and in judgments interest runs at the rate named in the contract.
The mortgages of outside investors are exempt from taxation in the Terri- tory.
It requires from three to eight months to complete foreclosure proceedings, and when deed is issued there is no redemption.
SUCCESSFUL FARMING.
Adaptation. diversification, and organization are the secrets of successful farming anywhere, and so great is the range of possible products in Oklahoma that with proper adaptation to soil. location, and surroundings, intelligent di- versification, and organization to secure good markets and prices, success"can be assured and the profits of farming greatly augmented.
So great is the range of products here that no matter how unfavorable or variable the season a farmer can be sure of some of his crops, and when the seasons are generally favorable-as they have been for four years past-he is sure of all and prosperous in proportion.
Nowhere else in the United States can the three great staples of wheat, corn and cotton be successfully grown upon the same quarter section of land with a half dozen or more other farm products on the side, as well as a full quota of garden vegetables, and an orchard laden with luscious fruit and patches filled with berries.
Why shouldn't the Oklahoma farmer be prosperous and contented? Is it any wonder he is envied by the people of other States? Is it any wonder that people come from every community in the nation to better their condition in Oklahoma ?
Our present exceptionally prosperous condition, as shown by our farm and city improvements and money in banks, is due to agriculture alone. Our mining and manufacturing is but beginning to be developed.
LIVE-STOCK INTERESTS.
For many years previous to the opening of the country to settlement the broad prairies of the Territory were alive with herds of cattle and horses. The muild climate, the rich and nutritious grasses, and the abundant water made this one of the most profitable feeding grounds in the nation. None can wonder that the cattlemen were loth to give it up, and left no stone unturned to retain
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first all and then the various parts of the Territory for pastures for their herds. The large pastures of the Territory have been practically all broken up. how- ever, and from this on the live stock will be produced upon small ranches or on ordinary farms, and the secret of success of stock raising will be an im- provement in the character of stock and intelligent feeding for market.
The abundant hay and fodder crops of the Territory. the corn. cane, and kaffir fields, with cotton and other prodnets which afford cheap feed for finish- ing cattle for the market, makes stock raising a most desirable and profitabie occupation in the Territory. The farmers, as a rule, are learning by experience that the successful farmer is he who keeps enongh stock to consume a large por- tion of his products: marketing his corn, cane, and fodder on foot.
HORTICULTURE.
Though still classed as a new country. Oklahoma has developed along the lines of fruit growing until Oklahoma fruits are recognized as of superior qual- ity in most of the markets in the country. Enough has been done already to make it certain that Oklahoma will grow as fine fruits as can be produced any- where. The thing that remains to be done to make of the Territory one of the greatest fruit sections of the world is to produce the fine fruits that are now shown in limited quantity so largely that they can be shipped in ear lots to all of the fruit markets of the country.
A general encouragement of fruit growing in all its branches by horticul. tural and kindred societies, fairs, and exhibits will result in great good to the Territory.
Our people now feast upon the very finest fruits from their own orchards and gardens; fruits that if shipped out in quantity would produce a sensation in every market reached.
The number of fruit trees planted in the Territory runs up in the millions. and orchards are being planted on every side.
In many towns the people have planted fruit trees so largely on their residence lots that the whole town appears to be an orchard in fruit season.
While the Territory will grow almost all varieties of the various fruits adapted to the Temperate Zone, and some of a tropical variety as well, time is showing those which can be produced most profitably on a commercial scale. Some made the mistake of planting too largely varieties that did well at their former homes in some distant State, without question as to adaptability to soil and climate found here: others lost time in planting trees sold them by dishonest tree salesmen, which would not produce here or any place else: but with all these drawbacks the fruit growers have been remarkably successful.
Trees grow here about eight months in the year, attain large size in incredi- ble short space of time, and come to bearing from two to five years sooner than they do in the Northern and Eastern States.
A number of large nurseries located in the Territory grow the finest trees. supplying almost the entire demand of the Territory and shipping many to other States.
FREE HOMES.
- The passage of the free homes law by Coug: 's has been of untold benefit to Oklahoma.
When original Oklahoma was opened to settlement in 1889 the lands were all free to settlers who homesteaded and lived upon them five years, but when the Sauk and Fox, Kiowa and Pottawatomie lands were thrown open two years later a price was fixed which the settler would be required to pay before he se- cured title, even though he complied with all the requirements of the homestead law. The same procedure was f .owed in the opening of all subsequent tracts of lands in settlement in the Territory. The settlers upon the various tracts were not satisfied with this provision, believing it to be an unjust discrimination and contrary to the spirit and intent of the ' mestead law. As early as ist2 local organizations were formed here and t. re in the Territory looking toward the agitation of this subject and finally bringing it to the attention of Congress. but it was not until 1894 that the movement became general over the Territory. In
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that year the Republican party of the Territory took up the question and made it an issue, declaring, through its speakers and its candidate for Congress. Hon. D. T. Flynn, that the people were entitled to free homes as a matter of right and justice, and promising every possible effort in behalf of such legislation.
In February, 1895, at a free homes convention called at Perry, a Territorial Free Homes League was organized, and the Legislature, which was in session at that time, made an appropriation of $500 to further the object of the league, which was to agitate the matter of free homes and bring it so strongly to the at- tention of Congress that legislation would be enacted giving to all the home- stead settlers of Oklahoma their full rights and privileges under the old home- stead law.
In 1896 the free-homes agitation had reached a point to become recognized as a national issue, and a plank was inserted in the national platform of each of the three leading parties declaring for free homes for settlers on all public . lands, but it was not until May 14, 1900. that the measure finally passed both - houses of Congresses and became a law, through the united efforts of the Sena- tors and Representatives from all the public-land States, among whom Hon. D. T. Flynn, Oklahoma's Representative, was recognized as the most active and efficient worker for this measure, which he had been first to propose and which had received his devoted attention for several years. Previous to this a bill had nosced the House in 1896 and the Senate in 1898, but in neither case could pass- age be secured through the other branch, though strenuous efforts were made by the friends of the measure both in Congress and out.
The passage of this bill has saved to the homesteaders of Oklahoma $15 .- 0000,000, which would have been paid to the goverment and lost to the Terri- tory. The money has been put into houses and barns and live stock, into com- forts for the family, and implements for the better care of the farm and the production of crops. and has been a prominent factor in bringing about the general conditions of prosperity prevailing throughout the Territory.
A second result has been the attraction of immigration to the Territory. The taking of all price off the government lands in western Oklahoma has at- tracted the attention of settlers from all parts of the country, who during the year just ended have filed upon 1.200.000 acres of land and taken up their homes thereon.
A third result has been the rapid proving up of homesteads in all of the free-homes country and a consequent large increase in area of taxable land.
The following table shows the land taxable in each county of the Territory in 1900 and 1901, and the increase of the latter year over the former:
LAND RETURNED FOR TAXATION.
Listed for taxation.
County.
1900.
1901.
Increase. Acres.
Beaver
112.859
132,967
20.10S
Blaine
22.165
S2.500
60.335
Canadian
278.015
300,702
22.687
Cleveland
208,222
253.946
45.724
19,906
66,243
16.337
7,912
13,957
6.045
8,000
49.483
41.483
Gartiell
140,664
201.630
150.966
Grant
104,426
267.203
162.777
106,191
191,832
$5.641
Kay
$$13.962
214.268
120,306
Kingfisher
343.043
396,800
48,557
152.53S
263,514
110.976
394.775
403.899
19.124
29,9.10
110.454
80.899
330.953
340.790
9.837
9.115
98.165
89.050
248,600
295,193
46,593
Acres.
Acres.
.....
=
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Listed for taxation.
1900.
1901.
County.
Acres.
Ac es.
Acres.
Pottawatomie
112.211
1$6,449
74,238
Roger Mills
12.492
23.822
11,330
Washita
21,000
21.117
117
Woods
83,469
425.380
341,911
Woodward
40,631
211,734
171,103
Total
2.875,704
4,612,70S
1,137,004
This increase results in a lower tax rate in most of the counties and also an increase in the general revenue fund ofthe Territory, so that all obligations can be met and the Territorial debt decreased.
MANUFACTURING.
The United States Census Bureau recently issued a bulletin upon the manu- facturing industries of the Western States and Territories, in which it was shown that there were in operation in Oklahoma in 1900 SOS manufacturing es- tablishments. as compared with 72 in 1800, employing 2,055 men, as compared with 147: having $3.352.064 capital invested, paying $807,826 in wages annually, and turming out manufactured products to the value of $7.093,539.
And yet the manufacturing industries of the Territory are but in their in- fancy, for the opportunities are so great here for the establishment of manu- facturing establishments of various kinds that it seems certain that at no far distant time large communities will be built up and maintained by groups of, factories producing many articles needed in the Territory and converting our natural products into the finished ones demauded by commerce to supply the needs of other sections of the nation. While we have machine and car shops, flouring mills, cement works, ice plants, creameries and cheese factories, planing mills and sash factories, stone quarries, brickyards. cotton compresses and gins,
and canning. harness, and cigar factories, there is still an inviting field for the extension of these allied industries in every part of the Territory.
There are about 200 cotton gins, half a dozen cottonseed oil mills, and 3 cotton compresses, but the great cotton crop of the Territory offers opportunity for cotton mills at several points.
Salt is manufactured in Woods. Blaine. and Greer counties, but enough salt could easily be produced here to supply the nation.
Cement is manufactured in Kay. Blaine. Canadian, and Greer counties, but the cement beds of the Territory are inexhaustible.
The great granite quarries of Greet, Kiowa, and Comanche counties will some day give employment to thousands.
The great herds of the Territory offer opportunities for the establishment of tanneries and factories. to use up the leather products, packing houses, and kindred industries, while on every hand is offered every inducement for the starting of small manufacturing establishments to grow with the needs of the Territory.
GENERAL GEOLOGY OF OKLAHOMA.
Oklahoma, with the exception of the northeastern portion. consists almost wholly of the so-called red beds, with thin deposits in places of the Cretaceous and Comanche. The age of the red beds has long been in dispute, but the dis- covery of fossils, both vertebrate and invertebrate, by the members of the Ter ritorial geological survey has settled the matter quite definitely in favor of the Permian.
The surface rock of the red beds consists for the most part of saudstone. varying in texture from a coarse, rotten shale to a hard, fino-grained sandstone, and immense areas of gypsum. This sandstone occurs in almost every county in the Territory, and is used largely for foundations and similar building purposes
The gypsum outerops as great ledges, extending entirely across the Terri- tory. One important series is exposed along the bluffs on the south side of the
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Cimarron from the Kansas line to the Glass Mountains, then bearing to the south gradually leaves the river, capping the bluffs which rise west of the Ci- marron Valley.
. In many places the soluble gypsum has yielded to the action of rimming water, and immense caves, tunnels, natural bridges, and fantastic forms have resulted. Some of these caves harbor thousands of bats, and the guano that has accumulated sells at a very high price as a fertilizer.
As far back as 1852 Marey, in his explorations of the Red River, said that the discovery of gold in the Wichita Mountains would attract more attention, but that the discovery of the large gypsum beds would be worth more than the gold. The supply is practically inexhaustible, and with better means of trans- portation and the introduction of improved processes in the manufacture of plasters, cements, and fertilizers, must prove of great commercial value.
There are three principal salt areas in Oklahoma: The Saline Reservation, about 25 miles east of Alva, in Woods county; the Salt Plains of the Cimarron, about 30 miles west of Alva, in Woodward county, and the plains of Salt Creek. in Blaine county. Each of these regions furnishes a local supply of salt, while at the Blaine county works several thousand pounds are manufactured daily. Were it not for the almost unlimited supply of salt in Kansas this industry would receive an immediate development on a large scale, and with means for transportation there is no reason why salt should not be manufactured here, in competition with Kansas, at a good profit, as the cost of evaporation is practic- ally the only one connected with the development of this industry.
In the northeast portion of the Territory, in Kay and Pawnee counties, in addition to sandstone of good quality. there are large areas of limestone. Re- cont tests have shown much of this to be a very superior quality of building stone.
From its geological position, and from the results of investigation Oklahoma must be regarded as an agricultural and grazing country. It is somewhat re- markable that its political bonndaries should so nearly coincide with its gelogical. In the Indian Territory on the east an abundance of limestone, coal. oil and gas might be expected. In Oklahoma, except in the northeast portion, limestone is almost wholly absent, while the other products mentioned are so far below the surface that their presence can be detected only by deep borings.
In the region of the Wichita Mountains, however, there is promise of various minerals in paying quantities, gold. copper, lead, and manganese ores being the ones most often mentioned in connection with this region. As it has been im- possible thus far to make any systematic explorations in this districts, the whole question is still problematical.
FUEL, LUMBER AND BUILDING MATERIAL.
While coal has been found in limited quantities at a number of points in the Territory, a very little of it has as yet been mined. The proximity of the im- mense beds of the Indian Territory, however, keeps the price of fuel at a very reasonable figure. Coal ranges from $2 to $8 per ton, and wood averages $3 per cord. The native timber of the Territory includes oak, elm. walnut, pecan, hickory, cedar, cottonwood, etc., and considerable timber is cut from them.
The building material, coming direct from the forests of Arkansas and Texas, is generally sold at a reasonable figure, and the quarries of the erritory produce an abundance of good building stone, while excellent brick is manu- factured in nearly every county.
Deposits of building stone are found in nearly every county in the Territory, some of the stone being of the very best quality. From the quarries near New- kirk, Ponca, and Chilocco. in Kay county, is taken some of the very best building stone to be found in the West. In the Wichita Mountains and their spurs are found a number of varieties of granite, some of which are not excelled anywhere. The granite quarries of the Territory will some day be noted, and it is probable that when the Territory comes to construct its capitol building that it can be built wholly of Oklahoma granite.
A fair quality of marble is also found in Blaine county, and at a number of places in the Territory are immense deposits of cement, and a large cement
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works near Okarche is turning out many train loads of the finest cement for building purposes. Cement is also manufactured in Kay county, Lincoln county and Blaine county. Many other deposits await development.
The gypsum of Oklahoma also affords excellent building material, and the beds of clay in various parts of the Territory offer inducements to the manu- facture of both building and paving brick.
GOVERNMENT OF THE TERRITORY OF OKLAHOMA.
CAPITAL, GUTHRIE.
TERRITORIAL OFFICERS.
Governor-Thompson B. Ferguson.
Private Secretary to the Governor- Charles A. McBrian.
Secretary of the Territory and Ex- Officio Lieutenant . Governor-Wm. Grimes.
Assistant Secretary-J. M. MeCon- no !!
Attorney General-J. C. Roberts.
Assistant Attorney General-Charles H. Woods.
Treasurer-C. W. Rambo.
Superintendent of Public Instruction and Ex-Officio Auditor-L. W. Baxter.
Secretary School Land Board and Ex-Officio School Land Commissioner- J. J. Houston.
Assistant Secretary School Land
Board-H. F. Ardery.
Oil Inspector-John H. Dillon. Bank Commissioner-Paul F. Cooper. Librarian-J. W. Foose. Deputy Auditor-E. F. McCabe. Adjutant General-E. P. Burlin- game.
Grain Inspector-C. T. Prouty. Games Warden-C. M. Keiger. Superintendent of Public Health-E. E. Cowdrick.
OKLAHOMA MILITARY DEPARTMENT.
Commander-in-Chief - Governor T. B. Ferguson.
Adjutant-General (Ex-Officio Quar- termaster-General, Commissary-Gener- al, Paymaster-General and Chief of Ordnance)-Brigadier-General IS P. Burlingame, Chief of Staff.
'Inspector-General-Colonel Samuel Billings, of Enid.
Judge Advocate-General - Major Harry W. Pentecost. of Guthrie. Surgeon-General-Major John W. Duke, of Guthrie.
Aides de Camp-Captain Seymour Foose. of Watongo; Captain Herbert H. Smock. of Newkirk; Captain Wmn. A. Knipe, of Perkins.
TERRITORIAL BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS.
Territorial School Land Board-Gov- ernor T. B. Ferguson, Secretary Win. Grimes and L. W. Baxter.
Board of Equalization-Governor T. B. Ferguson. Secretary Wm. Grimes and I. W. Baxter.
Board of Regents of the Territorial University-Governor T. B. Ferguson; C. A. MeBrian, Watonga: D. L. Marsh. Norman; H. B. Gilstrap. Chandler; R. E. Wood, Shawnee; G. W. Sutton. Cleveland.
Board of Regents of the Agricul- tural and Mechanical College-Gover- nor T. B. Ferguson: Frank Wikoff, Stillwater; Henry J. Beard, Shawnee; T. J. Hartman. Pond Creek: H. C. R. Brodball, Ponca; W. H. Morten. Guthrie.
Board of Education of Normal Schools-Superintendent Public In- struction. L. W. Baxter: Treasurer C. W. Rambo: C. M. Thacker, Mangum; E. B. Rankin, Edmond; G. E. Nichols, Alva.
Board of Regents Colored Agricul- tural and Normal University-Superin- tendent of Public Instruction. L. W. Baxter: Treasurer. C. W. Rambo; U. C. Guss. Guthrie: E. O. Tyler. King- fisher: P. F. Tyler. Watonga.
Board of Regents of University Pre- paratory School -- Governor T. B. Fer- guson; T. H. Martin, Tonkawa; J. H, Johnson, Newkirk.
Territorial Board of Education-Su- perintendent of Public Instruction. L. W. Baxter; President. D. R. Bord,
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Norman; President, F. H. Umholtz; Edmond; Prof. G. D. Moss, Kingfisher; Prof. R. H. Ewing, Stillwater.
Board of Health-Auditor L. W. Baxter; Dr. E. E. Cowdrick, Enid; B. F. Hamilton, Shawnee.
Board of Dental Examiners-A. C. Hixon, Guthrie; F. C. Sparks, Ponca; A. M. Detrick, Oklahoma City; J. Q. Waddell; Kingfisher; A. E. Kelsey. Chandler.
Board of Pharmacy-F. B. Lillie, Guthrie; J. H. Hill, Enid; E. E. How- endobler. Perry.
Live Stock Sanitary Commission- W. E. Bolton, Woodward; Z. E. Beem- blossom, Secretary, Guthrie; Thomas Morris, Guthrie.
Commissioners to the Louisiana Purchase Centennial Exposition, St. Louis-Joseph Meibergen, Enid; Otto A. Shuttee, El Reno; F. L. Wenner, Kingfisher.
COURTS.
Supreme Court-Chief Justice, John H. Burford, Guthrie; Associate Just. ices, C. E. Irwin, B. F. Burwell, B. T. Hainer, F. E. Gillette, J. K. Beau- champ, J. L. Pancoast. These judges --
also serve as judges of the District Courts.
Clerk of Supreme Court-B. F. Heg- ler, Guthrie.
FEDERAL OFFICERS.
United States District Attorney- Horace Speed.
Assistant U. S. District Attorneys- John W. Scothorn and B. S. McGuire. United States Marshal-Wm. D. Fossett.
Registers and Receivers U. S. Land Offices-Guthrie, J. J. Boles and F. E. Mckinley; Oklahoma City, A. H. Clas- sen, W. F. Young; Kingfisher, E. E. Brownlee and J. V. Admire; Alva, W. H. Cofield and A. R. Museller; Wood- ward, F. S. Healey and E. S. Wiggins: Mangum, John 'A. Oliphant and John
A. Trotter; El Reno, James A. Sickeis and Thomas R. Reid; Lawton, H. D. McKnight and J. D. Maguire.
United States Indian Agents-Osage, O. A. Mitcher, Pawhuska; Ponca, Pawnee and Otoe, John Jensen, White Eagle; Iowa, Sac and Fox and Pot- tawatomie, Ross Guffin, Sac and Fox; Cheyenne and Arapahoe, Major George W. Stouch, Darlington; Kiowa, Comanche and Apache, Col. James F. Randlett, Anadarko.
United States Weather Bureau Ob- server-C. M. Strong, Oklahoma City.
TERRITORIAL INSTITUTIONS.
UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA.
Norman, O. T.
The University is founded upon the authority of an act of the legislature of the Territory of Oklahoma entitled "An act to locate and establish the University of Oklahoma." The act provided that when $10,000 and 40 peres of land be donated to the Terri- tory by the City of Norman, the insti- tation should be located at that place. These requirements having been met. the University was established at Nor- man in 1832. The University is sup- ported by a general tax of one-half
mill upon each dollar of valuation on the assessment roll of the University. In addition to this, section 13 in each township in what is known as the ' Cherokee Outlet was reserved from settlement for university, normal school and agricultural college pur- poses in the proclamation of the Presi- dent of the United States opening these lands to settlement. The lands so reserved have been appropriated for the above purposes by act of Congress and have been leased for the benefit of
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the institutions named. The univer- sity organization consists of the fol- lowing schools: 1. College of Arts and Sciences; 2. Medical School; 3. School of Pharmacy: 4. School of Music; 5. Preparatory School.
The College of Arts and Sciences embraces classical, philosphical, Eng- lish and scientific courses, which lead to the degrees of A. B. and B. S. The School of Medicine covers the first two years work of a regular four years' medieal course. The School of Phar- macy provides two years' work lead-
ing to the degree of pharmaceutical chemist. The School of Music em- braces a preparatory course, a teach- er's courdse, an artist's course and a graduate course at the completion of which certificates to that effect are granted by the University. The Pre- paratory School covers a three years' course leading to the freshman class.
The total enrollment in the different schoois of the University for the past year was 303; number of instructors and officers, 27. D. R. Boyd, president.
AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL COLLEGE. Stillwater, O. T.
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