Lewis and Clarke, the early American explorers, Washington Irving, the magic word weaver, at one time traversed that land of beauty and romance. Oklahoma was formed because of the demands of a great class of energetic people who must have a country in which to give vent to the spirit of progress which was swaying and urging them on, who longed to break away from the environments of the older States and to form a new empire in the Southwest. Year after year a little band of energetic Westerners known as Oklahoma "boomers," led by Payne and Couch, endeavored to convince Congress of the necessity of the new State. It was a struggle, long and weary, to those most interested. From about the year 1872 to March, 1889, the boomers haunted the halls of Congress, when at last their faithful efforts were rewarded by an act which provided for opening to settlement on April 22, 1889, original Oklahoma, composed of nearly 3,000,000 acres of fertile land in the center of the Territory. The country was opened at noon on that day and taken possession of by people who were waiting along the line on every side-some on fleet-footed horses, others on foot, and thousands in covered wagons with their families and all their worldly goods, determined to obtain a home in the coveted land. It was a sight never to be forgotten by those who witnessed it. The thousands of immigrants pouring in from all directions demonstrated how much the country was needed and wanted by the home builder. By dark on April 22 but little of original Oklahoma remained without a settler, and great cities were built up almost by magic. The Territorial form. of government was established in June, 1890, and about that time No Man's Land, now Beaver County, of 3,681,000 acres, was added to Oklahoma. In September, 1891, 1,282,434 acres in the Sac and Fox and Pottawatomie Indian reservations were opened to settlement in the same manner as that of the original opening. The next lands to be allotted and given to the homesteader were the Cheyenne and Arapaho reservations, in April, 1892. These lands bounded original Őklahoma on the west and comprised 4,297,771 acres, forming the western parts of Kingfisher and Canadian counties and the whole of Blaine, Dewey, Day, Washita, Custer, and Roger Mills counties. September 16, 1893, witnessed a rush of people for homes equally as great as characterized the first opening. The Cherokee Strip, containing 6,014,239 acres of exceptionally rich land, lying along the northern border of Oklahoma, was at that time given to the white settler, and was divided into seven counties-Kay, Grant, Woods, Garfield, Woodward, Noble, and Pawnee. The strip was opened by the booth system, each person being required to obtain a booth certificate from the proper authorities. It was believed that this was the best way to prevent "soonerism." In 1895 the Kickapoo Reservation, comprising 206,662 acres, was opened to settlement. In 1896 Greer County, claimed by Texas, was added to Oklahoma by a decision of the Supreme Court of the United States. Oklahoma acquired no more territory until August 6, 1901. The Kiowa, Comanche, Apache, and Wichita reservations were opened by the registration system and formed into three counties, Kiowa, Comanche, and Caddo. This was undoubtedly the most successful of all the openings in Oklahoma, and was followed by very few contests. With this addition of 4,000,000 acres Oklahoma has an area of 24,223,205 acres, settled by wide-awake, busy home builders from North, South, East, and West, every State in the Union being represented. Geographically Oklahoma is a Southern State, but the habits and occupations of the people are more like those of the North. The climate closely resembles that of Tennessee. The agricultural products are similar to those of southern Kansas. As a fruit-growing country Oklahoma is without a rival. The water supply is abundant, of the best quality, and found from 15 to 45 feet below the surface. The soil in most portions is a rich red, very productive, prairie predominating, although there is a vast amount of valley and river bottom land that for richness is unsurpassed in any State in the Union. There is considerable timber throughout Oklahoma, among which beautiful cedar trees grow in abundance. A large quantity of Oklahoma cedar was recently shipped to Germany for use in the manufacture of pencils. The great natural resources of Oklahoma, combined with the brain, energy, and push of her citizens, have made her what she is to-daythe most progressive of any of the Western Commonwealths. story that would sound like a fairy tale might be truthfully written. of the progress and advancement of the Territory of Oklahoma, the "Land of the Fair God," which is now anxiously waiting to be placed on equal footing with the States, many of whom were half a century in reaching the standard that this young giant of the Southwest has attained in thirteen years. The facts and figures submitted in this report illustrate more substantially than words can do the true state of affairs. The schools, colleges, churches, and other public enterprises show what manner of people live in beautiful Oklahoma. FREE HOMES. The first lands opened to settlement in Oklahoma were free. In 1900 Congress granted free homes to the settlers of the other lands in Oklahoma. In 1901 the lands now embraced in the counties of Kiowa, Caddo, and Comanche were opened to settlement. It would seem that the free homestead policy should in justice be extended to this newlyacquired portion of Oklahoma. POPULATION. The population of Oklahoma, as shown by the returns of the county assessors, is 541,480. This shows a gain over 1901 of 143,149, or nearly 36 per cent. This enumeration indicates an average of 14 persons to the square mile on an area of 38,830 square miles. The three new counties of Comanche, Caddo, and Kiowa have a combined population of 73,833. As a result of the system of drawing for claims, which was instituted at the opening of the Kiowa, Comanche, and Apache Indian Reservation for settlement, the fortunate holders of winning numbers came from every State in the Union as well as some from foreign countries. Our people are intelligent and well educated, the percentage of illiteracy being only 5 per cent, which compares well with the Northern and Eastern States, and is much lower than any other Commonwealth in the same latitude. According to the census report of 1900 the percentage of foreign born is about 4 per cent. Also, according to the same authority, the proportion of males and females is 54 per cent male to 46 per cent female. Of the male population over 15 years of age, 54 per cent are married and 46 per cent are single, and of the female population over 15 years of age, 77 per cent are married and 23 per cent are single. The older and eastern counties are the most thickly settled, being devoted chiefly to agriculture, while in the west and northwest the occupants are fewer and are engaged principally in stock raising. An increase in population of over one-third is perfectly in harmony with the way of doing things in Oklahoma. It is but a healthy growth and is characteristic of the country, the resources of which are already becoming more and more apparent, and the opportunity of becoming one of her citizens and acquiring a title to a rich heritage is irresistible to the average American. Oklahoma as a Territory is a phenomenon of the century, having a larger population, being possessed of more agricultural wealth, a better school system, more free colleges and other institutions of public instruction, more lines of railway and mileage, with a smaller bonded debt and fewer acres of unclaimed land than any other Territory ever boasted when knocking for admission to the Union as a State. Thousands of people of means, culture, and refinement from the North, East, and South are locating in the fertile valleys and plains and in the trade centers of Oklahoma, the "Land of the Fair God." These are to be strong factors in the further building of the great State, Oklahoma, a State of thrift, push, and wealth. Oklahoma is possessed of almost unlimited natural resources. The prosperity of our citizens' continued advancement along all lines, and an auspicious prospect for the future, place Oklahoma in the front rank of progress, a peerless princess among the sisterhood of States. I give below a table showing the comparative population by counties for the years 1896, 1898, 1900, and 1902: TAXABLE PROPERTY. The valuation of property as returned for taxation for 1902 was $72,677,423, showing, as compared with the tax valuation of 1901 ($60,464,696), an increase of $12,212,727. With a Territorial tax levy this year of 78 mills, as compared with 74 mills last year, the total amount of Territorial revenue will be $566,950.90 for 1902. This is an increase of revenue of $113,398.69 over 1901. Below is given a comparative table of the assessment of each of the counties for the past four years: The tax levy this year, as determined by the Territorial board of equalization, is 78 mills. The slight increase over the levy of last year was made for the purpose of enlarging the bond interest fund to an extent which would enable the canceling of the outstanding bonds. Territorial tax levy, 1902. General revenue. University, Norman, erection and support University building fund, Norman... University preparatory school fund, Tonkawa. Territorial Normal School, Edmond, erection and support.. Northwestern Normal School, building fund, Alva.. Agricultural and Mechanical College, Stillwater, support.. Mills. 3 0.5 .7 .2 .5 .5 .25 1 4 Agricultural and Mechanical College, building fund, Stillwater.. Colored Agricultural and Normal University, Langston, support. School for Deaf and Dumb, support 1 2 4 4 .05 5 TABLE BY COUNTIES. The tax levy, while apparently high, is somewhat misleading to one unaccustomed to the values at which the personal and real property is returned by the assessors. After considering these values, which are usually not over onefourth of the actual value-as, horses $16.38, cattle $11.05, sheep $1.24, and swine $1.63-it will be readily seen that the rate is very moderate. The table below shows the amount this levy will produce in each county. The Territorial indebtedness on June 30, 1902, was $466,950.43, which is only about 85 cents per capita. This includes the bonds issued for educational purposes some years ago, amounting to $48,000. It will be noticed in the following statement submitted by the Territorial treasurer that the bond-interest fund has now to its credit the sum of $20,458.98. The Territorial levy for this fund was increased to one-half mill, the revenue from which will so increase the fund that the bonds may be redeemed at an early day. The condition of each of the several funds and the amount of cash in the Territorial treasury is shown below in the statement of the Territorial treasurer, dated June 30, 1902. |