Article September 20, 1900 Issue

Oklahoma's Quick Rise

J. D. W.

Boston Transcript

In Ten Years it has Become Prosperous.

One of the first bills which will be presented this winter for the consideration of Congress will be an enabling act for the Territory of Oklahoma. Having secured the passage of the Free Homes Bill, which gave to this territory remission of cash payments upon land of over $15,000,000, the people are now united in an effort to secure statehood. It seems most probable that with the showing which is now made in this remarkable territory Congress will accede to the wishes of its people and prepare the way for the organization of a new Commonwealth.

In round numbers, the population of Oklahoma is about 375,000, the taxable value of her property is over $75,000,000, and her area about the same as the State of Ohio. The most remarkable feature of this existing wealth is that it has been created within the past ten years. This has been accomplished so quickly for several reasons, the first and greatest being the natural fruitfulness of the soil and the ease with which it can be made to repay the agriculturist for his labor. Another reason for this rapid development and accrued wealth is the fact that Oklahoma has been settled and is now occupied by an American-born people, full of enterprise, energy, and love of adventure and speculation.

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