"The Homestead State"

A Name Likely to be Given to Oklahoma

Boston Transcript

The government lottery for the homestead lands in the Kiowa reservation closed Saturday, July 27. When all the land available has been taken at least ten thousand one-hundred-and-sixty-acre farms will have been added to the seventy-five thousand or more homesteads which comprise the territory now known as Oklahoma.

When Congress reserved the lands of Oklahoma for homesteaders, the tacit admission was made that of all the methods for acquiring the public domain, the homestead law was the only one which carried out the purpose of the government honestly and fully. Under the provisions of that law the land grabber finds no opportunity and speculation is reduced to the minimum. The results have been significant and marvelous, for in ten years an uninhabited country has gathered to itself nearly four hundred thousand people, taxable property to the value of $150,000,000 and its annual production of the treasures of the earth now approximates $75,000,000 in value.

When Oklahoma is admitted to the Union, which it probably will be during the coming session of Congress, it should be known as "the Homestead State." No other commonwealth can claim this title, and to the homestead character of her settlement will Oklahoma owe her admission, for by no other method could she have obtained so quickly the population, wealth, and stability now necessary to secure recognition from Congress.

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