Jasper County Democrat, Volume 5, Number 31, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 November 1902 — AN OKLAHOMA TRIP. [ARTICLE]

AN OKLAHOMA TRIP.

We, brother Claude and I, started from McCoysburg, Indiana Oct, 21, in the morning, reaching Chicago before noon. At 6:05, p. m. we left Chicago, traveling over the Rock Island Road. We saw very little of Illinois and lowa as we passed through in the night. When we awoke the next morning we found ourselves in a broken, hilly country, and on inquiry found we were near Princeton, Mo. It was certainly strip of land. The crops all looked very poor there. As we passed on across the state we saw prettier country, some quite level with good crops. We crossed the Missouri river about noon the second day and entered Kansas City. The train stopped there a short time. We were surprised to see so many hills and bluffs iu and around the city. The scenery is very pretty at that point. About 2 o’clock p. m. we passed through Topeka. That city covers a large tract of land, but is not built up solidly. In central and southern Kansas the leaves were quite green yet, and summer was not all gone. We saw several fields of grain not yet thrashed and hay not stacked. At McFarland, Kansas, the train stopped for passengers to dine in that city. We walked over the city as long as we could and enjoyed the “Kansas wind.” The hills in south-western Kansas are almost wholly made of rock. This rock is in layers and suitable for building, and farm houses, barns, pig pens, fences and other structures were made of stone. About 4 o’clock in the mornining we arrived at Chickasha, I. T., where we had to change cars, after waiting twelve hours. This is a city about three or four years old; contains about 700 inhabitants. We noticed quite a change in the customs of the people. There were many Indians and negroes living there, the Indians dressed in their native costume. The soil was red sand for many miles around, and it was very windy, we had the opportunity of carrying much red sand away with us. We left Chickasha about 4 p. m., and arrived at Mangum, Okla., the end of our journey by rail, at 8 o’clock p. m., but still had 30 miles to ride in a hack or heavy carriage. We waited until morning before starting on this ride. Oklahoma was a strange looking country to us. It was very hilly around Mangnm. The principle crops were cotton, kaffir-corn, and milo-maize. The country is qpite thickly settled. The majority of the people live in small dugouts or houses. The land seems to be quite productive. It sells at from $2 to $25 per acre in this (Greer) county. Nearly all the govern- j ment land is taken. Schools and chnrohes are not in the best condition now, but I think they will j improve and Oklahoma will somoj day be a fine country. Bessie Stewart. All ealicqe, over 100 patterns to select from, only 4o a yard at Laßue Bros.