Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 35, Number 30, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 December 1902 — RUSH TO THE SOUTHWEST. [ARTICLE]

RUSH TO THE SOUTHWEST.

An Army of 300,000 Persons Has Entered It in a Year. At the rate of many thousands a month men are pouring into the Southwestern States nnd territories to find a new home where the sod is yet fresh and golden opportunities to accumulate wealth are to be found. In the past year it is estimated that fully 300,000 persons went into the Southwest. It is estimated that there were 300 new towns started in Oklahoma and Indian territories alone daring the past three years, and most of them are in thriving condition. In the first place there were 8,000,000 acres of free land hi these two territories to be settled upon by the whites. This has been consumed, nnd those settlers who are going in now do not hope to secure free land, if ihey can bnt get it at a reasonable price. No more free land remains to the home-seeker. The cheapest to be had ranges from $5 to $0 an acre in Indian territory and Oklahoma, but Missouri and Arkansas offer it at the low rate of $1.25 per acre. One company In Boston has arranged for the purchase of 2,000,000 acres of this cheap land, upon which they are going to plant orchards. The farmers and the frnlt growers are comiug from New England. Offices have been established in Europe, and colonists are going to the Southwest from all parts of the world. Trunk lines leading to the Southwest assert that Oklahoma and Indian territories and Kansas, Missouri and Arkansas will support 20,000,000 -nore people than are'at present residing there, and that it will give to all of them a good tiring and an easy Hfs.