The Hobart Republican. (Hobart, Okla.), Vol. 1, No. 25, Ed. 1 Friday, January 3, 1902 Page: 5 of 8
This newspaper is part of the collection entitled: Oklahoma Digital Newspaper Program and was provided to The Gateway to Oklahoma History by the Oklahoma Historical Society.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
Travel* In Washita Coantr.
It la always a pleasure to render a ser-
vice to pur fallowman. Therefore I am
pleased to write up some of my observa-
tions concerning things as seen in
Washita county. Readers of the Ho-
bart Republican that are not benefitted
may at least be interested.
The land lying between Rocky and
Cordell after you leave Rocky is very
rolling until you get 2 miles south of
Cordell. There is a nice and fairly
good country adjacent to the county
seat. Northeast the land is better, and
across the Washita river in what is
known as the "corn valley" is some very
fine land. West of Cordell and north is
some very rough sandy land, a portion
of which is too poor to be filed on.
West of Rocky to Sentinel, Combs and
Wood and northwest to Burns, is a good
section with little poor land, much fine
land and some superfine. In the brakes
of the Washita river as it is about Cloud
Chief is considerable rough, broken
land with a few rood farms. Gyp rock
is abundant in the northern and eastern
part of the county and is seen just com-
ing to the surface on hill-sides or pro-
truding from the earth in small knolls,
or the sides of a great hill may be white
with it, and again it may be seen along
the river in sheer bluffs 25 to 100 feet
high. The soil is strong with gyp and
very productive for wheat, but I have
heard of peaches grown on such land
unfit for use.
Take it on the whole Kiowa county is
much better than Washita for agricul-
tural purposes. The broken land is
much more productive than it would
seem to be. One year ago as I went
from here to Cordell 1 was not pleased
at all with the country, but a recent
trip disclosed the fact that the hilly
farms had produced corn, cotton and
vegetables, in larger quantities, if any
difference, than the smooth mesquite
land. Then there were unmistakable
signs of prosperity in the improvements
seen on almost every farm. The little
house was enlarged, the dugout length-
ened, and a barn or shed built.
One year ago Cordell was a sleepy
little country village with poor hotel ac-
commodations and little to draw trade.
Now all lines of business are well repre-
sented, a court house has been built,
some first class stores put up and more
buildings going up. The increased
activity is due to the removal of the
the county seat from Cloud Chief to
this place, the hopes of getting the B.
E. & S. railroad. The city had entered
a contract with the townsite company,
and the grading was proceeding rapidly
and everyone was jubliant over the
prospects of a railroad, but death
and taxation only are sure. The rail-
road company asked for thirty days' ex-
tension of time in which to get into
Cordell. The request, though a reason-
able one, gives those who wish to avoid
their obligations a chance to creep out.
This may lessen the bonus promised-
SB, 000—and lose Cordell the road. Sup-
pose they start a town 3 miles west of
Cordell? It will not only be a calamity
or a loss, to say the least, to the citizens
and business men of Cordell, but it will
be a loss to the whole county. While a
railroad can make or kill a town, it is
indispensible to the developement of a
country. Railroads are not charitable
or mutual institutions but are built and
operated by a corporation solely for the
purpose of making money, that being
true, it is but reasonable and right that
they "paddle their own canoe," as any
individual must do in carrying out a
money making scheme. In business it
is might and not right that rules. The
man with a six-shooter says "give me
your money or your life," so the rail-
road csmpany says to the town "give us
$50,000 or we will kill you." Whatever
we may say or think of this custom of
taring a town to death to help build
railroads, and reminding us of the feu-
dal ages, still prevails. Since the farm-
ers of Washita county need a good mar-
ket in which to trade and dispose of
their products as bad as any under the
sun, and since the barbarous robber tax
is imposed, why should they not share
the burden like men with their brother
in town and help get the railroad?
If a town is started three miles west of
Cordell on the railroad it will be the
town and will get the trade and neces-
siate the moving of the county seat, put
the county to much eipense and perhaps
add to the already heavy tax. Every
taxpayer in Washita county should be
interested in Cordell getting the rail-
road and holding the county seal. Then
let them see that she gets it.
It was a glad surprise to learn of a
nursery right at home, five miles south-
east of Segar. It waa my privelege to
a few weeks ago, to visit the Rose Val-
ley Nurseries and make the acquaint-
ance of the proprietor, J. D. Durksen.
I found him to be an affable and courte-
ous gentleman, well spokon of by his
neighbors. He is a German and a com-
paratively young man. He came to the
country with a small capital about three
years ago and is showing commendable
industry and intelligence in the growing
of everything usually found in a reliable
nursery. He has several acres of young,
thrifty stock and expects to do a much
larger business next year. Why pat-
ronize a Nursery in Missouri, Kansas
or Texas when you can buy trees fully
as good or better for less money at
home? Yes, better trees, for the Okla-
homa Experimental Station recom-
mends purchasing trees grown at home
because they are acclimated and used to
our soil. Then he can make better
prices because he has no freight to pay
and the money stays here to build up
our country. I talked with two men
who had bought trees of him and who
were well pleased and said they would
buy no more "shipped-in stuff."
At Shelly, a small village on the river
and eight miles east and three north of
Cordell, I met the genial Henry Cleaver
in his hospitable home. He is the pro-
prietor of a rich farm in the bottom and
has a large house and barn and a cheese
factory. He was too busy entertaining
guests to talk at length but stated that
he could not get enough milk in winter
to warrant him in running his plant.
He regarded the factory as a great
benefit to the neighborhood if the
farmers would devote themselves more
to the breeding and care of milk stock.
He told of one party who had sold $130
worth of milk from five cows. Milk was
paid for in proportion to the butter fat
it contained.
About night I reached the crest of a
hill and beheld nestling behind a fine
large orchard on the bank of the Wash-
ita, a group of handsome, substantial
farm buildings. This was the home of
John Kiehn, 9 miles north and 4 miles
east of Cordell. I have heard again and
again that the Germans are reluctant to
ask an American they are unacquainted
with to stop with them over night or
even to dine with them when calling on
business. But at this home I was glad
to find a warm and hearty welcome and
my limited experience with them leads
me to believe that are fully as courteous
and hospitable as the Americans. Here
was a place so comfortable and com-
modious that the stranger, the sleek
draft horses, the Durham cattle, the
poland china hogs, the toulouse geese
and even the chickens would all be glad
to proclaim it as home! home! Mr.
Kiehn came there six years ago leasing
the school section on which he lives
from the school board for about $130 a
year. He brought a few head of stock
and a little money. He has put about
three hundred acres in cultivation, has
it all fenced, built a five-room house, a
horse barn with room in the mow for
hay, a shed on one side for grain and
another for carriages and wagons, and
a bin for ground feed and a mill to grind
it. He has another barn for cows and
is building a shed for tools; has a crib
and 1,000 bushels of corn; a granery and
a few hundred bushels of wheat; he has
several fine work horses, over 125 head
of cattle, several hogs and money in the
bank. His orchard is the finest I have
seen in the southwest, especially the
apple trees. He believes in doing every-
thing right and using the best tools.
The breaking is done with two gang
plows, four horses to each plow. His
buildings are wisely planned, carefully
erected and kept painted. He believes
in business methods on the farm and the
expression common this side of Cordell,
"any old way" is foreign to hre thought.
He is contented and happy and $6,000
would not move him. The lumber for
his buildings cost $1,500. "What other
folks can do, why with patience should
not you?" There are eight in the fam-
ily, three sons and three daughters.
The father with others of the family
belong to the Mennonite church. When
all were gathered around the supper
table they arose and the head of the
house returned thanks to the Almighty
God. Before retiring the family Bible
was taken down and a chapter read and
commented on followed by prayer, all in
German. The Mennonites are very
strict, pious people, tobacco, strong
drink and dancing are not tolerated.
Germans generally are free from the
vice of gambling.
I stopped over night with a family of
Lutherans. The father and mother be-
ing absent the daughter of 18 said grace.
After supper she told me she was a
member of the Lutheran church, and
when I asked her if thev were allowed
to dance she replied, "O yes! if it wasn't
for that we wouldn't have any fun."
Before breakfast her father read the
German Bible and afterward complained
of feeling tough, giving as a reason the
taking of more drams than usual in set-
tling a land deal.
However the Germans may differ in
their religious views they are a very
religious people and keep up family
worship far better than the Americans.
At another home where I had the
pleasure of spending an evening, the
daughter was an excellent singer, hav-
ing the best soprano voice I have heard
for a long time. She selected some
familiar tunes like "Sweet By and By"
"Rescue the Perishing" and sang in
German, while I sang bass in English.
It was a queer duet, and if you would
allow me to say so, well worth hearing.
Her father and mother were fond of
music and sang some of their old time
tunes they used to sing in the old coun-
try.
Many lessons can the Americans learn
from the Germans of thrift and economy
and sturdy piety. They were the first
to prove the adaptability of this county
for successful farming. Wheat has
been their leading crop. Their im-
provements show that most of them
have succeeded well.
I. H. Smith, Rocky, O. T.
Here is a condensed version of one of
Tom McNeal's popular fables in the
Topeka Mail and Breeze: There was
once a youth averse to toil and he con-
ceived the idea that actors have a good
time. He went off with a traveling show
but found it the hardest work proposi-
tion he ever struck. When down in the
Ozark Mountains he wrote home:
Dear Father: 1 have been captured by a gang
of bandits and held for ransom. The bandits de-
mand S500 before they will let me go. Please
send this amount by return mall and release
your loving son from captivity.
Your son, James.
He thought he would ask for enough
to get home on and then some, but the
parent thought the letter had a mousy
odor about it, and wrote in reply:
my deer James: I write you to say we air all
well and hope this will And you Enjooyn the
same blessing, The bandits ask to much for
you. After they get real well acquainted with
you they wont value you at more than twenty-
five (25) cents. When they get you sized up at
somewhere near your real value Let me know
and i will see what 1 kin do for you. In the
meantime my son you will have to worry along
the best you know how.
From your lovln' parent. Jason Tompkins.
And as the old man laid a postage
stamp on his tongue to soak, he said,
"That young man must not think just
because his ancestor has corns on the
bottom of his feet from follerin' the
plow that he therefore is an easy mark."
Always in the Lead!
* ►
*
A. C. HIPPEN & SONS
The Coat of a Big Daily.
The New York Journal has fourteen
presses, each capable of printing in five
colors, and costing from $75,000 to $100,
000 apiece. The weekly payroll is from
$30,000 to $60,000, and that is only part
of the expense. Each press can print
96,000 eight page papers with five colors
on outside, hourly. A country editor
justly feels proud of a circulation of
1,000. The Journal's battery of presses
can print that number of eight pige
papers in less than three seconds. The
rolls of paper weigh about 1100 lbs. each
and an ordinary edition uses hundreds of
them; an extraordinary edition may use
1,400—the load of two or three freight
trains. It has from 1,900 to 2000 people
in its employ in New York City alone,
not counting its army of correspondents.
—Kansas City Pointers.
m
Staple and Fancy
GROCERIES
AND QUEENSWARE
You want to trade where your patron-
age is appreciated,
You want to trade where you get the
Best for your money,
You want to trade where you will re-
ceive the most courteous treat-
ment at all times
COME TO OUR BIG STORE.
A.C.Hippen&Sons
Southwest Corner Square.
Hobart
Steam Laundry
H. Hansen, Prop.
Lot 20, Block 42, South of Track.
Family washing done at 5 cents per
pound, dry wash.
Satisfaction Guaranteed.
DEWEY
SALOON
Dewey Bros., Props.
Fine wines, liquors,
cigars, etc.
A Street - Hobart
Go to the
F. A. NEWMAN,
WHOLESALE AND RETAIL
GRAIN AND FEED
PRICES THE LOWEST A^D SATISFACTION GUARANTEED.
HOBART. OKLA.
Two Doors south of the
Republican Office
MRS B. F BURKE
MILLINER.
A full line of up-to-date Millinery. Near the northeast
corner of the court house square.
.MEET ME AT THE..
Lone
Sherman Housej wolf
Bar..
For first-class accommodations
Table the best the couutry af-
fords South B Street
SARATOGA B0A*D B>
SHORT * ^
$ ORDER. WEEK
SOUTHEAST CORNER SQUARE
South B
Street.
Sank Foster and family came up
from Hobart to eat Christmas dinner
with home folks and for a short visit in
the city. Mr. Foster reports business
good in Hobart and the country rapidly !
setteling up with good substantia]
citizens who are going right to work to
improve their claims.—Blackwell Times
Record.
J. W. ARMOUR. Prop.
Fine
Wines.
Liquors
And
Cigars.
Hobart,
O. T.
THE PALACE DRUGSTORE
Thackston & Pepper, Prop.
Dealers and Jobbers in
Pure Drugs,
Dr. E. E. Clark,
Pnysician & Surgeon.
Medicines,
Chemicals.
-THE-
Calls answered promptly. Office In Kartzbaum i
The Stroud Messenger tells of a | Building, East Side Square.
queer family near that city, consisting
of a man and his twelve children. Nine
of the children are coal black, but three
of them are albinoes with pink eyes and
a skin covered with witish spots. Al-
though raised together, the albinoes do
not speak English, but have a language
we carry a full and complete
line and can till your wants on
short notice
BIG 4
RESTAURANT
West Side Square, Main Street.
Beats all competition. Best regular
of their own that they convene with, meals and nicest lunch. Give them
and which no one else can understand. * trial.
Try &n ad In the Republican.
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Newspaper.
Kimber, Edmund W. The Hobart Republican. (Hobart, Okla.), Vol. 1, No. 25, Ed. 1 Friday, January 3, 1902, newspaper, January 3, 1902; (https://gateway.okhistory.org/ark:/67531/metapth350454/m1/5/: accessed April 23, 2024), The Gateway to Oklahoma History, https://gateway.okhistory.org; crediting Oklahoma Historical Society.