Newspaper Page Text
VOL. A v 11.
Trip to Oklahoma and Return
Messrs. Furr and Morris Highly Entertained by Oil
Magnates—lnteresting Sketch of the
New Country
On May 18th we left Maysville
having been presented with tickets
aud other expenses for the trip.
Of course anything given to these
two gentlemen as a present is
thankfully accepted and apprecia
ted.
We found a delightful country
along the way, enjoying much ol
the scenery during the two days
travel. The country seems dry
and dusty, but after crossing the
Mississippi river the country has
had rather two much rain, cspe
cially all through Oklahoma.
We arrived at McAliester on
May 20th at midnight and were
met by Messrs. Mattocks and Jones
aud royally entertained by them
at Busbee Hotel. McAlester is a
city ol about 20,000 population lo
rated in the coal mining and oil
district aud a veiy beautiful and
prosperous little city.
Early in the morning we took a
team and started for the country
to begin looking over 17,000 acres
of laud owned by these gentlemen
and their associates which is lo
cated in several different counties.
We drove northwest about lft miles
to Seipio a splendid little inland
town and on our way saw many
fine farms and ranches and thous
ands and thousands of horses and
cattle. They called our attention
to many hundred acres of land
ow ned by them that day and were 1
very tempting alter they had
quoted us the prices, which were
merely a song as compared to prices
in the older states. We returned
to Me Ales ter that evening and
went to Kiowa that night which
is a Isautiful little prairie town
about the size of Maysville, and a
fine stretch of prauie as far as I
could see covered with cattle,
horses aud tine fields ol wheat,
oats, corn, cotton, and various oth
ei crops. Early the next morning
we proceeded to drive again and
the first thing shown us was a well
being drilled lor oil, which was a
great show for us. It requires
much more expensive and heavier
machinery than 1 bad expected to
do this work, but you may know
that to drill a hole one to three
thousand feet deep would require
the right kind of tools and men
who know' their business to do this
work. After they had shown us
several thousand acres of their land
we heard a roaring similar to that
of a steam engine which appeared
to be in the far distance. We were
told that this noise was from a gas
well which we did not believe, but
after driving alxiut a mile we came
to it aud found that it sure enough
was a large gas well aud Morris
said: "I want to go away from
here, for there is plenty of ground
for me to stand on that is not in a
quiver.” I, too, was alwjut ieady
to get away but by these gentlemen
assuring us that our lives were
really not in danger in the least,
we ventured up nearer the well.
To prevent the “cap” on the well
blowing off again they w ere allow
ing a small part of the gas to es
cape all the time which served as
a safety valve—this escaping gas
caused all this noise that could be
heard for miles around. This
well’s daily production is twelve
million cubic feet which is worth
SofiO.OO per day and there were
nine other wells within a mile of
this one with about the same pro
duction each. This was certainly
a mystery to me to see this gas com
ing out*of the ground with such
great pressure, which pressure is
Supposed to remain the same for
jnany years.
BANKS COUNTY JOURNAL
| We then rode lo a squaw-man s
house to cat our lunch and lccd
our horses and he insisted that he
have dinner prepared for us, but
i we declined as w e had brought our
i lunch along with ns. He then
asked if we would like to have
some butter milk with our lunch
and w e accepted ol this hospitality
and it must have been line judging
from the amount that Morris drank,
which was only eight glasses and il
there is anything that he’s a good
judge of it is buttermilk. So we
ate our lunch among the joke and
laughter of the several cowboys
standing around and counting the
cow-boy saddles hanging on the
jM'gs of the smokehouse numbered
nine which is one of the principal
assets of the cow-boy. For tear
that you will not understand what
a squaw-man is, I'll tell you: lie
is a white man that has married an
Indian girl. These Squaws as a
rule are very beautiful which is a
good inducement for the white man
to Marry her. And another minor j
attraction is that he, his squaw
wife, and each of his children are
given land by the government aud
the results of which he and his]
family own about three thousand
acres of land a part ol which is be
ing cultivated and the oilier covered
with cattle and horses. W c saw
four hundred of their cattle in one
herd. We then proceeded on our
journey and at about four o clock
at rived at Cairo where we took a
tiain for Ardmore on whi h we all
took seperate seats and the con
doctor immediately came through
land Mr. Mattox handed him the
| tickets and pointed out myself to
him and told him that the other
j one was furth'i r back in the car
land I told the conductor that tin
other fellow was the ugliest man on
the train, that fellow back there
with a mouth like a fly trap from
Georgia. The conducton ask me
if I was his brother. An we were
sailing over the beautiful prairies
much to my surprise I looked back
and saw Morris setting by a beali-
I fill Squaw maiden and she was
singing to him in Choctaw and he
seemed to enjoy it as though he
understood one or two w ords of
what she was singing—it wasa love
song. We arrived at Ardmore at
about 8:30 on time and early next
morning took an automobile for the
famous Uealdtou oil fields w hich is
said to be only six or seven months
old and is the biggest oil field for
its age in the world. The oil field
was about 33 miles from Ardmore
and it was a very beautiful country
ali the way with very fine fields of
crops, horses and cattle, but not
nearly as many cattle and horses
as we had seen the day before.
Looking over this beautiful scenery,
rich beyond imagination, Morris
said he wished that like Jacob of
old, he might claim it for a heri
tage for himself and his children.
Alter one hour’s ride we came to
Wilson which is the terminus of a
branch railroad aud the principle
shipping point for the oil fields.
This town is only seven months
01-l and now has a population of
five thousand. We then proceeded
to the fields proper which was
about 8 miles further and we could
see the several hundred derricks
for the oil wells long before we
reached tke field. The town in the
immediate oil field is know as Rag
town aud has a population about
j 3,000 people a hich is said to lie
the largest town in the United
States without a post office.
There are over three hunlred
_ oil wells iu and arouud this town
Devoted to Giving the News, Encouraging the Progress, and Aiding the Prosperity of BanKs County.
Homer, Banks County, Georgia, Friday, June 12, i9!4.
|and iu nianj places they areas
j close together as four hundred feet.
; When the oil is struck in these
! wells, it often spouts from 100 to
200 feet high and runs ail over the
ground until the well can be got
fen under control. Some ol these
wells produce as much as six
i thousand barrels per day. There
I is so much oil produced in this
field that the pipe line (one of
which runs to the gulf of Mexico,
SOO miles,) and the railroads can't
handle it, Therefore many thous
and barrels h ive gone to waste.
You can see many large lakes ot
oil all around the town. A few
days belore we were there one of
the large lakes broke over and
thirty thousand barrrels of oil was
lost, which is a common oc
ciirrciiec in an oil field like this.
Some of the largest wells in this
field are on an i ighty acre tract
owned by a young man, whoab.ait
eight months ago traded a small
meat market for it and it is now es
timated to be worth more than two |
million dollars. Many others
have done os well w ith small iu
vestments ami some even better.
From what I could learn they have
louml oil in almost every place
they have drilled in Fastern Okla
homa.
We had no serious accidents un
til we reached Healdton and it
happened to our conservative Mr.
Morris when he was standing on
the hank of an eartheru rase voir
w hich contained 200,000 barrels ol
oil. He seemed to doubt its being
real oil so he ventured a little too
near the edge of the mighty lake
of oil. His feel found liis foun
dation Very greasy which landed
him far out in the lake of oil. He
soon lose to the surface and alter
desperate efforts we succeeded in
pulling him out aud hastened to the
“Big Limit” hotel which was a
tent and readily found a change ol
clothing except underwear, so
Mattocks was mediately sent out
to pui chase some for the greasy
victim, lie soon found that union
suits were the only thing to be had,
so they were very quickly handed
in to him and after waiting an un
reasonable length of time we went
iu see how he was getting along.
We found him with Liie union suit
on hind part before and he doing
his best to button it iu the back,
which is impossible for any man
of his build and age, so we im
mediately set him right and again
started out on our .sight-seeing
trip which was great.
We arrived at Oklahoma City
Saturday night and found the most
beautiful city I had ever seen and
we had a very enjoyable stay there.
By the way I was about to forget
to tell you about our taking din
ner one day with some Choctaw
Indians. They had a nice little
residence and the Squaw woman
evidently was a good cook judg
ing from the splendid dinner she
gave us, and they had four very
beautiful and attractive children
that were very interesting to me.
It is a characteristic of Indians to
never laugh around strangers, so
after dinner Morris was making a
desperate effort to make the Indian
laugh and he failed until we were
hitching up the team to leave and
the Indian said we use to use hick
ory bark for hamestrings in the
early days, and Morris said,
“that,s nothing, Furr there wore a
hickory bark necktie nearly all of
his life” and that tickled the iu
dian so much that he could not hold
in and almost bursted his sides
laughing.
One of the greatest surprises to
me on the trip Was to find the
cow boys the kind ol boys they
are. I expected them to have
guns buckled to their sides and
uneducated and a drinking
roudy bunch, but iu itead of that
as a rule they were well educated
and high toned fellows, aud the
j population as a whole iu Okla
! homa seem to be composed of the
very best class of people except
the indians, but they are just about
as highly respected as the white
people, for they all have plenty of
money and many of them more
than they know what to do with.
For instance the Osage Indians
are the wealthiest tribe of people
in the world.
Another surprise to me was to
see no drunkness. The week I
was in Oklahoma, I did not see a
drunk man, nor one even drinking 1
that 1 could tell. 1 think every
body out there is too busy making
money to get drunk. Practically
every little tow n out there, regard
less of how small, lias a large brick
school house, in fact everything
seems to be progressiveness in Ok
lahoma, and they are the most
hospitable I oversaw. They spare
no time or money in showing you
what they have and what they are
doing. If you complain about
taking up their time and spending
money on you, they mer
rily say that they need
more money, brains, muscle and
women and that this is the only
way they know how to get them-
A1 together this was the most
delightful trip of our lives. We
We were royally entertained by
our friends and were surprised to
find so much solid improvement
and so great investment of capital.
This country must one day become
the most wealthy and attractive
section your great United States.
Respectfully,
P. F. M. Kbit it.
A Card
Editor Journal: —Junta word,
please, relative to Mr. K. J. Dyar’s
article in last week’s Journal on
the Frank ease. In the tirst place,
ninty fine pel' cent of the people
of Georgia believes Frank is guilty.
In the second place public senti
ment grew against Frank as the
trial progressed and the evidence
pointed uneriugly to him as the
murderer of little Mary Phagan.
In the third place, the effort to
have lion. Hugh Dorsey to run
for governor is not prompted by
“sentimental rot” as Mr. Dyar
suggests.
Everybody knows that Frank
ha l unlimited money at his com
mand and everything that was for
,-aie was bought but Dorhky was
Not For 8a t.K.
That explains the sentiment be
hind Dorsey. Mr. Dorsey came
out of it without a smell on his
garments.
There is no doubt u my mind
that there was a conspiracy entered
into by Frank’s lawyers, Wni, J.
J.urns and the daily papers of At
lanta to create a public sentiment
in i'avoi of Frank. For weeks
there was not a line in the Atlanta
papers except it was favorable to
Frank.
It was at this stage of the game
that Tom Watson butted in and
what he did for that A t’anla bunch
was a God’s plenty—l hey are not
over it yet, they are s.ill stunned!
Mr. Dyar can mention Tom Whit
son’s name m connection *ith Tom
cat and Tom Tit but all lovers of
justice and fair play thank him
for his part in the Frank ease.
Reader.
Look! Read!
$1.50 buys the best
WASHING- MA
CHINE on earth.
Will wash fall tub of
clothes in 8 minutes.
A Two cent stamp will
place one in any home
on ten day's free trial.
Write to-day. Van’s
Distributing Agency,
Lula, G-a.
Hollingsworth
Everything dry around here.
Some of the folks have gone to
the singing and some stayed at
home.
Harvest time is here, some are
cutting their oats while others are
letting the “goats” eat them.
Prof, and Mi's. John T. Wise
visited Mr. and Mrs. Geo. W.
Smith, of Cornelia, Sunday.
Messrs. John Nunnaly aud Ed
Horton attended the singing at
Enon Sunday. Don't think they
went on the train.
Mr. Connie Watts attended the
Grand Lodge of Odd Fellows at
Macon the past week.
Esq. J. W. Cochran ol Washing
ton, was in town Saturday.
Mr. Luther Caudcll says there is
one real pretty girl in V\ Rings
worth. But says she caiytl return
the compliment. In fft>Bs case I
would say there’s no' “taters.”
Mr. John M. Caudell attended
preaching at Broad River Sunday.
Miss Bulah Crow, one of Com
merce’s good looking young girls,
is spending this week as the guest
of Mr. and Mrs. E. M. Dalton.
Mr. John Elic Stephens has pur
chased anew buggy. Look out
girls.
Mr. Billie ltumsey informs ns
that he has already placed his ap
plication for an “automobile” to
be delivered 2 years hence, soouer
or later he says all the boys will
be riding in autos instead of walk
ing. We congratulate you Billie.
It seems that our friend Mr.
Dyar is opposed to Mr. Dorsey
running for Governor, should he
decido to run. One thing sure it
takes a man with “brains” ex
perience and a lot of common sense
to handle a case iu this manner of
the Frank ease and to but up
against a set of lawyers like Luther
Rosser and Rube Arnold and' es
peeially our noted sleuth Detec
live Wm. J. Burns and the while
“shootin match” can’t even rake
up enough evidence to justify the
solicitor in making any comment
on the states side. Now if he is
working so hard in this case for a
very small sum of mouey. What
would lie do if he was elected gov
ernor'! The people of Georgia says
just as he is now doing DEFEND
the good old state ol Georgia.
Mr. Buel Moats accompanied
Miss Cicero Nunnally home from
Sunday school Sunday.
W r e were somewhat surprised at
Mr. Connie Watts Sunday evening
for he actually went home with
Miss Donie Duckett from the sing
ing. He didn't say whether he
a-ked her for her company or
whether hejust walked along, any
way he went. “Nul sed,”
Mr. Thorough Nunnally went
down the road Sunday, “some
where.”
Everbody in this section are in
terested in hunting honey bees, for
there are several hives of bees in
the woods, but nobody knows
from whence they came.
Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Reyton of
Cornelia, visited Mr. and Mrs. W.
E. G. Watts a short while Sunday
evening.
Mr. and ilrs. Albeit Duckett
are receiving congratulations of
their friends upon the arrival of a
baby girl, who came to their home
Friday.
Messrs. Bart and Young Duckett
filled their regular appointment
Sunday at Mr. E. F. Stephens
they say they have to cross aeieek
five times within a huudred yards
to get there. Never mind the crei k
boys il the water is not to high.
Eev. Freeman Rice attended
Sunday school at Harmony Sun
day aud give a good lecture in re
gard to Sunday school work which
was enjoyed by all.
Mr. M. O. Scoggins was in Ath
ens this week on business.
Mr. John N. Hayes has given up
BOYS AND GIRLS
NOTICE!
Miss Elizabeth G. Holland Mr.
J. K. Giles, who have charge of the
Boys’ and Girl’s Club work in
Georgia, will be at Homer on the
20th of June to instruct and aid
the Club members and all others
who will come.
The public is cordially invited
to be present, and 1 very e irnestly
insist on all the Club members to
come.
If you are really interested in
better farming and house-keeping,
eoine and learn all you can.
Very respectfully,
J. T. Wise.
LAND FOR SALE
300 acres Unimproved Timber
Land at #3 per acre, located in
Habersham, Stephens and Banks
counties. Also fodder, corn, cows,
hogs, etc.
T. S. Wei.i.s,
2-t Baldwin, Ga.
Dr. Gr. H. DUNLAP
DENTIST
Commerce, - - . Georgia.
Offers his professional services to
the people of Commerce and sur
rounding territory. Work done
lay or night.
’Phone 12().
NOTICE
By request. Fletcher Durham
will preach at Grove Greek church
the fourth Sunday in July, at
eleven o’clock.
■ -
Automobile Trips to
and From Lula
Leave Lula 7:JO a. in.
Ar. Homer 8:30
Returning
Leave Homer 11 a. m.
Ar. Lula 12: m.
T. M. PATTON.
FAIRBANKS-MORSE ENGINES
It is useless for you to go to a
city, jiay your expenses, and a
higher price, when you can pur
chase what you want in the follow
ing line right here in Maysville.
Frirbanks-Morse Engines
Use father Gasolene or Kerosine
Electric Light Plants
For Town or residences —any ca
pacity
Water Systems of All kinds
Itescvoirs of any capacity
Cypress and Metal Tanks
Feed and Grinding Mills
Wood saws or any machinery that
would be needed to use with
an engine.
H. 7. PARKS ,
Maysville Garage.
DENTAL NOTICE
Dr. D. M. Snelson, of Toccoa,
will be at Baldwin the first week
of each month prepared to do den
tal work in all its blanches —office
over the Bank.
his position at ('ornelia as foreman
of the water and sewerage system
and will locate here and engage in
the farming business.
Work on the Jordan bridge is
under way at this time and a good
bridge so they say will be built,
and will be completed probably in
10 days or two weeks. “We diun’t
get one before we needed it.” .
A party went a fishing a few
days ago and saw some fish play
ing in the water and become so ex
cited he threw his hook, bait and
line in the water and went home
as usual without any meat.
A Live Wire.
NO. IO