OCR Text |
Show OKLAHOMA CELEBRATES ITS 1 5THANNIVERSARY col. ( KAKAJ . V V-v ' - STATE OF OKLAHOMA. As it will appear through the union of Oklahoma and Indian Territories. "rush" at its opening was the most exciting ex-citing in history. For weeks thousands of prospective " set tiers lined the borders bor-ders of the Territory to engage in the mad race for claims when the signal to start should be given. The celebrations today are an occasion occa-sion for much political "milling." There are many candidates for everv elective exftice under Statehood, and all are taking advantage of the opportunity oppor-tunity to do campaign work. l'm'T the act of Congress admitting the Territory Ter-ritory to Statehood, Guthrie is to remain re-main the capital for several years. When the time comes for the people to select their own capital, Guthrie will seek to retain the honor, but she probably prob-ably will be opposed by Oklahoma City, Muscogee, Vinitn, Knid, Perry, Shawnee, Shaw-nee, South McAlester, and a number of other towns. The new State will have. an area of 70,430 square miles. Oklahoma has 31.-400, 31.-400, and Indian Territorv 3!,030. GUTHRIE, Okla., April 22. "Old" Oklahoma, that part of the Territory first admitted to white settlement, is j eighteen years old today. . Celebrations are In progress in several towns, and they are of a more than ordinarily enthusiastic en-thusiastic nature, as In all probability they are the last the Territory will en-Joy. en-Joy. If the Constitution recently drawn up is ratified in August, as seems certain, Oklahoma and Indian Territory will be admitted to the Union as a State within with-in a year. With the passing of Oklahoma from the list of Territories, Utah will lose her place as the youngest of States. The coming entry "into the sisterhood of commonwealths will have a larger population than any other State has had at admission. Oklahoma, including the Cherokee strip and "No Man's Land," has a population estimated at 825,000. Indian Territory's population is in the neighborhood of 442.000. "Old" Oklahoma's growth in wealth and its development along all material lines in the eighteen years of its existence ex-istence also .have been remarkable. The |