Muskogee Cimeter

The Muskogee Cimeter. The questions involving the present and future interests and welfare of the negro citizens of Indian Territory, which are likely to arise under matched conditions, are of such partinent moment that we have decided to throw our columns open under the title of "The Forum" for a free and intellectual discussion relative to the host methods by means of which our negro fellow citizens may be in at least a reasonable state of preparedness for the political conflicts bound to enure. Subscribers and others concerned in racial progress and advancement are cordially invited to contribute. Address Editor of Cimetea, Muskogce, I. T. It may as well be put down as a dead moral certainty that the negro citizens of Indian Territory are keeply alert to the changed social and political conditions which are to be the resultants of the passage of the Hamilton statehod bill, constructing Oklahoma and Indian Territory into one great state. That these people are looking forward to this event is due to several reasons dependent upon the three distinctive elements comprising our negro population. For one, we have the negro Creek citizens, who through the remarkable fair dealing of the Creek Indians, their former owners, have been permitted to participate upon equal footing and with equal privileges, social and political, in all public affairs, legislative, judicial and executive, thus establishing a government, quasi-state perhaps, of which the future historian, dipping his pen in the ink of candor, and looking over the various states hedging on the territory and differing widely upon the question of negro suffrage, will have to agree with Uncle Para Bruner that this has been indeed "An island surrounded by land." Then, the negro from the Southland, who, like a bird freed from imprisonment, finds here the first atmosphere into which he may soar at any height in absolute freedom. He has been intimidated, excluded from exercise of all privileges of citizenship, and oppressed in many ways, and yet, withal, has accumulated wealth and acquired professional skill, and has come to the Territory to contribute his share toward the development of its varied resources. And finally, we have the negro from the North, who, having enjoyed the educational and political opportunities of that section, has come to the Territory—in some cases with wealth, but in the majority of cases with an experience in shrewd political practices, high educational training and little money, believes that this is the field wherein he may attain the political eminence which he was denied, despite the fact that while he was a minority as to numbers, he was characterized as "a balance of power" in so-called pivotal states. The negroes of these three classes are discussing daily upon the street corners and in the barber shops all phases of the Hamilton statehood bill. They are not alone concerned, though perhaps more so, in the clause pertaining to the exercise of the elective Muskogee, Indian Territory, Thursday December 22 1904. franchise, but in every clause, including those of prohibition and female suffrage. While they are unanimous in opposing any "grandfather" provisions, placing the new state in the same category with states of the South, which, according to the truthful admission of Governor Vadaman, have totally eliminated the negro from politics, they are divided upon the question of prohibition for ten years in that part of the new state which is now Indian Territory. These negroes are not blind to the possible and probable candidacies of men of their race, for seats in the constitutional convention, for county offices and places upon the floor of both branches of the legislature. Their horizon is so extensive as to reach the national capital, and there is a firmly established hope that the J. H. H. HON. A. G. W. SANGO One of our leading citizens, and president of Creek Citizens Bank seats so well and ably filled by Revels, Bruce, Lynch, Smalis and others in congressional halls may be occupied again by some representative negro from the Indian Territory. If the aspirations of some self-styled negro leaders were unleashed, it is quite likely there would be a number of grand-stand plays close upon the heels of the signal for the admission into statehood, and the sequent stampede of office-seeking demagogues into the newly created political arena. There could no good arise from such a course; in fact, any too loud clamoring for official recognition will have a seriously deterrent effect and possibly give reason for an alignment of the citizens of the territory upon racial rather than political lines. None the less, it must be conceded that on account of the numbers of negroes in the Territory, their commercial wealth and activity, their extensive ownership of land and their average educational equipment, the opportunities are more favorable here for seeking and obtaining official preferment than anywhere else in the United States. The conservative negro is giving to the affairs which loom in prospect after statehood deep and earnest consideration. He believes that the future welfare of the race will be better safeguarded by going slow. He knows that questions of great impor- GREAT CROWDS From every direction At BRINS' Specialty Store Sale Everybody pleased, Everybody satisfied The greatest bargains of the season, Don't overlook this great bargain sale all this week. BRINS' SPECIALTY STORE tance to the negro will come up for settlement in the constitutional convent on and the legislature, and while he will demand representation in both, he is in favor of only such negroes as shall be strong and true enough to stand up and be counted on the side of race progress and at the same time be broad enough to take into contemplation all affairs of interest to all classes of his constituents. He believes such representative negroes can be found, and it is upon their brows the conservative negro believes the brand of statesmanship should be impressed. Spoken in the Open. An Oklahoma lawyer who visited the court of Judge Raymond over at Sapulpa the other day missed his train for home because it is against the etiquette of the court to leave the court room while court is in session. The etiquete is enforced by the bailiff, who has a heavy hand. Guthrie State Capital. We extend to the Oklahoma lawyer our sympathy and fully realize the humiliation heaped upon him, but we trust he will not conjure up a grudge against the town of Sapulpa or the good people of Indian Territory because the judge of the Western district chose to adopt and enforce unreasonable and arbitrary court rules. Our friend from over the line is only one of many hundreds who have smarted under the Raymond rules of court 'et'quette." It is, indeed, a pleasure to drop into the courts of Oklahoma, a country where the bar and courts are friends — a condition which until some three years ago prevailed here—and mingle with the lawyers and receive the cheerful handshake of the judge. Nevertheless, we can happily inform our neighbors that the time is coming when the fact will be recognized that there are rights and courtesies due the attorneys which the court must respect, as well as rights and courtesies due the court which the attorneys must respect—a day when every voter in the Western district can step up to the polls and cast his vote for the judicial candidate, who, at least, will not show disrespect to the proclamation of the president of the United States by holding court on Thanksgiving day, and who will not deem it necessary to bar the court house doors Number 11 while delivering stereotyped instruction to the juries. Hail to the ballot box! Hail to the rights of men! —Sapulpa Signal. The above is a common ordinary lie, made out of whole cloth. A lawyer can leave the court room at any time and can take his client with him, if the client is not held by the officials for want of bond. The Oklahoma lawyer must have been a d—n poor misfit not to be able to leave the court room with special permit. The Sapulpa Signal shows its ignorance of court rules by publishing the above rot and pretended sympathy. The present rules have enabled the courts to do business and relieve the crowded condition of the docket, as they were three years ago. Its far better to work on Thanksgiving Day than loaf, go fishing or spend the day in gambling. Can you see the point? The next Muskogee docket is in better shape than it has been since there has been a court here, and, of course, if it takes work on holidays to do it, it is better to let the good work go on. The time for county government is approaching and many candidates are being grooved for the various places and even now a place is being selected for the court house and public square. We are certainly moving along in the right direction. Read our ads and trade with our advertisers. Quit trading with the foreign cusses who send their tools to work the resident portion of the town and who pay nothing to keep up our schools or help out our institutions. Our home merchants are entitled to your trade and further, we believe a heavy tax should be levied by our city council on these cusses to take orders for future delivery. There are a great many of them at work in the suburbs of the city and inside the present incorporation. Protect our business men, is our motto. Some of these scalawags are taking orders for groceries, dry goods &c. Stop them and stop them at once, is our demand on our city administration. Make the tax so blamed high they will hunt other fields or open up a business house and take their chances with other business men. W. H. TWINE, Editor. MUSKOGEE, IND. TER NEW STATE NEWS. Muskogee police have been ordered to arrest all professional beggars. The national good roads committee will make a tour of the territories in January, and the mayors of a number of the towns are appointing committees to meet the members. A new bar association has been organized for Pottawatomie county, consisting of the attorneys of Shawnee and Tecumseh. W. S. Reeves, a fireman on the Rock Island, was killed in the yards at El Reno last week by being struck by an engine. His home was in Glasgow, Ky. Bela Hinkle, a Rock Island railroad conductor who was arrested at Chickasha as one of a gang who had been connected with the wholesale robbery of cars, has been found guilty. The high school building at Elk City was burned last week. Loss, $15,000, with $6,000 insurance. The building was erected about three years ago. Incendiarism is charged. A stranger, arrested at El Reno on a serious charge, asked the officer to kill him to settle the matter. He put up valuable diamonds for bond, and being released, mysteriously disappeared. The claims against the Lee hotel at Oklahoma City, which was closed last week, amount to $14,200. A local stock company will be formed and the indebtedness lifted and the hotel reopened. Henry Smith of Louisville, Ky., pleaded guilty at El Reno to stealing two circulating libraries, and was sentenced to one year's imprisonment. He represented himself as an agent of the library and secured the libraries at Yukon and Union City. A negro family residing near Ada was poisoned last week. One of the members died, but the others are said to be recovering. They had eaten meat which was packed in tin buckets, and it is supposed the poison from this sickened them. The jury in the case of the territory against Joe Willoughby at Oklahoma City found the defendant guilty of murder in the first degree, and recommended a life sentence. Willoughby is the bartender who last spring shot a negro porter for failing to take off his hat when entering the saloon in which he was engaged. Cattlemen who persist in allowing their cattle to graze on the public domain, regardless of the laws of the Indian Territory and the orders of the Indian agent, are causing the Indian police in the Cherokee and Chickasaw nations much trouble this winter. Officers have been sent to drive the cattle out, and trouble ay be expected if the law is not complied with. Deputy Marshal Brents, at Ada, has in his possession about $650 worth of property which belongs to persons who were arrested with whisky in their possession. He will send a list of the property to the office at Ardmore. The property will then be sold and the proceeds turned into the treasury of the United States. This is the first instance of the kind in this part of the territory. --- WHEAT PASTURE EXPERIMENTS Wheat pasture on the farms of Oklahoma is an important item and more especially in those sections where stock raising is becoming the principal branch of the farm program. This is a new country and the farmer who is interested in the stock industry has not had time or spare cash to build a silo in which to store a supply of palatable food for winter feeding, but he has broad acres of wheat land which will furnish, in a measure at least, a supply of succulent food during a period when the amount of such material is necessarily limited. The plan of feeding a liberal supply of silage or roots to young growing stock or dairy cows is highly recommended. Since the practice of growing roots in any quantity for feeding purposes has been adopted and since no provision has been made for the ensilage of corn, the stockman is forced to look elsewhere for a supply of succulent material to use in connection with roughage, as corn and Kaffir stover, or prairie hay, of which there is generally an abundant store. During favorable seasons the wheat fields furnish a liberal amount of fresh green pasture. The weather is generally mild and the young stock or even the dairy cows can be allowed to run upon the fields at will. Taken in the aggregate, the value received from the wheat pasture by the farmers of the territory amounts to quite a large sum of money. In the year 1903 the wheat crop comprised some 1,643,130 acres, the major portion of which was pastured during the fall and winter months. This at $3.00 per acre, a very moderate estimate, would mean a net return of $4,929,390 for the territory. This leads up to the question which has probably come to the man who studies and plans as he endeavors to reap profit from this business, namely: to what extent is it advisable to pasture the wheat throughout the fall or winter months? What effect will very close grazing or keeping stock upon the fields late in the spring have upon the yield of grain which is to be harvested the coming season? These and other questions suggest themselves when the subject of pasturing is considered. In order to answer some of these questions the Oklahoma experiment station in 1902 started and carried through some work pasturing wheat under ordinary field conditions. This work was continued under almost the same plan during the last season. The results for the two seasons, the one extremely wet and the other extremely dry, point very emphatically toward definite conclusions. The season of 1903-4 was not very favorable so far as the wheat was concerned. The rainfall during the summer months was distributed quite uniformly, there being an average monthly precipitation of 3.16 inches for the four months of July to October inclusive. Ground that was plowed early, from the 15th of July to the 1st of August and cultivated thoroughly at frequent intervals contained a fair supply of moisture at time of seeding. The field in which this experiment was made was in a fair condition when seeded. There was sufficient moisture in the soil to insure a perfect germination, hence the plants made a fair growth in the course of two months and stock was turned into the fields the latter part of November. Exceeding dry weather prevailed during the winter months. The total precipitation for the six months commencing with November and ending with April was 8.08 inches. Soil samples taken from unpastured and pastured plats on February 29th indicated that the soil to a depth of 12 inches, contained about fifteen per cent of moisture. Early in March the lower leaves of the wheat plants commenced to dry up and fall. The growth throughout the winter months was meager on all plats, thus the amount of pasture furnished was somewhat limited as compared with the amount obtained under normal conditions. The fields and plats during the entire season were perfectly firm, thus the soil was not tramped and put in a poor physical condition as it was the previous season. When the ground is very wet and the cattle are allowed to pasture upon the wheat, the texture of the soil is not only impaired but a large number of the wheat plants are destroyed. It will require more work the next season to prepare the same land for wheat than would be required if the necessary precautions had been taken and the stock not been allowed to run when the soil was very wet. Such conditions are not met every year but the precaution noted above should be observed during exceptionally moist periods. In 1903 a half acre plat that was given moderate treatment during wet periods gave a yield of 2.2 bushels per acre more than a plat of the same area upon which the cattle were permitted to run while the soil was very soft. The latter plat was also very rough for the binder at the harvest season. Nine one-half acre plats were used in the work during the season of 1903 and 1904. These plats were located in a wheat field about one mile west of Stillwater, and they were surveyed and fenced the first week in December with the exception of the three plats included under general field treatment. The cattle had been on the wheat only a short time when the plats were fenced. The soil in this field would be classed as medium upland clay loam (which is considered a good wheat soil). The different plats were divided in the following manner: Plats 1 and 2. The wheat was not pastured after December 5, and prior to this date the cattle had been pasturing upon the plats only a few days so that these may be considered as control plats—those receiving no treatment. Plats 3 and 5. The stock was allowed free access to these up to February 29th at which time the gates were closed. Plats 7, 8 and 9. The wheat on these plats was given general field treatment, that is the lots were not fenced but the cattle were permitted to run over these plats just as they passed over the regular field. Plats 4 and 6. These plats were given the same treatment as 7, 8 and 9 and in addition they were pastured severely April 15 and 16, the cattle being confined to the lots until the wheat was pastured quite close. The wheat at this date was needing rain very much. The plants on the unpastured plats were much in advance of the wheat on the plats which were pastured to February 29th, while the plants on the latter plats made a much better showing than the plants on the regular field. Dry weather prevailed up to May 4th, at which time the wheat was commencing to head. The outlook was certainly not very promising but subsequent rains aided the wheat very materially in filling up. The crop was harvested June 16 and 17. The grain on the late pastured plats was still slightly green. Treatment Grain bu. Test per acre Unpastured 12.35 55.5 Pastured to Feb. 29. 9.79 54.5 Pastured to Mar. 31 8.06 33.0 Pas. Apr. 15 and 16 5.55 51.0 The wheat on the plats giving the best returns fell quite a little below the standard but this was true in connection with all the wheat grown in this part of the territory. On consulting the above table it will be seen that the unpastured plats gave a re- turn of 5.26 bushels per acre more than the plats which were pastured to February 29. 4.29 bushels per acre more than the plats which were pastured to March 31, and 6.80 bushels more per acre than the plats which were pastured late. The yield of straw on the unpastured plats was somewhat in advance of the yields obtained in the case of the other treatments. Pasturing wheat, which has made but a normal growth, even to a moderate degree has a tendency to lower the yield of grain and straw but the value received in pasture would in more cases more than cover the difference which exists. The stock should be taken out of the wheat field by March 1, or March 15 at the latest if reasonable returns are to be expected. Close, late pasturing after April 1 lowered the yield to almost one-half as compared with moderate pasturing. Pasturing wheat when the ground is very wet will have a tendency to lower the yield of grain and at the same time injure the texture of the soil. Where the wheat makes a very heavy top it is advisable to pasture. The following table gives the yield per acre on the same field in the wet season of 1902-03: Grain bu. Straw Per acre Field Pastured 20.5 1.17 Heavy Winter Pas 18.8 1.06 Light Winter Pas 20.9 1.36 Light Winter and Late Spring Pastured 10.7 .83 Late Spring Pas. 14.0 .94 Not Pastured 23.2 1.49 A member of the faculty of the Columbian Medical college at Washington is particularly fond of taking his students unawares in his "quizzes." To one student, whom it would not be uncharitable to call a dullard, the professor said one day: "What quantity constitutes a dose of —," giving the technical name of croton oil. "A teaspoonful," was the answer. The instructor made no comment, and the student realized that he had made a mistake. After a quarter of an hour had elapsed he said: "Professor, I would like to change my reply to that question." "I'm afraid it's too late, Mr. Blank; your patient has been dead fourteen minutes," replied the professor. Some nations pay too much attention to reverence, China, for example, where the worship of ancestors is in vogue, and no one is said to amount to much until he is dead. Other nations have too little reverence, our own, for example. Here we have no caste. Our presidents are born in log cabins. At school and college no youth is looked down upon because he came from the lowly walks of life. The Energy in One Horse Power The measurement of a horse's power for work was first ascertained by Watt, the father of the modern steam engine, and he expressed this in terms that holds today. He experimented with a number of heavy brewery horses to satisfy himself that his unit of measurement for work was correct. After many trials he ascertained that the average brewery horse work equal to that required to raise 330 pounds of weight 100 feet high in one minute, or 33,000 pounds one foot in one minute. So, according to St. Nicholas, he called this one horse power. Bricks are now being made of clean sand and ground quicklime that are said to be as substantial as granite. They cost $2.50 per 1,000. According to Country Life the mixed ingredients are forced into a strong steel cylinder mold by means of a screw. After the air has been sucked from the cylinder hot water is admitted, the rock being formed by the resulting pressure and heat. Two Days That Count as One W. W. Padgett, an attorney at Fort Scott, has made a discovery that is new to the legal fraternity and business men in general. It is said that the last two days of December this year, December 30 and 31, are only one day legally. It seems that way back during the reign of Henry III, when the lunar months were disposed of, changing the first of the year from March 25 to January 1, and making the calendar on the irregular lengths, the law that governs the calendar of today was established. The leap year was provided for in order to make the time come even, but at the same time it was provided that 365 days shall constitute a year in all cases, so that every time there is a leap year the last two days shall count as one in all legal papers. If a note falls due on the next day to the last day the executor has until the end of the next day to take it up. Ever remark that a loafer is always glum; that he is always saying disagreeable things? The contented, helpful, useful men are the men who are busy. Most of the mean things said in a town are said by the idle men sitting around the loafing places. Doing Great Work. Florisant, Mo., Dec. 19th.—(Special) That Dodd's Kidney Pills are doing a great work in curing the more terrible forms of Kidney Disease, such as Bright's Disease, Dropsy and Diabetes, everybody knows. But it must also be noted that they are doing a still greater work in wiping out thousands of cases of the earlier stages of Kidney Disease. Take for instance, Mrs. Peter Barteau of this place. She says:— I have been subject to pains in my back and knees for about three years, but since I have been taking Dodd's Kidney Pills I have been entirely cured." Others here tell similar stories. In fact, in this part of Missouri there are scores of people who have cured the early symptoms of Kidney Disease with Dodd's Kidney Pills. The use of the Great American Kidney Remedy thus saved not only the lives of Kidney Disease victims, but thousands of other Americans from years of sufferings. When a preacher's wife expects her husband to light fires and carry in wood, the women of the church wonder that lightning doesn't strike her for being so impious. Important to Mothers. Examine carefully every bottle of CASTORIA, a safe and sure remedy for infants and children, and see that it Statesmen who "also ran" are naturally slow to predict a bright future for their country. Certainly Fair. Of all troubles humanity is subject to none perhaps cause more acute distress and more frantic efforts for relief than many forms of itching skin troubles. We will tell you a remedy that rarely ever fails—Hunt's Cure. One box only is absolutely guaranteed to cure any one case of itching trouble—no matter the name. If it fails your money is cheerfully refunded. Those women who go on the theory that a few minutes' waiting for meals makes no difference to their husbands have another guess coming. FITS permanently cured. No nite or nervousness after first day's use of Dr. Kline's Great Nerve Restor- s. send for FREE $2.00 trial bottle and treaties. DR. R. H. KLINE, Ltd. $2.00 Arch Street, Philadelphia, Pa Man oftener succeeds through failure than through success. Hundreds of dealers say the extra quantity and superior quality of Defiance Starch is fast taking place of all other brands. Others say they cannot sell any other starch. AGRICULTURE As there are many who have sown would call their attention to the fact that there need be some care in pasturing the crop, especially with sheep. It is even worse than clover in causing bloat in sheep though we have never heard of any trouble with cattle in this. They are not so fond of the crop and do not eat it so greedily when first turned on it as they do clover. Until sheep become accustomed to it, it is not safe to leave them for any length of time on rape, even after the dew has dried off. When first turning them to get a good feed of something else before turning them on the rape, then they will not eat so greedily. A half hour at a time is long enough to leave them on at first. A good way to pasture it after they have become accustomed to it is to have it in connection with a good grass pasture and allow them to run from one to the other at will. The rape is too succulent for the best results as an entire pasture plant for sheep. If at any time they are inclined to crop it until it gets a fresh start. It should be borne in mind that no plant will produce as much feed if too closely cropped. The roots become starved for want of the support normally received from the air through the leaves. To insure a maximum amount of pasturage from the rape it is well to withhold the stock from it until it gets twelve inches high. With the roots thus established the amount of feed it will supply is enormous.—Farmers Voice Deterioration of Corn Fodder. As our readers all know from experience, corn fodder deteriorates very rapidly during the winter season if left standing in the shock, especially if the shocks are small and not properly built or tied, thus exposing a large amount of the fodder to the fall and winter rains. The reason why the cow does not take as kindly to corn fodder in the spring as in the fall is because it has deteriorated, often very rapidly, in quality. Where our readers shred their fodder, the quicker it is done the better. They do not need to wait until the fodder is perfectly dry. Just as soon as the corn is fit to crib the fodder should be shredded and stored away. Two tons of fodder shredded as soon as the corn is safe to crib is worth three tons at least of fodder shredded in February, provided, of course, it is shredded when free from dew or rain. It is not the remaining sap that deteriorates fodder, because it does not have in it the bacteria that cause ferment and decay. It is the bacteria that come in from rain that do the damage either in clover hay or corn fodder. One of the great advantages o. shredded fodder is that it enables us, when done in time $ \mathrm{r} $ to prevent this rapid deterioration of corn fodder which always takes place in the shock and for which there i. no other remedy.—Wallace's Farmer. Farm Notes. An animal must be kept in good flesh and thriving to make it develop and prove profitable. There is no use keeping a cow on the farm unless she is a milker and butter-maker. In applying manure, the farmer must use his own judgment as to how, when and where he applies it. Lack of fibrous roots is one cause of the failure of so many of our forest trees, dug up in the woods and transplanted. As time is money it will be found profitable to arrange the stables so as to lessen the amount of time in caring for them. POACHO SHED IT MORTAL TRIUMPH UNITED STATES 60 ACRE FARMS IN WESTERN CANADA FREE Importing Canadian wheat is now a fact. FREE A PAIR of SCISSORS For Your Name and Address Get a Free Homestead in Western Canada, or buy some of the best wheat lands on the continent, and become a producer. The average yield of wheat this year will be about weny bushels to the acre. The oat and barley crop will also yield abundantly. Spledid climate, good schools and churches, excellent marketing facilities. Apply for information to Superintendent of Immigration, Ottawa, Canada, or to authorized Canadian Government Agent—J. S. Crawford, No. 125 W. ninth Street, Kansas City, Missouri. Send us 15 signatures, cut from packages of Cheek & Neal Porto Rico Coffee and your name and address and we will mail you at once a nice pair of scissors. This is just one of the 65 PREMIUMS Given Absolutely Free to all users of Cheek & Neal Porto Rico Coffee. Your choice of such articles as a beautiful Dinner or Tea Set, Sewing Machine, Parlor Clock, Curtains, Cutlery, etc. We want every lady in the land to use the cleanest, best drinking, popular priced package coffee on the market. If you try it you will buy it ever afterwards. WANTED—For the U. S. Army, able-bodied unmarried men, between ages of 21 and 55; citizens of United States, of good character and temperate habits, who can speak, read and write English. For information apply to Recruiting Officer, Postoffice building, Oklahoma City, Okla., or Tulsa, Ind. Ter., Enid. Shawnee or Guthrie, Okla. Put up in tightly sealed 1-b, packages—air and moisture proof—like above cut. Sold by dealers everywhere. Don't delay—buy a package of Cheek & Neal Porto Rico Coffee to-day and start saving for a fine pair of scissors. At your grocers. Rubber Stamps Notarial Seals, Checks, Stencils and Badges. GOLD, SILVER, NICKEL AND COPPER PLATING WAND & SON, OKLAHOMA CITY. Cheek & Neal Coffee Co. Nashville, Tenn. W.N.U.—Oklahoma City—No. 52, 1904 RS FIND TABLE BINDER by than most 10¢ Cigars from Frank P. Lewis' Factory, Peoria, IL HORSE? ME? OR HEARD handle in his hand, you will retailogue, binds of saddles, saddles, MINGY SADDLES. CAPE OF SADDLE. PLEASE YOU. General Offer, you will offer that every horse shall to cut this ad out all, free, postpaid. CO., CHICAGO. appreciates nicely starched sarch under the sun gives the Starch. It is absolutely with other starches contain. It or causes the clothes to em. For 10 cents you get sarch that can be made. SMOKERS LEWIS'SINGLE 5¢ Cigar better Quality than workers supplied by their jobber or direct from Frank IOKERS FI VIS' SINGLE BIN ar better Quality than most 10 dled by their jobber or direct from Frank P. Lewis' Fa SMOKERS FIND LEWIS' SINGLE BINDER 5¢ Cigar better Quality than most 10¢ Cigars Doctors supplied by their jobber or direct from Frank P. Lewis' Factory, Peoria, ID HAVE YOU A HORSE? WOULD YOU LIKE US TO SADDLE? SEND YOU A BEAUTIFUL FOR THE MOST WONDERFUL SADDLE OFFER EVER HEARD OF, an offer by which anyone can have the nicest saddle in his neighborhood, cut this ad out and send it to us and you will receive our New, Big and Beautiful Special Saddle Catalogue, large, handsome photographic illustrations of all kinds of Men's, Women's, Boys' and Girls' Saddles, Stock Saddles, Ranch and Range Saddles, SMALL, MEDIUM AND LARGE, PLAIN AND FANGY SADDLES EVERY IMAGINABLE KIND AND STYLE AND SHAPE OF SADDLES OUR PRICES WILL ASTONISH AND PLEASE YOU. You will get our Very Latest and Most Astonishingly Liberal Offer, you get our New Free Trial Plan, you will receive a gaddle offer that every owner should have at once. If you own a horse, don't fail to cut side and send to us today and see what all you get by return mail, free, postpaid. ADDRESS, SEARS, ROEBUCK & CO., CHICAGO Every tidy housekeeper appreciates clothes and linens. No starch unless so good a finish as Defiance Starch. Free of the chemicals which other sticks to the iron or causes break. It does not rot them. For 16 ounces of the best starch that Get Defiance. Men's, Boys' and Girls' Saddles, Lice, Ranch and Range Saddles, AND LARGE, PLAIN AND FANCY SADDLES, THE KIND AND STYLE AND SHAPE OF SADDLE. WILL ASTONISH AND PLEASE YOU. Latest and Most Astenishingly Liberal Offer, you will special Plan, you will receive a saddle offer that every horse once. If you own a horse, don't fall to cut this ad out and see what all you get by return mall, free, postpaid. ARS, ROEBUCK & CO., CHICAGO. A tidy housekeeper appreciates nicely and linens. No starch under the s and a finish as Defiance Starch. It is a of the chemicals which other starches co sticks to the iron or causes the ch It does not rot them. For 10 cents ances of the best starch that can b defiance. Men's, Women's, Boys' and Girls' Saddles, Stock Saddles, Ranch and Range Saddles, SMALL, MEDIUM AND LARGE, PLAIN AND FANGY SADDLES, EVERY IMAGINABLE KIND AND STYLE AND SHAPE OF SADDLE. OUR PRICES WILL ASTONISH AND PLEASE YOU. You will get our Very Latest and Most Astonishingly Liberal Offer, you will get our New Free Trial Plan, you will receive a saddle offer that every horse owner should have at once. If you own a horse, don't fail to cut this ad out and send to us today and see what all you all get by return mail, free, postpaid. Every tidy housekeeper appreciates nicely starched clothes and linens. No starch under the sun gives so good a finish as Defiance Starch. It is absolutely free of the chemicals which other starches contain. It never sticks to the iron or causes the clothes to break. It does not rot them. For 10 cents you get 16 ounces of the best starch that can be made. Get Defiance. THE DEFIANCE STARCH CO., OMAHA, NEB. ```markdown ``` --- --- Please say where you saw this advertisement. HOW to Fascinate and Control Everybody. 6 most valuable secrets for life. Address DEPT. OF SCIENCE, Lock Box 153 Chicago When writing advertisers, Kindly mention this paper. The Twelvth Annual Sermon Trinity Lodge, No. 14 A. F. Jand A. M. At Central Baptist Church Sunday, Dec. 25th, 1904. For Sale. I have a first class buggie with shafts and pole, apparently new, also a set of harness for same. This buggie is what is known as the mountain buggy with breaks, will trade the same for corn, at market price. B.T. Koll, at U.S. Jail A. S. MCREY. Lawyer, 201-2 Okmulgee Avenue. EXCELSIOR Tonsorial Parlor and BATH HOUSE BANKS & THURMAN, Props. 207 SOUTH SECOND STREET Agents for Garden City Ill. custom and Great Western Tailors of Chicago. OFFICIAL GUIDE TELLS YOU ALL Money refunded if not as represented. Order It Today Prospectus mail- ed free. AT LAST You Can Buy Indian Territory Lands But There is only one reliable and approv- ed guide on Indian Territory, and that is J. E. Dunn's Indian Territory. It is just out. Contains 250 pages, has many line half tones, large maps of Oklahoma and Indian Territory. Only work ever published on Indian Territory without a line of advertising in it. Every good citizen needs it. Is worth many $5 to every one interested in Indian Territory. Order today or you may be too late. Sent post paid $1. U. S. and Canada; foreign countries $1.50. COMMONWEALTH PUB. CO. Oklahoma City. FRISCO SYSTEM COMPLETELY AND COMFORTABLY SERVE WESTERN MISSOURI AND EASTERN KANSAS TO THE PRINCIPAL CITIES EAST, WEST, NORTH, SOUTH. PULLMAN SLEEPERS, RECLINING CHAIR CARS. TRAINS LIGHTED AND VENTILATED BY ELECTRICITY. The Direct Route to the "WORLD'S FAIR CITY" SAINT LOUIS For detailed information, call on nearest representative FRISCO SYSTEM, or address L. W. PRICE, Division Passenger Agent, JOPLIN, M.C. W. H. TWINE. Lawyer. Will practice in U. S. Courts and Daws Commission. Office on Second Street. Night School in BOOK-KEEPING, SHORTHAND, ENGLISH and SCIENTIFIC COURSE for Youth and Men... Reasonable terms furnished on application. 12 years experience teaching. PROF. HERBERT A. CLARK LOCK BOX G. MUSKOGEE, INDIAN TERRITORY MUSKOGEE UNION RAILWAY, THE RIGHT GOODS RIGHT RIGHT PRICES PLACE Ft. Smith and Wagoner and the Kansas and Cherokee Oil Fields, via Coretta and Missouri Pacific Ry. Lv. Muskogee— 9:30 a. m. and 8:05 p. m. Ar. Ft. Smith— 12:55 p. m. and 11:45 p. m. Lv. Ft. Smith— 4:00 a. m. and 3:15 p. m. Ar. Muskogee— 7:31 a. m. and 7:35 p. m. Lv. Muskogee— 6:25 a. m. and 6:20 p. m. Ar. Wagoner— 7:10 a. m. and 8:10 p. m. Lv. Wagoner— 9:55 a. m. and 9:17 p. m. Lv. Muskogee— 10:46 a. m. and 2:17 p. m. For time of trains beyond Wagoner see Missouri Pacific Iron Mountain time tables Is the RACKET STORE in the Oklahom Building. FARM LOANS Loans Made to Freedmen on their Allotments Long Time. Easy Payments : : : : JAMES L. LOMBARD, FINANCIAL AGENT, The Union Central Life Insurance Company. Address: Chas. H. Lombard, Manager, No. 207 N. Second St , Muskogee, I. T. MONEY TO LOAN ON FREEDMEN LAND the superintendent. "There should be no uble," said he. "In land ng the s. It takes a thief to "Don't be i. it, Byrne quietly; "you must wait yo. turn."—Denver Republican. A. R. PAYINGHAUS. Traffic Manager. Former Superintendent Bryne C. New York, who had the friendship of several influential Wall street men, did not stand high in the estimation of an operator who thrived in the days before it became unpleasant for "get rich quick" schemes. His home had been robbed, but the thieves not being quickly apprehended, he visited Mulberry street to "call down" Cheap Trips for Holiday Travelers to the North, East and Dec. 20th. 21st. 22nd and 26th See that your ticket reads via THE ROCK ISLAND J. S McNALLY, Div Pass Agent, GEO H LEE, Gen'l Pass Agent, Oklafioma City, Okla Little Rock, Ark No Relation of His. A thin, nervous looking man stepped up to the pastor as the latter came down from the pulpit. "You have had a good deal to say this morning," he observed, "about a feller that killed a man named Abel." "Certainly," replied the pastor. "The Sin of Cain" was the subject of my discourse. "I wish you'd do me the favor next Sunday," said the thin man, in some excitement, "to tell the folks that the man you were talking about this morning ain't no relation to the Kane that keeps a livery stable down by the mill. I don't want none of my friends to think that I had a hand in that killin'. That's all. Good day!" SMITH-TORRANS CO. EVERYTHING FOR THE HOUSE SATISFACTION OR YOUR MONEY BACK North Main St. Muskogee, J. T. 50 YEARS' EXPERIENCE PATENTS TRADE MARKS DESIGNS COPYRIGHTS & C. Anyone sending a sketch and description may quickly ascertain our opinion free whether an invention is probably patentable. Communications strictly confidential. HANDBOOK on Patents sent free. Oldest agency for securing patents. Patents taken through Munn & Co. receive special notice, without charge, in the Scientific American. A handsomely illustrated weekly. Largest circulation of any scientific journal. Terms, $3 a year; four months, $1. Sold by all newadies.org. MUNN & Co. 361 Broadway, New York Branch Office F St. Washington, D.C. Mother and Child Many women are denied the happiness of children through derangement of the generative organs. Mrs. Beyer advises women to use Lydia E. Pinkham's Vegetable Compound. "DEAR MRS. PINKHAM: — I suffered with stomach complaint for years. I got so bad that I could not carry my children but five months, then would have a miscarriage. The last time I became pregnant, my husband got me to take Lydia E. Pinkham's Vegetable Compound. After taking the first bottle I was relieved of the sickness of stomach, and began to feel better in every way. I continued its use and was enabled to carry my baby to maturity. I now have a nice baby girl, and can work better than I ever could before. I am like a new woman." —MRS. FRANK BEYER, 22 S. Second St., Meriden, Conn. — $5000 forfelt if original of above letter proving genuineness cannot be produced. FREE MEDICAL ADVICE TO WOMAN. Don't hesitate to write to Mrs. Pinkham. She will understand your case perfectly, and will treat you with kindness. Her advice is free, and the address is Lynn, Mass. No woman ever regretted having written her, and she has helped thousands. Reading without reflekshun, and swallowing without chewing is what brings on dispepshee.—Josh Billings. They sure do knock colds out—Cheatham's Laxative Tablets, guaranteed. At least once a week a man sees the prettiest woman he ever saw in his life. Dealers say that as soon as a customer tries Defiance Starch it is impossible to sell them any other cold water starch. It can be used cold or boiled. Another hope that deceives males only: That a man may buy a gun in the fall and pay for its cost by spring in the difference in the meat bill. Mrs. Winslow's Soothing Syrup. For children teething, softens the gums, reduces inflammation, allays pain, cures wind colic. 25c a bottle In a very small town there is the same demand that a widow remember her dignity as there is in all towns about a preacher. TO CURE A COLD IN ONE DAY Take Laxative Bromo Quinine Tablets. All drugs give refund the money if it fails to cure. E. W. Grove's signature is on each box. 25c. He lives not who lives not in earnest. Piso's Cure is the best medicine we ever used for all affections of the throat and lungs.—Wm. O. ENDSLEY, Vanburen, Ind., Feb. 10, 1900. There is no load a man carries so heavy as self. Storekeepers report that the extra quantity, together with the superior quality of Defiance Starch makes it next to impossible to sell any other brand. A good many of the difficulties we complain of are difficulties only because we complain. BEGGS' CHERRY COUGH SYRUP cures coughs and colds. THE ODD CORNER Buttered Side Down. Adam began it, the first of his race, Giving the practice renown; Picked himself up when he tumbled from grace, Found he fell buttered side down, Buttered side down. All of creation falls buttered side down. Stocks take a tumble its mist morning and Stocks take a tumble 'twixt morning and night. night, Caused by a weather man's frown, Gather our dust in their bottomward flight, Bound to fall buttered side down. Buttered side down. All things financial fall buttered side down. Some day you find yourself falling in love, Prettiest girl in the town; No use to struggle, just note the above, Apt to fall buttered side down, Buttered side down. Cupid's adherents fall buttered side down! —New York Sun. Skeleton His Cycle Companion. M. Feodor Kalmukoff, a rich resident of Tomsk, Russia, recently appeared in court on the extraordinary charge of stealing a skeleton from Tomsk university. Residents on the outskirts were astonished to see M. Kalmukoff, mounted on a tricycle, with a complete skeleton perched on the saddle behind him. On the fleshless skull hung a Parisian picture hat. The millionaire's face was grave and he paid no attention to the mob of howling street boys who ran after him. On the police being appealed to stop this indecent sight, they replied that there was nothing illegal in displaying affection for skeletons. Several women fainted, but the freak cyclist and his grisly companion rode on, and before they were stopped had completed seven circuits of the town. Half a mile from the finish the attitude of the police changed, and constables pursued the machine, shouting, "Stop, thief!" The cyclist, however, spurted, and, skeleton and all, ran over a stout policeman who tried to bar his path. It transpired that M. Kalmukoff had made a bet that he would ride round Tomsk seven times accompanied by a skeleton, and had bribed a servant at the university to steal the skeleton. Superstition Too Strong. The "Natural Club" of Moscow, after an existence of thirteen years, has lately been dissolved under extraordinary circumstances. It was formed for the purpose of combating superstition, and consisted of thirteen members. The thirteenth annual dinner took place at the house of the president, M. Levitoff. During dinner, while M. Levitoff was making an eloquent speech denouncing superstition, the electric light suddenly failed, and the room was plunged in darkness. Suddenly a whirring sound was heard, and to the horror of the skeptical company a luminous bird fluttered over the table and brushed against the president's face. The materialistic diners, too terrified even to strike a match, rushed panic-stricken downstairs. At last, when a courageous servant, armed with a candle and a poker, entered the dining room, he found a bat covered with luminous paint fluttering against the window. The intruder was removed, and the thirteen returned, only to find that the hired waiter had disappeared with all the silver on the table. Remembers Unexpiated Crime. In the Village cemetery of Angelica, N. Y., stands a small shale stone dedicated to Ira Stevens, who was murdered Sept. 20, 1863. Recently a bloody hand mark was discovered on the back of the stone, apparently of recent origin. Its appearance there is a mystery. Stevens was murdered with an elm club. His murderer was one John Rogers; a notorious card sharper and "bad man." Rogers was taken to Batavia in the December following the murder, but during a terri- ble snowstorm escaped. It is said that he later went to Australia, and there became imensely wealthy. The club with which the murder was committed was placed in the grave, and on the first anniversary a small elm tree began to spring through the ground. This tree now stands towering to the height of nearly seventy feet, and it is said that each year on the anniversary of the murder the bark on the tree turns blood red as a perpetual reminder that the penalty for the deed was never paid. Buried Cats by Husband. The village of Parkville, near Baltimore, Md., is disturbed and trustees of the Hiss Methodist Episcopal church are indignant because Mrs. Sarah Rice has buried her two pet cats in the church graveyard beside the tomb of her husband. She has also planted illies of the valley over the resting place of her defunct feline darlings. One of the church trustees saw a newly made mound in the churchyard, and as no interment permit had been issued, he investigated, finding that Mrs. Rice had buried her cats in her lot. The board of trustees entered protest. Mrs. Rice ignored it, simply declaring the lot belonged to her and she would bury who and what she pleased in it. The law was invoked, but when Mrs. Rice was summoned before a magistrate he dismissed the case, there being no precedent to govern him. Loneliest Spot at Sea. The loneliest spot in the ocean, according to Sir John Murray, while talking with friends at the recent geographical congress in New York, is Rockall, a British possession in the Atlantic ocean about 186 miles from St. Kilda, in the outer Hebrides, and about 200 miles from the Scottish coast. It is a rock about 250 feet in circumference, rising to a sheer height of seventy feet from the surface of the sea. It is surrounded by thirty fathoms of water, with neither shoal nor beach. No inhabitant has ever lived on this island. On only two occasions, so far as known, has man set foot on it. It cannot be lighted nor buoyed for the benefit of mariners. The difficulty of getting on is exceeded only by the danger in getting off Harp of Marie Antoinette. The harp that once Queen Marle Antoinette played to admiring audiences of courtiers and again to while away the weary hours when she was a prisoner of state in Conciergie, is ir. Brooklyn. Miss Dagmar Langenberg, a young Swedish woman, in this country scarce a year, is its owner. There is no doubt as to the harp's authenticity; it has descended to Miss Langenberg through a long line of ancestors. To those who might question her, Miss Langenberg exhibits the certificate which proves as far as any document can prove that the harp was really once the treasured property of "La Belle Austrienne."—New York World. Forgotten Sponge Killed Him. Ah Sing seems to have been a pretty rugged sort of a fellow, but finally he died. They had him at the City and County hospitals at San Francisco since Nov. 1, suffering, apparently, from a complication of diseases. The surgeons took turns in operating upon him, and so far as is known, the original maladies were overcome; but finally Ah Sing died from the effects of a sponge which the surgeon had carelessly left within his anatomy while conducting one of the operations. Dog Cemetery a Failure. All Souls' day in Paris revealed the fact that the dog cemetery, established here four years ago, has proved a dismal failure. Only a few wreaths and several bunches of chrysanthemums ornamented the tombs on the solemn day, and the few visitors to the cemetery seemed afraid of being seen paying their respects to the graves of their deceased pets. HOPE FOR THE SICK. PERUN THE SULFATE MONTH MRS. HENRIETTA MARSH. Mrs. Henrietta A. S. Marsh, 769 W. 16th St., Los Angeles, Cal., President Woman's Benevolent Ass'n, writes: "I suffered with la grippe for seven weeks, and nothing I could do or take helped me until I tried Peruna. "I felt at once that I had at last secured the right medicine and I kept steadily improving. Within three weeks I was fully restored, and I am glad that I gave that truly great remedy a trial. I will never be without it again." In a letter dated August 31, 1904, Mrs. Marsh says: "I have never yet heard the efficacy of Peruna questioned. We still use it. I traveled through Kentucky and Tennessee three years ago, where I found Peruna doing its good work. Much of it is being used here, also."—Henrietta A. S. Marsh. Address Dr. Hartman, President of The Hartman Sanitarium, Columbus, Ohio. Ask your Druggist for a free Peruna Almanac for 1905. Most of the shadows of this life are caused by standing in our own sunshine. If you don't get the biggest and best it's your own fault. Defiance Starch is for sale everywhere and there is positively nothing to equal it in quality or quantity. Sunday School Teacher--We ought never do in private what we would not do in public. Little Mary—How about taking a bath? Strike Oil. Much oil has been discovered in Texas within the past few years, but none to equal Hunt's Lightning Oil. Others gush for a little while and then go away. It goes on and on forever, curing aches, pains, burns, bruises, cuts and wounds. In fact, a sore spot Hunt's Lightning Oil will not make happy can't be found. Don't worry: be cheerful; plan your work and success will crown your efforts. The supply of literature is not due so much to the demand for literature as to a certain demand for groceries and such. Christmas Stockings CHRISTMAS WEDDING "A Christmas wedding is rather an unusual thing. At Christmas-tide everybody's mind is set on something other than weddings, and to have one then seems almost like an interruption of the just mirth which reigns the world over," writes Muriel Falkland in the Housekeeper. The writer goes on to describe how the idea of a Christmas wedding was prettily carried out in favor of one of a group of twelve girl friends who had planned to have distinctive celebrations of this greatest event of their lives. "The ceremony was a home one, of course, and as Katherine has a host of brothers and sisters and another host of young nephews and nieces, there was every reason for as genial a time as the occasion and the season warranted. "It must be a real Christmas wedding, all white and scarlet, and with plenty of evergreen," was Elizabeth's first impulse, and we all agreed with her. Katherine was fully in union with our idea, and we found nothing but help all along the line, since she was the last of a large family, each of whom wished to help celebrate her nuptials as joyously as possible. Our first move, when we arrived to get things in order, was to cover every floor in the house with crash. This gave the white background we had wished and afforded besides a splendid facility for the luxurious evergreen trimming which we had planned to make the spirit of Christmas generally felt. Every picture and every doorway and window frame was outlined with evergreen, the spicy odors filling the house, ere we were half through. Holly we used only to wreathe the chandeliers and bank the window sills and mantel pieces. Long garlands of evergreen were hung in festoons along the upper side of the wall from the ceiling, twined around the balustrade and put in loops and circles wherever wall space offered. At each window a beautiful holly wreath, tied with floating streamers of scarlet ribbon, was hung, and on the end of each of the chandeliers hung a great ball of polnsetta, mingled with a few feathery green ferns and tied with scarlet. This was in the halls and chambers. In the drawing room, where the ceremony would be performed, a beautiful archway of ferns and poinsetta was erected by the florists under Elizabeth's direction, and from the middle of the arch a cluster of bells, also of scarlet, was hung in position like a chime. Baskets of scarlet, with ferns trailing from them, hung in the door- Hang up the Christmas stockings, Leave not a dear one out, And wake on Christmas morning With ringing song and shout. For in the silent midnight Shall Santa Claus appear, And crown with gifts of gladness The love-time of the year. Shall Santa Claus ap And crown with gifts o The love-time of the ways between the drawing room and dining room and were set on the little tables and cabinets which filled the room. In the dining room the table was laid for the guests and bridal party under a great cluster of scarlet which hung from the chandelier, and on the table were arranged several clusters of lights, in sliver candlesticks, shaded with scarlet and wreathed with holly and the pure white frost berries, which looked like pellets of glistening snow. Each plate was encircled by holly and at each chair a branch of it was tied with scarlet ribbon. The centerpiece on the table was a mound of holly from which a broad red ribbon was carried to each plate, ending in a small bunch which hung down over the edge of the table. The wedding was planned to occur at half past seven, and just at a quarter past the chimes of the church at the corner began their hour of music, so that we had this sweet accompaniment to the ceremony. Promptly at half-past seven we emerged from the room upstairs where we had been dressing, since the early five o'clock dinner, and we could see for ourselves as we went slowly down the broad stairway that the scene was a beautiful one. First in the procession walked the four smallest nephews and nieces of the bride, two by two, the girls wearing frocks of white with scarlet ribbon in their hair and carrying baskets of holly, the boys in red, each with a branch of evergreen. Then went Katherine, dressed in white gleaming satin, with a bunch of mistletoe fastening her vell, and a white vellum prayer book in her hand. Then we girls, six of us, walked, two by two, each dressed in white, but wearing crowns of frosted holly and carrying a great armful of poinsetta blossoms from which long streamers of scarlet ribbon hung to the edge of our gowns. From the foot of the stairs to the sides of the archway two other nieces, also dressed in white and scarlet, stretched lines of glistening white satin ribbon, in which small bunches of holly were knotted at intervals, and through this enclosed pathway the bride walked to the improvised altar, leaning on her brother's arm. During the ceremony the sound of an organ playing the sweet old Christmas hymn, "Adeste Fideles," penetrated the room, and continued while the solemn words of the marriage service were spoken, making a most beautiful accompaniment for the scene. When it was over there was a mer- Christmas Stock stockings, out, is morning shout. light pear. gladness year. Hang up The cum Is still to To do it And hang Oh, very Some one Or she'll Hang father's sturdy stocking Right here between the boys'; And give him books and papers, As he gives the children toys, Let Santa Claus be careful About the politics; For father has a conscience That to the right side sticks. Hang up the old folks' stockings, Hang up the little girl's; Dear grandma with her silver hair, Sweet Flossy with her curls, Will both be very happy When dawns, in roseate cheer, The Merry Christmas morning, The love-time of the year. —Ethel Bridges in Royal Neighbor. --- Hang up the baby's stocking; The cunning little elf Is still too very tiny To do it for herself. And hang the mother's stocking Oh, very plain in sight; Some one must think for mother. Or she'll forget it quite. ry clash of bells, apparently coming from the very air about us, and when we looked in astonishment to see the reason, we found that an older boy had begged and borrowed all the bells he could, of every kind, and had set them going in the various rooms of the house, as soon as the ceremony was finished and the merry congratuations had begun. The newly wedded pair did not intend to leave the city that night, so the gayest of Christmas wedding parties was in full progress within a few moments after the marriage words concluded. Supper was served first, and the merriment enhanced by the fact that in the bunches of holly composing the centerpiece, which the bridesmaids drew to our plates at the conclusion of the meal, we found each an exquisite little locket showing a branch of holly, with green enameled gold leaves and bits of coral for berries, as souvenirs from our bride. Dancing came next, to the music of a stringed orchestra stationed somewhere out of sight, and through the drawing room, halls and dining room we whirled, counting the moments only by our flying footsteps. It was half-past eleven before we stopped, and then only at a signal from the band. This was no less than a march—or rather, the Christmas hymn played in march time, and stopping our waltz suddenly, we wondered what it meant, until Katherine and her husband, taking the lead, beckoned us to follow in procession. Wondering a little, we did so, and found ourselves led through the hall across to the library doors, which had been religiously closed all evening, rather to our surprise, since we needed the extra dancing place. Katherine flung open the doors and a moment of amazed silence ensued. There in the middle of the room stood a magnificent Christmas tree, hung from rooftop with glittering emblems of the season and aglow with myriads of tapers fastened to its branches. At a signal from Katherine's brother, the electric lights in the hall and dining room went out and we found ourselves with nothing to detract from the radiant splendor of the symbolic tree. After the distribution of the many pretty gifts, the bride and bridegroom led the way to the dining room where a bountiful supper was served including all the favorite Christmas goodies. Thus was brought to a close one of the pleasantest and prettiest weddings that any of the assembled guests had ever seen. Burning the Yule-Log. The ancient Christmas ceremony of the burning of the Yule-log is one that has been transmitted to us from our Scandinavian ancestors, who, at their feast of Juul, at the winter solstice used to kindle large bonfires in honor of their god to set on fire. must think for mother, forget it quite. For Health and Economy use use Calumet Baking Powder "Best by Test" Used in Millions of Homes We sometimes find that while we have been standing up for our rights all the more desirable seats have been occupied. A GUAPANTEED CURE FOR PILES. Itching, Blind, Bleeding or Protruding Piles. Your druggist will refund money if PAZO OINTMENT falls to cure you in 6 to 14 days. 50c. After a boy has learned to say no, he should teach his father, in order to be quite safe. The Famous Byrne taught in three months, speed 150 words per minute or no charge. Byrne Practical Bookkeeping actual business from start to finish. Our practical systems and up-to-date methods of teaching will save you both time and money. Write for free catalogue of the oldest, largest and best School of Bookkeeping. Shorthand and Typewriting in the Territories. Capital City Business College, Guthrie, Okla. Occasionally you find an American who is so conceited because he is an American citizen, and Free, that he never amounts to anything. How's This? We offer One Hundred Dollars Reward for any case of Catarrh that cannot be cured by Hall's Catarrh Cure. F. J. CHENEY & CO., Toledo, O. We, the undersigned, have known F. J. Cheney for the last 15 years, and believe him perfectly honorable in all business transactions and financially able to carry out any obligations made by his firm. WALDING, KINNAN & MARVIN, Wholesale Druggists, Toledo, O. Hall's Catarrh Cure is taken internally, acting directly upon the blood and mucous surfaces of the system. Testimonials sent free. Price 75 cents per bottle. Sold by all Druggists. Take Hall's Family Pills for constipation. The sight must be a pleasing one to women: a caponized rooster made drunk on whisky, and sitting on eggs like an old hen. Rest and Sleep. Few escape those miseries of winter—a bad cold, a distressing cough. Many remedies are recommended, but the one quickest and best of all is Simmon's Cough Syrup. Soothing and healing to the lungs and bronchial passages, it stops the cough at once and gives you welcome rest and peaceful sleep. Some men manage to strike the iron while it is hot, and some others don't seem to know a hot iron when they see it. --- THE CIMETER, Paldahed every week im tae interest of the Nearo by the (imeter Pablishing Co. Batered at the Post Office at Muskogee, 1. T., an second class mail matter. "SUBSCRIPTION: (ia advance) Oe Veer oicssccccecesessssnnssnsnenssessecesenneees: $00 Six MOM 0... ccccccssscccsseiee ceeeteeeseneeeeseessese OO Three MOMth i... ccs escceneeeie vacseee nl ———————————— W.H.YWINE - - - = Editor. WOOD, Ass’t Editor and Manager. J.T.TRIMBLE ~ - = Solicitor k.T. HEARNE, - - City Reporter. The report that Prof. Wood was a can date for member of the school board against Mr. Fink is ‘untrue. He was not a candidate and the fel- lows who desired to use him as such (if any one did), are not friends of Prof. Wood. We are of the opinion that. the Nemocrat got its news from a very unreliable source as there was no organized opposition among our peo- ple against the gentlemen who were elected as members of the school board. The Democrat man who is receutly from Ohio, where they have mixed schools and where the Democratic party claims the honor, perhaps just- ly so for wiping out the “black laws” and making mixed schools is working up a great deal of predjudice unnec- essarily between the races about mixed schools. The Democrat man knows full well that there is no dan- ger of mixed schools here, he knows that he and his party stood for miX¢d schools in Ohio and if he is honest he should stop his unholy howl about a question that can only breed trouble between the races and especially so when there is no foundation for his howl, Statehood is approaching and it is time we were thinking and making plans for tie election of some compe tent, able, brave and representative man as a delegate to the constitutton- al convention, In that convention will be settled the political condi- tion of our people for many years to come and in selecting a man to re- present us we should be careful not to pick a broken down political hack whose only stock in trade is egotism. We are anxious and willing to sup- port a man who will be true to the race, who has property interest in the country, who has the courage and ability to fight our battles and stand by his guns until the last armed foe expires. One who is not only able and resourceful, but has the respect of the opposition, Such a man ts the Hon, A. G. W. Sango, and we nomi- nate him as one of our delegates to the Constitutional convention and ne has the support of this paper from now till he is triumphfully elected. In the last two years several color- ed boys have been sent to the pen from this place for perjury, and at the last term of court at Wagoner some were sent for the same cause, and in each and every instance it is sald that a worthless lawyer is the cause of their downfall, and that said lawyer, who happens to be white, al- ways escapes, while his dupes get punished, The fault is not in the court, but Is with the people, who al- low themselves to be used as tools. It is high time that our people shun Unis fellow as the devil shuns light. A negro or anyone else who can be used as a tool to commit perjury is a fit subject for the pen, and the ras- cally lawyer who causes him so to do should go also. It's only a ques- tion of time when this class of law- yers will break into the pen also, but it will be poor satisfaction to their dupes to know that the devil has been caught after they have suffered for their crime. One of the Salvation Army Com- mittee were In the South part of town recently looking for destitute persons. They met a gentleman, sup- posing him to be a white man, (he was so light colored they could not | tell to which race he belonged) and asked if le knew anyone who were needing help.. The gentleman named some colored persons who might need some assstance and who might need some one to do the Santa Claus .act for the little ones, and was informed by the Salvation Army’ cuss that they were not looking for “niggers.” Now this cuss poses as a follower of ‘the lowly Nazerine and yet he is so full of hellish cussedness that even at Christmas-tide when the whole world should be filled of kindness and love, this imp of hell shows his color prejudice by refusing to carry the boon of happiness to a child who happened to carry a black skin. Hell is full of this kind of religious mis- fits who do more to bring misery into the home than they do to bring hap- piness. (If the home is that of one that God in his wisdom has painted black.) | Reports from Washington indicate that the single statehood bill will pass probably immediately after the holiday recess. It may be we will have some kind of prohibition, but not enough to hurt. We will also have a splendd school fund and the schools will not be mixed, hence the Democrat man and Bert Greer can sleep without having bad dreams and last but not least, that magnificent Muskoget will get the U. 8. court for the Eastern District. FRISCO SYSTEM. Holiday Rates. Dec. 24, 25, 26 and 31, 1904, Jan. 1 and 2, 1905, the Frisco System will sell round-trip tickets between ‘ all points on the Frisco System west of the Mississippi river, also to many points on other lines, at one fare plus 50 cents. Tickets sold on these dates will be good for return until January 4, 1905. For rates, etc., write nearest Frisco agent or L. W. PRICE, Division Passenger Agent, Joplin, Mo. If you want to rent, buy or lease land, write or see H. R. Pierson, Muskogee, I. T., the business mana- ger of the Afro-American Real Es- tate Co. zoth CENTURY BATH COMPANY School of MANUAL THERAPUTICS. Is in advance of and far more sweeping than schools of Osteopathy, including in its course of study Osteo- Manipulations coupled with Dr. Cor- bin’s famous Turko-Russian bath, the use of which is thoroughly and prac- tically taught. All instructions given in operating room on patients suffer- ing from some of the many chronic diseases. For further information address, Cc. M. CORBIN, D. O., 109% North Main, Muskogee, 1. T. Or the Editor of this paper. MUSKOGEE TITLE & TRUST CO. GENERAL BANKING ABSTRACTS of TITLE, INSURANCE, SURETY BONDS end (REAL ESTATE Farm Loans a Specialty Second and Broadway. . . : MUSKOUEE, IND. TER. TERRITORIAL TRUST & SURETY COMPANY ABSTRACTS OF TITLE gy, TITLES GUARANTEED € SURETY BONDS WRITTEN Muskogee, Indian Territory Add ‘a few boxes offcigars to your stand or store and in- crease pr sales, we can furnish is rou CAPADUR- ERS, HENRY GEORGE, LITTLE TOM, AGENT, 306, CREMO, PATHFINDFRS, and several other popular brands by the single box and sell them to you at wholesale prices. It is ee much to invest, and they are sure to sell. Come and havé a 7 with us, co! R. MAIN Ben Estes’ Druggist, snioumugee ; . The 2oth Century Correspond- ° _ ing SCHOOL cf STNOGRAPHY. + Sibel a pins Methods. Our Gem hone ie an ahecitaed 2 seach pee Ientnere la, The School that is receiving praises ae ae For the progress of its studentz. ‘fi Se oh A Ae Sa ‘Gis Do not delay but write today N hs ee prerauameann ae eS. Pp 0, Box 860... Muskogee, LT. Y = GLOYD - LUMBER - (0 a ogee EP ae ROS eee Nee CORP RE ISO Hs Sea ETL RAPE Neg Og ag OFFICIAL STATEMENT OF THE CONCITION OF THE ( ; - COMMERCIAL NAT'N'L BAN K | = = SSS SSS ES = ‘ ) ‘ Muskogee Indian Territory. At close of business Thursday, November 10, 1904. } RESOURSES \ LIABILITIES _ Loans and Discounts $712,003.95 Capital $200,000.00 | ’ Overdrafts (Cotton) 25,989.61 Surplus and Profit 31,572.99 ) Bonds snd Premiums —-206.080 49 Circulation 150,000.00; ) Furniture and Fixtures 7,985.11 Deposits 759,580.25 | ) Cash and Exchange 189,093.48 | weal Sates : $1,141;152.64 $1,141,182.64 ‘Lhe above statement is correct. D. N. FINK, Cashier, j * Business intrueted to our care receive prompt attention, ‘ ee st ee on ee on en on On on BO oS 0 8 2.998 2.98 4990694492469 4ER 49944, TAKING THE STUMP To tell abont our lumber. It is put forward to win the approval of the lumber users of this sec- tion and when ite good points are appreciated it will certanly do 80. We see no satisfacticn or profit in handling low grado stock. Neither will consumers when they learn that the finest lumber doez not piece by the oot but by the inchesr nh ra), a a4 eeu | L fae Res READY FOR DEBATE BILL AS AMENDED NOW READY FOR THE SENATE TIME FOR CONSIDERATION JANUARY 5 Minority Report on Hamilton Bill Asks for Elimination of Reference to Arizona and New Mexico—Some Changes in Original Bill WASHINGTON: In the senate Friday Mr. Beveridge, from the committee on territories, reported the statehood bill, and he will make a motion on the first day the senate convenes that on January 5 consideration of the bill be entered on at once. Representing the minority of the committee, Mr. Bate notified the senate that he would enter a motion to recommit the bill for the purpose of taking further testimony. Mr. Bate gave notice of an amendment confirming the provisions of the bill to the state to be formed by the anion of Oklahoma and Indian Territory and eliminating all reference to Arizona and New Mexico. As amended by the committee the school land section provides that the land must be sold at public auction in tracts of 160 acres. One line in the Hamilton bill reads: "Preference right to purchase being given to the lessee at the time of such sale." This line has been stricken from the bill. As amended in the senate committee, section 9 now rads: "That said sections 16 and 36 and lands taken in lieu thereof herein granted for the support of the common schools may be appraised and sold at public sale in tracts of 160 acres under such rules and regulations as the legislature of the said state may prescribe, the proceeds to constitute a permanent school fund, the interest of which only shall be expended in the support of such schools. But said lands may, under such regulations as the legislature may prescribe, be leased for periods not to exceed five years, and such lands shall not be subject to homestead entry under the land laws of the United tSates, whether surveyed or unsurveyed, but shall be reserved for school purposes only." For two days the committee considered the problem of enforced prohibition for the Indian Territory. It was adopted, recommended and finally adopted again, and in this shape will be reported to the senate. Section 3, article 1, of the Hamilton bill, which passed the house, read: "That perfect toleration of religious sentiment shall be secured and that no inhabitant of said state shall ever be molested in person or property on account of his or her mode of religious worship; and polygamous or plural marriages and the sale, barter or giving of intoxicants to Indians are forever prohibited." The senate committee took up the work where it had been abandoned and added a proviso which set forth: "The sale, barter or giving away of intoxicating liquors—except for scientific, medicinal and mechanical purposes—in that part of the state known as Indian Territory or any Indian reservation, shall be prohibited for a term of ten years from the date of the admission of said state and thereafter until the legislature of said state shall otherwise prescribe." The membership of the constitutional convention was finally fixed at 109 delegates, of whom fifty-five will come from Oklahoma and fifty-four from Indian Territory. It is made the duty of the government chief justice and the secretary of Oklahoma to apportion that territory into fifty-five districts "as nearly equal in population as may be," while the apportionment of fifty-four districts in Indian Territory is to be made by the judges of the United States court. The majority report, if it becomes a law, will admit the new states on March 4, 1906. It provides for five members of the lower house from the state of Oklahoma and two from Arizona. It will add eleven votes to the electoral college. Of these Oklahoma will have seven and Arizona four. RHODES SCHOLARSHIP Qualifying Examination to be Held at the University NORMAN: In accordance with the instructions of the trustees of the will of the late Mr. Rhodes, President Boyd as chairman of the committee of selection for Oklahoma has announced that the qualifying examination for those desiring to become candidates for the "Rhodes scholarship" will be held at the University of Oklahoma in Norman on Tuesday and Wednesday, January 17 and 18. This examination is not competitive, but simply those candidates who have successfully passed this examination. Candidates for this scholarship must be unmarried and must be not younger than nineteen nor older than twenty-five years of age on October 1, of the year in which they are elected. It has also been decided that all scholars shall have reached at least the end of their sophmore or second year work at some recognized degree-granting institution or college of the United States. Those passing the examination in January will be eligible as candidates before the committee of selection for the appointment as the second Rhodes scholarship from Oklahoma. The first scholar was selected by this committee last year and is now enrolled at Oxford. Mr. Kendall, who was the successful candidate for this scholarship last year, was admitted to work leading to a degree, which speaks well for the schools for his year who were permitted to read for the advanced degree. Mr. Kendall is a graduate of the university and all of his many friends here are pleased with his success. WOULD INCREASE EXPENSES. Movement to Cut Indian Territory Court Districts In Halves. MUSKOGEE: It is understood that Judge Sulzbacher, of the western district, is leading a movement to have legislation passed through congress this winter, dividing each of the four judicial districts in Indian Territory in half, thus increasing the number to eight and equalizing the power of the four new judges with the older judges. This would give the new judges the same power to appoint their clerks and manage the judicial affairs of their districts as is now enjoyed by Judges Raymond, Clayton, Gill and Townsend, ranking judges of the four judicial districts. Such a measure, if introduced, would meet strong opposition on the ground that it would increase the expenditures for court purposes fully $100,000. The creation of four additional districts would necessitate the appointment of a number of additional clerks and deputies as well as four more marshals and deputies for each DIVIDEND FOR DEV. RS. Receiver Capitol National Bank ready to Pay 20 Per Cent. GUTHRIE: J. A. Willoughby, receiver for the defunct Capital National Bank, received the checks recently sent to Washington for approval, which are to be used in the payment of 20 per cent. dividend declared some time ago. The creditors of the bank will receive 20 per cent. of their deposits by calling at the bank. In all this dividend will amount to about $150,000. MARKET REPORTS COTTON COTTON Galveston Spots. Low ordinary, 4 9-16; ordinary, 5; good ordinary, 6 4-16; low middling, 7 2-16; middling, 7 10-16; good middling, 7 14-16;; middling fair, 8 2-16. New Orleans. Ordinary, 5 1-16; good ordinary, 6-16; low middling, 7 2-16;; middling, 7 9-16; good middling, 7 13-16; middling fair, 8 5-16. LIVE STOCK MARKET. Chicago. CATTLE—Good to prime steers, $6.00@7.00; poor to medium, $3.75@ 5.75; stockers and feeders, $2.10@ 4.15; cows, $1.00@4.15; heifers, $1.75@5.00; bulls, $2.00@4.00; calves, $3.50@7.00. HOGS—Mixed and butchers, $4.35 @4.65; heavy, $4.57@4.68; lights, $4.30@4.55. SHEEP—Good to choice wethers, $4.40@5.25; fair to choice, $4.40@ 5.25; lambs, $5.00@7.15. Kansas City Cattle—Choice export and dressed beef steers, $5.00@6.50; fair to good, $3.50@5.00; western fed steers, $3.50@5.00; stockers and feeders, $2.50@4.15; southern steers, $2.50@4.50; southerin cows, $1.75@3.25; native cows, $1.75@4.25; native heifers, $.2505.50; bulls, $2.00@4.00; calves, $3.00@6.25. Hogs—Top, $4.60; bulk of sales, $4.25@4.55; hefvy, $4.50@4.60; packers, $4.40@4.55; pigs and light, $3.75@4.45. GRAIN MARKET. Chicago. WHEAT.—No. 2 spring, $1.08@1.14; No. 3, .95@$1.11; No. 2 red, $1.12@ 1.14. CORN—No. 2, 45@46c; No. 2 yellow, 45@46c. OATS—No. 2, 29c; No 3 white, 30c. Kansas City. WHEAT—No. 2 hard, $1.03@1.05; No. 2 red, $1.06@1.08. CORN—No. 2 mixed, 42c; No. 3, 41c OATS—No. 2 white, 31c; No. 2 mixed, 30c. Muskogee Wants Public Building WASHINGTON: Delegate McGuire has introduced a bill providing for a public building at Muskogee. costing $250.000, which is to include a site. About 300 government officials are located at Muskogee. including the union Indian agency inspectors. Dawes commission. United States court and postoffice Extensive Bridge Improvements. TULSA: All bridge work on the Tulsa-Sapulpa division of the St. Louis & San Francisco will in the future be done at Sapulpa, where large shops are being built. Much of the work of putting up the buildings necessary is done. It is said the Frisco will make extensive improvements in its bridges throughout Indian Territory in the next twelve months. Want Prison in Mountains LAWTON: A determined effort is to be made by citizens of Lawton and vicinity to have the Oklahoma penitentiary located in the Wichita mountains. The matter will be given thorough consideration at the coming session of the territorial legislature. At present there are in the Lansing penitentiary 345 Oklahoma prisoners, for the keep of whom the territory pays 50 cents per day each. The sixteen acre allotment of Sarah Mode, east of the town of Vinita, has been purchased by the International Bank and Trust company and will be platted at once. --- SHE PLEADS NOT GUILTY Mrs. Chadwick Says She Is Innocent of Every Charge CLEVELAND, O.: Mrs. Chadwick was arraigned before Judge Wing of the United States district court, pleaded not guilty to every charge brought against her, declined to give bail and was remanded to jail to await trial. President Beckwith and Cashier Spear, of the Citizens' National Bank, of Oberlin, were arraigned at the same time and were allowed to depart after furnishing bonds, each to the amount of $25,000, an additional increase of $15,000 over the value of the bond they had previously given. The arraignment was quietly arranged between District Attorney Sullivan, United States Marshal Chandler and the attorneys for the three indicted people. It was deemed best to have them called on Saturday, at a time when few people would be expecting to see them in court, instead of at a regular session, when a multitude of curious people would attempt to invade the court room. Not over thirty people were present when Judge Wing took his seat to preside for the arraignment only. Court was adjourned as soon as it was over, the entire session not lasting over fifteen minutes. HOLDING THEIR COTTON Texas Farmers Want Ten Cents for the Staple DALLAS: The News publishes reports from ninety-six Texas counties showing the amount of cotton held in each for higher prices. The aggregate is from 530,000 to 585,000 bales. These counties in 1903 produced 1,821,316 bales, or nearly 75 per cent of the total crop of Texas. Of the cotton being held about 77 per cent is shown to be in northern Texas, many of the south Texas correspondents explaining that the crop in that section matured early and was sold before the prices declined. Very nearly all the reports show that the cotton is being held for 10c. It is stated in several of the reports, however, that the farmers have fixed no arbitrary figure and that while they are holding for a higher price they probably will let go at 8c or 9c. Others want even more than 10c. The banks as a rule, are shown to be willing to make liberal advances upon cotton, but it is stated quite generally that the farmers holding are able to carry their cotton without aid. Chief Rogers a Banker TULSA: A bank with an Indian chief as its president has been organized to do business at Sklatook. The institution opens next week, with Chief W. C. Rogers, of the Cherokees, at its head. The bank is incorporated for $10,000, and is located in a town that is only three months old. Clifton George, C. W. Brown and L. Appleby, of Tulsa are directors. Taxes Nearly all Paid EL RENO: As an evidence of prosperity it is only necessary to state that there are less than $2,000 outstanding of the 1903 tax. The total amount for the year was $155,000 in round numbers, and all of this is in except the amount stated. The tax for 1904 will amount in round numbers to $166,000. These taxes are just due, yet $3,000 of this amount is now in the strong box of the treasurer and it is coming in every day Mill Is Assured. CARMEN: The News states that Fred Van Wagner, who is in St. Louis, called at the office of the Southwestern Colonization company, and wrote home that the mill proposition was an assured fact, that sufficient money for the erection of a 300-barrel mill had been pledged, and about the first of the year a number of the gentlemen would be here to commence the erection of the mill building. SETS A NEW MARK VALUE OF CORN CROP OF 1904 BREAKS ALL U. S. RECORDS WOJLD MORE THAN PAY NATIONAL DEBT Value of All Products of the Farm This Year Greater Than the Output of all the Gold Mines in the World Since Discovery of America. WASHINGTON: The secretary of agriculture has transmitted his 8th annual report to the president. In opening his report the secretary enumerates some of the important features of the year's work. Among them are extensive co-operation with agricultural stations; the taking of the preliminary step to conduct feeding and breeding experiments; the war waged against the cotton boll weevil and against cattle mangle; plans for education of engineers in road building; the production of a hardy orange, a hybred of the Florida orange and the Japanese trifoliata; valuable research in successful shipping of fruit abroad; the value of nitrogen-fixing bacteria; successful introduction of plants suited to light rainfall areas; establishment of pure food standards; the extension of agricultural education in primary and secondary schools; the extension of instruction to our island possessions to enable them to supply the country with $200,000,000 worth of domestic products, now imported from abroad. He then proceeds to discuss the place of agriculture in the country's industrial life. Corn is King in United States. The corn crop of 1904 yields a farm value greater than ever before. The farmers could from the proceeds of this single crop pay the national debt, the interest thereon for one year, and still have enough left to pay a considerable portion of the governments expenses for one year. The cotton crop, valued for lint and seed at $600,000,000, comes second, while hay and wheat contend for the third place. Combined, these two crops will about equal in value the corn crop. Notwithstanding the wheat crop shows a lower production than any year since 1900, the farm value is the highest since 1881. Potatoes and barley reached their highest production in 1904, save in 1902 the oat crop was never so large by 60,000,000 bushels. The present crop of rice promises a yield of 900,000,000 pounds — 300,000,000 more than ever before. Horses and mules reach the highest point this year, with an aggregate value exceeding $1,354,000,000. On the other hand cattle, sheep and hogs all show a slight decline. The steady advance in poultry leads to some astonishing figures. The farmer's hens now produce 1% billion dozens of eggs and at the high average price of the year the hens during their busy season lay enough eggs in a single month to pay the year's interest on the national debt. 1904 Crop Worth Five Billions 1901 Crop Worth Five Billions After a careful estimate of the value of the products of the farm during 1904, made within the census scope it is safe to place the amount at $4,900 000,000 after excluding the value of farm crops fed to live stock in order to avoid duplication of values. This is 9.65 per cent above that of the census year 1899. Some comparisons are necessary to the realization of the unthinkable value, aggregating nearly $5,000,000,000. The farmers of this country have in two years produced wealth exceeding the output of all the gold mines of the entire world since Columbus discovered America. This year's pro- over six times the amount of all the national banks, it lacks but $750,000,000 of the value of the manufactures of 1900, less the cost of materials used; it is three times the gross earnings from the operations of the railways, and four times the value of all minerals produced in this country. Reviewing the increase in farm capital, the secretary estimates it conservatively at $2,000,000,000 within four years—this without recognizing the marked increase in the value of land during the past two years. The most startling figures shown as illustrating the farmers' prosperity are those presented by deposits in banks in typical agricultural states. The secretary selects for this illustration, Iowa, Kansas and Mississippi. Taking all kinds of banks, national, state, private and savings, the deposits increased from June 30, 1896, to October 31, 1904, in Iowa, 164 per cent; in Kansas, 219 per cent. and in Mississippi 301 per cent—in the entire United States 91 per cent. A similar favorable comparison may be made as to the number of depositors. The secretary concludes that the farmers' rate of financial progress need fear no comparison with that of any other class of producers. Long Range Weather Forecasts While expressing that hope that the time will come when it will be possible to forecast weather for coming seasons, that time has not yet arrived, and the secretary utters a warning on the subject. Besides safeguarding the live stock industry at home, the department is fostering the foreign trade. The total export of animal products in the past fiscal year exceeded $223,000,000. The total inspections for export were 790,496 cattle, 534,850 sheep and 3,293 horses. There was a great increase in the number of cattle and sheep exported, but a considerable reduction in the number of horses. The loss on cattle in transit to British ports was but 0.17 per cent, and on sheep 0.94 per cent. Clearances of vessels carrying live stock numbered 774. The inspection of import animals calls for the utmost vigilance in order to prevent the introduction of animal diseases. Importations of pure bred animals were light, but a very large number were imported from Mexico for breeding purposes. Inspection of animals and their products was maintained at fifty-one establishments in cities; of antemortem inspections about 65,000,000 were made, and of post-mortem 40,000,000, an increase in both cases over the previous year. The microscopie inspection of pork is restricted to that destined for countries requiring it, and the number of carcasses inspected in 1904 was 313,445. of which 2,643 were found to be trichinous. The secretary devotes considerable space to deporting on the successful conflict waged against cattle scab and mange by operation of the state authorities. During the first nine months of the year, in thirty-four states and territories, nearly 4,000,000 head were inspected, and 168,203 were found affected by the disease, while 300,000 were found to have been exposed to it. The total number of cattle dipped during this period exceeded 420,000. This work very considerably increased the expenses of the bureau. Tuberculosis in Cattle Experiments recently reported upon by the bureau of animal industry snow conclusively that it is an error to conclude that cattle cannot be infected with human tuberculosis. The secretary urges the necessity of a rigid enforcement of the public regulations looking to the control and eradication of this disease in cattle. The bureau distributed 74,000 doses of tuberculin in 1904. The black-leg vaccine for cattle distributed by the bureau continues to give satisfaction. During the year 1,000,000 doses of this vaccine were issued, and over 10,000 persons reported highly satisfactory results. The number of ani- mals that died after vaccination was reduced to the very low figure of 0.44 per cent of the number treated. Cultural Work on Cotton Special work has been done on cotton with a view to bringing home to farmers of Texas and Louisiana, especially in the boll weevil districts, the advantages of better methods of cultivation and the value of early maturing seed. The bureau of plant industry has had the advantage of closest co-operation with the Texas agricultural college, and also with the Louisiana authorities. As a feature of the work in the south diversification farms were established at various places with a view to showing the value and importance of diversified agriculture. The business interests in the respective communities glady co-operate in this matter with the bureau, so that they involve but a trifling expense to the government. Thirty-two of these farms have been or are about to be established. Extensive work has been inaugurated in Texas with a view to breeding new types of cotton better adapted to meet the conditions brought about by the invasion of the new cotton boll weevil. Reference is made to the discovery of the Guatemalan ant by an officer of the bureau and to the transfer of the study and distribution of this ant to the bureau of entomology. Mention is also made of an effort to combat the boll weevil by producing a variety of cotton not subject to injury by this pest. The secretary believes it to be within the range of possibility that resistant varieties of cotton may be found in tropical America or developed by selection. As a feature of the work in Texas a special effort has been made to obtain information as to the best methods of combating the cotton rot, a disease which has been very serious the past season. Considerable advances have been made in the forage crop work. More attention has been given to alfalfa in the eastern half of the United States in the past two years than, to any other crop. The department has demonstrated that this valuable crop can be grown in almost every state in the union. A large amount of information has been gathered in the past year as to the carrying capacity of the ranges in various parts of the west. Intelligent management will bring the ranges back to their primitive state of productiveness, but it is definitely demonstrated that there is no chance of improving range conditions except where stockmen are able to control the ranges upon which their stock feed. It has also been demonstrated that many new plants may be introduced upon the range successfully. Plants that may be grown upon alkali lands have been studied. Investigations of standard grasses have been carried on, and it is hoped that within a few years it will be possible to offer farmers small quantities of seed of improved forms of all the standard grasses. A considerable number of native American grasses have hown themselves adapted to the regions where at present hay grasses are wanting. It is believed that hay grasses can be found on the western plains where the average annual rain fall does not exceed fifteen inches. No less than 1,429 selected kinds of seeds and plants were introduced from foreign countries and established in the United States. These included 350 date suckers, representing forty-two varieties, nineteen varieties of grapes from Russian Caucasus, thirty-three varieties of mangoes of recognized superiority from Central India, 2,000 pounds of the famous new barley from Moravia, 200 trees of the hard Valadmire cherry from Russia (distributed in the north west), and many others. In the congressional seed distribution constant effort is being made toward the improvement of methods of securing and handling the seeds. Every effort is made to improve the quality of the seed and to encourage home seed growing. In the handling of this enormous work which congress puts upon the department the neces sity for strict business methods has been fully observed. The work of handling one branch only of this problem involves securing more than twenty-five car loads of special seed and the festing, packing and mailing of this large quantity to all parts of the United States. The systematizing of all operations has been so perfected that there is little or no friction at present. Experiments With Borax in Food The secretary devotes considerable space in this report to discussing the experiments with borax in food. As a result of extended experiments conducted in the bureau of chemistry, he concludes that the argument that small quantities of deleterious substances may be used without harm is not logical, nor can it be based on the results of the experiments which have been made. The logical conclusions deduced from the data obtained is that the use of baric acid and equivalent amount of borax should be restricted to those cases where the necessity therefor is clearly manifest, where it is shown that other methods of food preservation are not of applicable, and that the use of such a preservative would be less harmful than the effects produced by the foods themselves by reason of decomposition. The value of both borax and boric acid as remedies in medicine cannot be denied, but the secretary contends that the fact that any remedy is useful in disease does not logically warrant its use at any other time. His final conclusion is that both boric acid and borax continuously administered in small doses for a long period create disturbances of appetite of digestion and of health. The football season is ended for this year. Now if they will please quit raising the price of meat good cheer may be expected to prevail. That Pennsylvania man who married a widow after a platonic friendship of twenty-five years must now admit that the elder Weller was right. This sudden thrusting of the stemstvos into public notice is causing a great many busy people to drop everything and run to their cyclopellias. "Every mail brings Nan Patterson offers of marriage." And still there are people who affected not to believe in Max Nordau's theory of degeneration. From the revelations in the matter of the failure of a "women's broker" it would seem that the sucker that is born every minute has a dear little twin sister. The people of New York might pay off their public debt by holding court in Madison Square Garden and charging admission the next time a chorus girl is tried for murder. A scientist says that pumpkin pie is filled with microbes. That is better than having the microbes filled with pumpkin pie, for there wouldn't be any left for the rest of us. John W. Gates was in an automobile accident in New York the other day. The car upset and the chauffeur was seriously hurt. Nothing happened to Gates. Nothing ever does. 4 Philadelphia society girl actress has gone to work as a cook. There are a battalion of other society girl actresses who, if they can't cook at all, can at least cook as well as they can act. Made Him Crazy. A man has recently been sent to an insane asylum at London because his mind gave way after he had tried to solve several newspaper puzzles. One cat in a farmhouse will do very well, but where a half dozen are kept there is sure to be grief Mr. Childs, of Okmulgee, was in the city Monday. Mr. Milt D. Simmons made a flying trip to Texas last week. Mr. Luther, of Tahlequah, was doing Muskogee last week. Rev. Rowe, of Ketchum, I. T., was here Monday on business. P. B. Hudson, of Gatesville, was in the city Friday on business. Dr. J. C. Simms made a flying trip to Boynton Tuesday. W. H. Twine spent one day this week in Oklahoma City, O. T., on business. Wm. Rentie, the hustling promoter of Rentiesville, was here Tuesday attending to land matters. Remember our advertisers. They will deal square with you. Patronize them; they are right. Misses Emma Youngston, of Sango Baptist College, left for her home at Weleetka to spend the holidays. Miss Adline Bonner of Sango Baptist college, left for Newby, I. T., to spend the holidays at home. Mr. and Mrs. Baker, of North Muskogee, will leave Friday for an extended visit to friends and relatives at Beeville, Tex. Mrs. Bates and sisters, the Misses Watsons, of Tahlequah, arrived Tuesday and expect to make Muskogee their home. They will be at home on South Sixth street. They say that "Wash" met the train five days in succession. Now that they are here he will be more attentive to shears and goose. Mr. J. N. Johnson, of St. Louis, Mo., can be found at the office of W. H. Twine, where he is doing stenographic and typewriting work for anyone that may be in need of this class of work. Miss Bolter will leave for Beeville, Tex., Friday, where she will visit friends and relatives. J. C. Cobbra, of Haskell, was circulating among friends here Monday. Miss Settie Burney is in charge of Sturgeon's ice cream parlor and fruit store in the Jones block, where she would be pleased to met her friends. In mentioning the negro enterprise the printer failed to say that we have three dry goods stores, To visit them is convincing that the negro is abreast the times here, and that expansion has recently struck him. Ere twelve months we will be represented in all the commercial lines. GEO. D. HOPE LUMBER COMPANY, MUSKOGEE, I. T. Has the stock to fill your orders. You will find us with a large stock at any time.. Our prices are right and we guarantee fair treatment and satisfaction. We want your patronage and will make it an object for you to trade with us. Come to the Big East Side Lumber Yard and be convinced.—Corner Cherokee St. and Okmulgee Ave. Just received, big consignment of Washington Red Cedar Shingles on which we will make a record breaking SPOT CASH price as follows:— The Big East Side Lumber Yard. Cor. Cherokee St. & Okmul. Ave. TALK WITH US ABOUT IT. Don't scold the other fellow—he's doing the best he can; we can do better as we have the goods and can make you better prices than others can make. Bring along your pocketbook if you are hunting bargains and we will do the rest. GEO. D. HOPE·LUMBER CO., The Big East Side Lumber Yard. Cor. Cherokee St. & Okmul. Ave. CHEAP LUMBER. In moving our large stocks of lumber to our new yard we tailed out considerable cull stuff, thereby raising the grades of our lumber to a high standard. These cull Boards, Fencing and Dimension are now put in bargain piles, and for many purposes will answer as well as better grades. The prices will be exceedingly low, to move it quickly. GEO. D. HOPE LUMBER CO., The Big East Side Lumber Yard. Cor. Cherokee St. & Okmul. Ave. PREPARE FOR WINTER. By putting in those broken window glass, we can supply all ordinary sizes cheap for cash. GEO. D. HOPE LUMBER CO., The Big East Side Lumber Yard. Cor. Cherokee St. & Okmul. Ave. FORTNIGHTLY CULTURE CLUR. Emancipation Proclamation Celebration Program. Song, "America,"—Congregation. Invocation—Rev. A. R. Morris. Roll Call, (Quotation from Negro authors)—Members of Club. Reading the Proclamation—Miss Maud V. Jones. Solo, "One Sweetly Solemn Thought"—Mrs. J. E. Toombs. Reading, "Phillip's Toussaint L'Ouverture"—Mrs. L. E. Perdue. Solo, selected—Mrs. A. J. Wallace, Junior. Address, "The Negro as a Soldier" —Prof. Oscar Spencer. Duet "The Flower Song"—Misses Clara White and Lula McCulloch. Reading, Shakespeare's "Othello's Apology"—Mr. Frank W. Reid. Solo, Instrumental, cornet—Mr. W. A. Allen. Reading, Selections from Dunbar—Prof. C. A. Biggers. Solo, "The Rose of Sharon"—Miss Lelia Biggers. Quartet, Selected--Mrs. Jas. Smith, Miss Biggers, Messrs. Lowe and Biggers. Benediction—Rev. W. H. Simons. Watch for place, in our next issue. Do You Want a House? If so, let me build it for you on small monthly payments, low interest and easy terms. On this plan your rents pay for the place, and you are at home all the time. Come to see me. W. P. FIELDS, Office, No 1, English Block. SCHIEBERL First door south of Fire Department, South Second Street. Spott Cash Store BIG LINE OF FALL MILLINARY! Shirt Waist Suits, Shirt Waists, Corsets, Hosiery, Muelin Underwear, Dry Goods, Tin Ware and Enameled Ware, Queens Ware, and Glass Ware. THE FAIR! THE FAIR! Has a number of applicants who desire to rent houses. Owners of three, four, five and six room houses can secure desirable tenants by listing their property with us. WARE COMPANY CORPORATED Ware, Tinware, the Celebrated Monarch Builders' Tools, etc. All Kinds Frigerators and Ice Coolers. III North Second Street ERI DENTAL PARLORS, Rooms 5 7 and 9 OKMULGEE AVENUE. and Plate Work of All Kind. From Luisville, Kentucky. I am permanent- special prices on all Dental Work and only. Gold Crown.....$5.00 Bridge Work.....$5.00 Plate Work.....$10.00 from 9 to 10 a.m., every Wednesday. es on all Dental operations. NS WATCH-MAKER JEWELER. Dealer In atches, Clocks, Etc. S. Court House, and has just re- lery which is strictly first-class and act. I carry nothing but the best design. My prices are reasonable. whether you want to buy or not. Durfey Hardware Company Durfey Hardware Company Shelf and Heavy Hardware, Tinware, the Celebrated Monarch Ranges, everyone guaranteed, Builders' Tools, etc. All Kinds Tin Work and Plumbing, Refrigerators and Ice Coolers. PHONE205 BOWSEY BLOCK III North Second Street F. E. FISHER DENTAL PARLORS Rooms 5 7 and 9 CAROLINA BLOCK, OKMULGEE AVENUE. Specialist in Crown, Bridge and Plate Work of All Kind. From the best Dental College, Louisville, Kentucky. I am permanently located and will make special prices on all Dental Work and Operations for two weeks only. Free painless extraction from 9 to 10 a.m., every Wednesday. Free consultation and estimates on all Dental operations. Diamonds, Watches, Clocks, Etc. Just opened in front of U. S. Court House, and has just receive my fall line of Jewelry which is strictly first-class and up-to-date in every respect. I carry nothing but the best goods and of the latest design. My prices are reasonable. Call and see the latest whether you want to buy or not. North Second St. Muskogee, Ind. Ter Kirshbaum: HAND MADE CLOTHES SHIRTS ALL KINDS OF HATS nishing Goods, DESCRIPTIONS: Gents' Furnishing Goods, OF ALL DESCRIPTIONS: Shirts, Hats, Underwear, Suit Cases, Muskogee. - - - Ind. Ter'v.