Stories from the past
147 YEARS AGO
Saturday, February 6, 1878
A NEW PHASE IN INDIAN AFFAIRS
Some years ago the United States concentrated Indian tribes upon the territory known as the Indian Nation, under guarantee that they should hold it in perpetuity.
Under this guarantee the Indians have organized a regular country, going into agriculture, established schools and with the help of missionary societies, have founded many churches and generally adopted the modes of civilized life.
But emigration has now reached their borders and is pressing hard upon them as it has so often in the past, compelling their removal further West. But the West is obliterated; or at least so far occupied by the white man that there is no spot left to which the Indians may be driven.
It is to the white man’s discredit that the land and reservation treaties have been largely disregarded and violated whenever the possessions of the Indians have been wanted by their more pushing neighbors of the “superior race.”
It is now proposed to dismember the Indian Nation. A bill before Congress to organize the Indian Territory of Oklahoma out of a part of it, which will thus disrupt the civilized tribes, and virtually give the territory thus formed into the possession of the whites, who will immediately invade and occupy it unless some special law is enacted.
TIDBITS
– “Sigars, tobacco and bullony sawsig” is one of the worst signs of the times.
– The prospect for a crop of ice is improving in the Arctic regions.
– Hard winter for manufacturers and dealers in sleighs.
– The whipping post bill proposed in the Mississippi Legislature exempts females from being whipped.
••••• 119 YEARS AGO
Friday, April 27, 1906
POST OFFICE ROBBED
The post office at Canadian was robbed Thursday night and the safe blown open.
Forty dollars in cash was taken from the safe and some stamps, although the amount of stamps was not reported.
Everything of value was taken from the office.
TAMS BIXBY SAYS STATEHOOD
Commissioner Tams Bixby, who returned from Washington Thursday where he has been working for Indian legislation for the past two months, firmly believes that Oklahoma and Indian Territory will be given statehood at this session of congress.
••••• 100 YEARS AGO
Thursday, January 22, 1925
Water Tested After Complaints of Bad Taste Health Department Says Safe to Drink A report of Jan. 6 from the State Health Department in Oklahoma City, where Eufaula water had been sent to be analyzed, says the water is safe for drinking purposes.
The sample of water had been sent to the department on account of several kicks from citizens who complained that it had a bad taste.
CHOC BEER DISPENSER DRAWS FINE AND JAIL SENTENCE The first criminal case to come before the new county judge, Horace Reubelt, was that of Elisha Claudius, a negro man living in the negro section of the city, charged with dispensing of Choctaw beer.
Claudius plead guilty and was assessed a fine of $50 and given a sentence of 30 days in the county jail.
The man was caught full handed one day last week when Chief of Police John C. Simpson and Deputy Sheriff Jim Rushing raided his home and found 11 gallons of beer.
EUFAULA SHIPS FIRST CAR OF PECANS What promises to become a large industry in and around Eufaula was proven here Friday when the Choctaw Cotton Oil Company of this city shipped the first carload of pecans ever known to have been shipped from this place.
EUFAULA VISITED BY ANOTHER SNOW The snow of Dec. 19 had hardly gotten off the ground when Eufaula was visited with another four-inch covering here Monday. The farmers have been unable to do much plowing up to this time, on account of the ground being frozen for the past 30 days, but all agree that the weather has been favorable to the land, destroying many insects and that the ground should be mellow for plowing when they do get in the fields.
••••• 80 YEARS AGO
Thursday, December 28, 1944
Regulations on Veterans’ Farm Loans Revealed Brig. Gen. Frank T. Hines, administrator of veterans affairs, today announced that under authority given him in the servicemen’s readjustment act of 1944, he has designated the department of agriculture as cooperating agency to aid in determining whether guarantee of farm loans should be approved for veterans.
New Draft Ruling May Require Older Men to Join
National headquarters of the Selective Service Systems reports that estimates of available men indicate that the armed forces call after Feb. 1, 1945, cannot be fulfilled substantially from men 18 through 25. The larger number of American divisions now actually engaged in combat and the continuing pressure against the enemy has increased the requirements for physically fit soldiers and sailors.
For these reasons, it will be necessary to induct increasing numbers of men from the older age groups.
••••• 75 YEARS AGO
Thursday, November 24, 1949
County to Vote on Cotton Quotas
County Production and Marketing Administration Committeemen were beginning this week the task of preparing for the National cotton marketing quota referendum to be held in every cotton growing community in the United States on Thursday, Dec. 15.
•••••
65 YEARS AGO
Thursday, October 22, 1959
Contract for Dam Spillway this Year
Construction activity will be humming by the first of the year at the Eufaula damsite, located on the Canadian River about 18 miles northeast of Eufaula.
Tulsa District Army Engineers announced Thursday that they plan to invite bids on construction of the spillway, power intake and powerhouse substructure on Nov. 5.
This major contract, estimated to cost over $10 million and under the $25 million bracket, will require approximately 1,095 calendar days to complete. Approximately 820,000 yards of concrete will go into the construction of the spillway, power intake and powerhouse substructure.
Other features of work will include a proximally 1,450,000 cubic yards of excavation; 220,000 cubic yards of rock fill; and the furnishing and installation of sluice gates, tainter gates and penstock gates, spillway bridge and standby generator unit; electrical work embankment; and miscellaneous related work including repair of the left abutment access road.
The spillway will have a total length of 520 feet.
••••• 55 YEARS AGO
Thursday, February 5, 1970
Council Studies Hospital, Garbage and Skating rink
During the regular monthly city council meeting held Monday night, there was a discussion with reference to a city hospital, and it was learned that the hospital will not cost the city any money and will revert back to the city in 40 years.
The next thing on the agenda was a discussion on garbage service and the present $2 charge on the water bill each month. The council voted to keep the $2 charge.
In other business, a roller-skating rink was approved to be located on Eufaula Cove with a guarantee to the city of $50 per month, with a possibility of $100 per month.
Boxing Tourney Here March 9-14
Announcement was made today that the Eufaula Annual Boxing Tournament has been set for March 9 through 14. This is the oldest boxing tourney in the state and is sponsored annually by the Eufaula Quarterback Club.
••••• 33 YEARS AGO
Thursday, February 27, 1992
Ray Jones Named Chief of the Eufaula Volunteer Fire Department
Ray Jones has been named chief of the Eufaula Volunteer Firemen’s Department and Tom Foresee has been picked as assistant chief.
Jones, a native of McIntosh County, has served as a volunteer for more than 16 years and Foresee has had 15 years of experience in fighting fires.
••••• 10 YEARS AGO
Thursday, February 19, 2015
Animal shelter dedication set
One of former Mayor Selina Jayne-Dornan’s pet projects when she took office almost four years ago was to build an animal shelter.
On Friday, Feb. 20, her dream will come true – a week after she resigned from her position to go to work for the Muscogee (Creek) Nation.
The Smith Foundation of Tulsa donated a total of $55,000 for the project.
