after the county is so divided and if one-fourth the legal voters of any district so petition an election shall be held and the voters allowed to decide whether or not free range shall prevail in the district, and if by a majority vote the freeholders decide in favor of free range the same shall prevail in that district, otherwise stock shall be restricted from running at large.

West of the one hundredth meridian (in Beaver County) the conditions are practically reversed. Free range prevails there unless the voters otherwise decide. The provisions of the law render it somewhat difficult for the homesteaders to obtain the much needed relief. The law requires that the freeholders, if they desire to vote on the proposition as to whether or not stock shall be restrained from running at large, shall petition the board of county commissioners to divide the county into stock districts. On the west side of the one hundredth meridian it requires the names of one-fourth of all the legal voters and residents in the county on a petition, before the commissioners are required to divide the county into stock districts, while east of the one hundredth meridian it only requires twenty-five names for the same purpose. In short, east of the one hundredth meridian, where they might want to vote for free range, it only requires twentyfive petitioners, while west of the one hundredth meridian, where they might want to vote for herd law, it requires one-fourth of all the voters in the county. This is a discrimination against the people of Beaver County. In its operation the law is tinged with class legislation. In other words, if the cattleman east of the one hundredth merridian wants a district set apart in which to vote free range, he only is required to submit a petition containing twenty-five names, while if the homesteader west of the one hundredth meridian (the citizen in Beaver County) wants to vote for herd law, he must submit a petition containing the names of one-fourth of the legal voters of the entire county. This in a county like Beaver, 167 miles long and 34 1-2 miles wide, would render the homesteaders' task a hard one.

At the time the law was passed it was doubtless believed that Beaver County would always remain a grazing country and that herd law restrictions would not be needed. However, that county has been filling up rapidly with homesteaders. The government intended that

country for the homesteader when it was included among the lands subject to entry. The people who have gone there believe that they can build up homes. Their crops have been destroyed by cattle that roam free and unrestrained over the country. The people should be protected. They are entitled to the same protection given the homesteaders in other parts of the Territory.

I respectfully recommend that the law be amended so as to include Beaver County and protect all of our citizens alike.

Section 2, of Article 1, of the Session laws of 1903 should be extended in its application to all of the Territory alike, and sections 37 and 38 of Article 1 of the Session laws of 1903 should be amended so as to make Section 2 of said act operative in all parts of the Territory within sixty days after the passage and approval of the act repealing portions of the former law.

QUARANTINE LAWS.

The Territory has a good quarantine law. It should not be repealed, but should be extended, strengthened and more ample provisions made for its enforcement.

The Seventh Legislative Assembly passed a bill, which, although not all that might have been desired, would have met the requirements fairly well. The act was submitted for approval, at the adjournment of the assembly. It was discovered that it conflicted with certain. government grazing lease contracts then in force, consequently it could not become a law, and be effective. In arranging the provisions of the bill the government contracts had been overlooked and no condittions were interposed to meet them. After the adjournment of the Legislature, it was discovered that the grazing contracts existed hut it was too late to remedy the oversight. These conditions do not exist. at this time, or at least it is reported that the existing leases in the reservations that would be effected by the extension of the quarantine line, all expire next spring, consequently there is nothing in the way at this time to prevent the desired extension of the lines.

Just as long as animals are allowed to come into the Territory from the infected region, just that long will there be infection unless

better safe guards than the ones now utilized and recommended by the authorities upon this subject can be devised. The "open season" to southern cattle should be abolished, at least until some remedy is discovered to afford protection through some form of disinfection. Inspection alone will not meet the emergency. Let inspection be ever so carefully conducted, some infected animals will probably be passed during the season and all the stock interests of the adjoining country ruined as a result.

It should not be forgotten that the infected cattle are, in a majority of cases, brought into the Territory by non-residents, and those who suffer as a result are our own citizens. In my judgment it would be safe to extend the line around the Territory embracing the Osage country among the other Indian reservations to be added, provide for additional inspectors, and then make an effort to thoroughly disinfect the entire country around which the line has been extended. As we succeed in disinfecting the area embraced within the Territorial line, the Federal Government will be disposed to push its line toward ours as rapidly as conditions will permit.

GAME LAWS.

The Seventh Legislative Assembly amended the game laws of the Territory and added some wholesome provisions.

There have been some violations, but, as a whole the law is a good one and results are generally satisfactory. Notwithstanding the merits of the law it needs some changes to make it more effective. The Territorial Game Warden is allowed such slight compensation that he cannot make the law as effective as could be done under more favorable conditions. There should be an appropriation made for necessary expenses in securing evidence and conducting prosecutions. The appropriation need not be large, but it most assuredly is a necessity. The Game Warden often finds it necessary to visit a locality where violations of the law are reported, but without a provision for traveling expenses it is almost impossible for him to do so unless at a financial loss to himself.

The law should be given power to attach more severe penalties than mere fines. In some instances the violator of the law has been

fined but it failed to suppress him. It is believed that some of the violators of the law figure that they can pay the fines imposed by the local courts and then make money by shipping game. Imprisonment should be added as one of the penalties for violating the game laws. This penalty could be imposed in the case of well known offenders, and this seems to be the only remedy.

GOOD ROADS.

A crusade to promote a sentiment in favor of better public highways has been inaugurated in a number of the states and has now reached national proportions. Almost from time immemorial in the history of nations, the development of good roads has been one of the principal factors in extending civilization. Well developed highways in a community not only are a convenience, but they have a tendency to unite city and rural districts in more intimate relations and to bring all social interests more closely together.

Legislative encouragement to this very commendable public enterprise would always be a step in the right direction, and in the interest of all the people.

WORLD'S FAIR.

Probably the greatest event of like character in the history of nations was the Louisiana Purchase Exposition held at St. Louis during the past year. The highest civilization of the world was represented. in that stupendous mingling of races. From many lands came people to place their products in competition and to exhibit in one arena the greatest possibilities of the twentieth century as well as the development and crystalized thought of the ages.

Oklahoma, the last commonwealth carved out of the great purchase was a contestant in this exposition for honors that were to be conferred. She sought these honors as a reward for the possibilities of her soil, the intelligence, enterprise and energy of her people as well as for the splendid advertising, and prestige to come from abroad.

Results have been very gratifying. The members of the Okla. homa Commission worked enthusiastically to place the Territory before the world in a proper manner.

H. J1 '05-3

The Oklahoma Pavillion was the most popular resort in the plaza of states. Our principal exhibits were in the Agricultural, Horticultural, Educational and Mineral departments.

The success of our exhibits exceeded all expectations.

Many medal awards came to Oklahoma. Prominent among them was the gold medal for the best general collection of agricultural products. When it is remembered that Oklahoma is the infant commonwealth of the American Republic and just now asking permission to walk alone without parental assistance, her success at the great fair will be emphasized, for in that contest we were in competition against the world. This success is a high commentary upon the enterprising spirit of the progressive people of Oklahoma who made it possible.

The report of the Commission has been presented to you in printed form. That report includes the business transactions of the Commission from its organization May 1, 1901, to December 2, 1904. At the time the report was submitted there was some unfinished business which will be submitted in a supplemental report. The commission will have a balance, probably amounting to several thousand dollars to turn back. into the treasury.

HISTORICAL SOCIETY.

Oklahoma has made and will continue to make interesting and instructive history.

The formative period of a commonwealth is always marked by events that must be of great interest in subsequent years. Our Territory is no exception to this fact, but on the other hand emphasizes the necessity of efforts to collect and preserve information about our "early days," our struggles, our reverses, and our achievements, and by so doing bequeath to the future an historical heritage of priceless value. No other Territory in the history of this government was peopled under such novel and romantic circumstances as was Oklahoma. Her boomers and her sooners, her settlements made "in a day;" her unprecedented developments all combine to make her early annals a pleasing story.

But have we been sufficiently alert on the matter of preserving a complete record of our history as it has transpired? It may be