It is much to the credit of the settlers that they very generally observed the limitation as to the time when they might enter the Territory.  Care will be taken that those who entered in violation of the law do not secure the advantage they unfairly sought.  There was a good deal of apprehension that the strife for locations would result in much violence and bloodshed, but happily these anticipations were not realized.  It is estimated that there are now in the Territory about 60,000 people, and several considerable towns have sprung up, for which temporary municipal governments have been organized.  Guthrie is said to have now a population of almost 8,000.  Eleven schools and nine churches have been established, and three daily and five weekly newspapers are published in this city, whose charter and ordinances have only the sanction of the voluntary acquiescence of the people from day to day.

Oklahoma City has a population of about 5,000, and is proportionately as well provided as Guthrie with churches, schools, and newspapers.  Other towns and villages having populations of from 100 to 1,000 are scattered over the Territory.

In order to secure the peace of this new community in the absence of civil government, I directed General Merritt, commanding the Department of the Missouri, to act in conjunction with the marshals of the United States to preserve the peace, and upon their requisition to use the troops to aid them in executing warrants and in quieting any riots or breaches of the peace that might occur.  He was further directed to use his influence to promote good order and to avoid any conflicts between or with the settlers.  Believing that the introduction and sale of liquors where no legal restraints or regulations existed would endanger the public peace, and in view of the fact that such liquors must first be introduced into the Indian reservations before reaching the white settlements, I further directed the general commanding to enforce the laws relating to the introduction of ardent spirits into the Indian country.

The presence of the troops has given a sense of security to the well-disposed citizens and has tended to restrain the lawless.  In one instance the officer in immediate command of the troops went further than I deemed justifiable in supporting the de facto municipal government of Guthrie, and he was so informed, and directed to limit the interference of the military to the support of the marshals on the lines indicated in the original order.  I very urgently recommend that Congress at once provide a Territorial government for these people.  Serious questions, which may at any time lead to violent outbreaks, are awaiting the institution of courts for their peaceful adjustment.  The American genius for self-government has been well illustrated in Oklahoma; but it is neither safe nor wise to leave these people longer to the expedients which have temporarily served them.