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The Second Great Oklahoma Land Rush (Grab)

The first Oklahoma Land Rush opened the Oklahoma Territory to occupation by white settlers, displacing the natives. Guthrie was the first town created out of the initial rush.

On March 2, 1889 Congress passed the Indian Appropriations Bill, proclaiming that unassigned lands were part of the public domain. This was the first step toward the famous first Oklahoma Land Rush.

On April 22, 1889, people who gathered on the Arkansas and Texas borders of Oklahoma could seek a parcel of unclaimed land and file for ownership with the federal government. Most of these people were from Kansas and Missouri, but people from all over the country were part of the pack.

Buglers were stationed at intervals around the perimeters of the region and they announced the opening of the new land at noon. People burst westward in droves on the Sante Fe Railroad, in covered wagons, and on horseback. They rode frantically racing to secure the best parcels of land before anyone else could. The weather was perfect, sunny and dry, for the frantic quest. The trains were filled beyond capacity and resulted in some men climbing on top of the train for relief from the crowding. Astonishingly, no one was killed or injured.

The riders on horseback burst ahead of the droves of land seekers, but as they spread across the horizon they were discouraged to see that covered wagons and even men on foot had already occupied many prime places. As many as nine out of ten of these settlers had jumped the gun, earning themselves the name "Sooners". Those who entered the territory legally would challenge these premature claims in court, but the government's officials claimed that all squatters had been chased out prior to the land rush. In fact, some were. On April 15, 1889, a marshal's posse captured a group of Sooners, killing a few. But they didn't catch them all. Not by a long shot!

Within Guthrie, most of the prime lots had already been claimed by people who had no legal right to them. Those people who were in the area legally- federal marshals, railroad personnel and other "legal sooners" were supposedly restricted from this opportunity. This rule was largely ignored.

In fact, it was marshals who laid out the town of Guthrie and selected prime parcels for themselves well before the legal rush began. The hopeful settlers were infuriated but counted on the government to correct the matter. As it turned out, these marshals had used their personal influence to acquire the job of marshal specifically in order to beat the clock.

The Second Great Oklahoma Land Rush (Grab)

Fast forward 110 years to the passage of the federal Water Resources and Development Act (WRDA) of 1999. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was directed to sell valuable lakefront land at Lake Texoma State Park and at Hugo Lake, Oklahoma. The federal public land was sold to the State of Oklahoma and the Choctaw County Industrial Authority respectively which resold the prior public land to private developers at questionable prices. Federal WRDA legislation was enacted in 2008 directing the Corps of Engineers to sell land located on Little Mineral Bay at Lake Texoma to the City of Denison, TX who reportedly plans to resell the public land with native forests, coves and shoreline waters to a private developer.

Oklahoma Demonstration Lakes Program. The WRDA 2008 legislation has directed the Corps of Engineers to create a program in Oklahoma that would strongly encourage private development on Corps managed lakes in leased state parks, undeveloped and low-density zoned areas. The program coordinated with the State of Oklahoma would create new guidelines that would benefit private developers dealing with normal Corps procedures that protect public lands. The legislative language may include Lake Texoma shoreline areas on the Oklahoma and Texas border. The legislative action will significantly increase the privatization and commercialization of valuable federal and state lake area public lands.

The federal legislation and collaboration with state and local governments will result in the Second Great Oklahoma Land Rush (Grab) with participants receiving prime waterfront land using questionable procedures at bargain basement prices.

Eminent Domain and Public Land

Most people have very negative reactions to government agencies using eminent domain processes to confiscate private land to be used primarily for commercial or private purposes. The land in and surrounding Lake Texoma was taken by the federal government in the 1940’s for the public good and use such as flood control. The subsequent Corps land use and zoning was established to maintain a balance between lakeside development and the environment. Federal public-use areas were dedicated or zoned around the lake for parks, recreation areas, wildlife habitats and as critical shoreline buffers for onshore developments. Numerous areas were provided for high-density public recreational development around the lakes shoreline.

Some promoters and developers would change that Lake Texoma balance forever in favor of extensive commercial and “private” residential developments around the lakeshore and within protected land areas and coves. Other promoters and developers are watching closely and will move quickly if they see an opportunity to secure valuable undeveloped lakefront federal property at a reduced price and make hundreds of millions of dollars of profits.

The large developers and lobbyists have convinced some U.S. Congressional members to pass legislation requiring the Corps to sell federal land to state or local governments and then quickly resell it to the large developers who use the former public shoreline land primarily for upscale private residences and boat slips. State officials have promoted the public land sales including extensive and affordable State Park recreational facilities located at prime lake locations.

The developers claim the property will be used for public recreation, but the four and five star resorts, residences, golf courses and boat slips are usually priced far above what middle or even many upper income families can afford.

Once the Oklahoma Lake Demonstration Program is implemented it will be repeated swiftly in other states where the developers can obtain prime and often pristine public shoreline land. Public water and habitat protection can be lost nation-wide for future generations.

Our Pact with Future Generations

Land set aside for parks and open space is not an extension of a government's bank account or line of credit. It is placed in a public trust to be enjoyed by current and future generations forever.

When we set aside land and waters for parks, open space, wilderness, playgrounds or protected lake coves, the current generation is making a pact with future generations — that this land will be available for their enjoyment just as it has been for ours. It affects their quality of life and appreciation of the outdoors, wildlife and nature. It is even more important now. Reasonably priced outdoor public recreation is essential to decrease the effects of excessive TV, video games and online activities which can cause nature deficit disorder in children and adults.

Yet with alarming frequency, lands placed in the Public Trust are being sold to the highest bidder. Federal, state and local legislators and government officials apparently forget their public trust responsibilities and sell off public parklands and recreational areas to cover budget shortfalls. When we tolerate the sale or development of our parks, waters, recreational areas, wildlife refuges and habitats, and open spaces, we set a dangerous precedent that eventually threatens all the public estate. With each sale, our heritage is diminished and with it, our pact with future generations.

A number of people say that corporate welfare has more to do with political clout than sound business or public policy and have given up on contacting their representatives or taking action. We still believe in the American political system and ask the public and government leaders to intercede at this critical point to ensure our pact with future generations, continue providing affordable outdoor recreation and protect our natural resources at Lake Texoma, in Oklahoma and nation-wide.