Last Saturday’s meeting of the Blalock Mexico Colony was one of the most largely attended for several weeks.  It had been given out that at this meeting an endeavor was to be made to perfect arrangements for the departure of a portion of the colonists, and this elicited a good-sized and enthusiastic crowd.  The meeting was held in Fraternity hall, over Jackson & Wilson’s store, and was in session all the afternoon.  They discussed the concession problem and matters of mutual interest, among which was the establishment of a town on their domain.  A committee of five members of the colony, consisting of Geo. E. Blalock, C. C. Rogers, W.P. Derr, Geo. Moore and Jo Miller, was appointed to establish the town.  Every colonist who is the head of a family is to be given one of these lots.  It is highly probable that the land adjoining the townsite will be surveyed into lots of twenty acres each and each colonist will be given one of these lots for a city home.

Between thirty and forty families will leave for Mexico next Monday or Tuesday.  The cars have been ordered, and everything has been shaped for their departure.  They will pay the concession duties when they cross into that country, which is an item of much moment.  The duty on a wagon is $80, and on nearly all goods the duty is equal to their value.  They expect to be refunded this duty money, and will be, if the Mexican government finally grants them the privilege to take in their goods free of tariff.

Those who expect to leave the first of next week will take their families.  Below we give the list but it is expected that this list will be augmented by a few:  J.H. Shaffer, Ed Shaffer, Jo Miller, F.P. Gorham, Chas, Brooks, A.P. Cole, Roy Bacon, J.T. Young, Dr. Porter, F.W. Hubbard, F. W. Musgrove, C.C. Rogers, Wm. Baker, A.H. Olds, Jas. Teeter, Robt. Derr, W.D. Elliott, T. W. Medlin, W. W. Snell, Silas Wilton, R.H. Gillespie, H.G. Daniel, George Moore, S.C. Talley, Joe L. Sweet, Geo. Blalock, V. W. Garrett, D. P. Cook, W. W. Taylor, R.F. Watts, J.H. Ricks, Will Ricks, Vernon Ricks, Nathan Byars, S.H. Byars, J.E. Thompson, G.B. Palmer and E. M. Bledsoe.

A telegram was received late last night announcing that the Mexican government had made the concession that their goods enter that country free of duty.  This is worth fully $50,000 to the colonists.

The Mexico colonists were somewhat buoyed up at the meeting last Saturday by the presence of Geo. E. Blalock, president of the colony.  Although he is in an enfeebled condition from his recent illness, he remained throughout almost the entire session, but declined to discharge the duties of the office of president.  He made a brief talk to the colonists, giving an account of his labors in Mexico, and outlining some of the work yet to be done.  The Mexico climate has had a deteriorating effect upon Mr. Blalock, as he returned much emaciated and a temporary physical wreck.  But the soothing effects of Oklahoma’s mid-winter climate together with the comforts of home and the association of old friends, has had a good effect on him and he will soon be entirely recovered.

The first permanent laws for the government of the colonists after they have arrived in Mexico were made at this meeting.  They are as follows:  When the land is divided the parties falling in possession of that which is improved shall pay for the improvements.  This provision is made in view of the fact that those who go first will have considerable improvement made when the last of the colonists arrive.  The other law is that all cases of dispute are to be settled by arbitration, each disputant being allowed two arbitrators, and the four chosen are to select one more, making five members, which will constitute a board of arbitration.  Their decision will be final.

It is probable that some of the colonists will leave next Monday.  In the event they do so no farming tools nor stock will be taken.  This is due to the fact that the concession papers are not yet in shape.  About eighteen or twenty families are ready to start and should the day of departure be deferred until a week from next Monday about thirty families will leave.