Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1890-06-26
B0OMTOWN'S COLLAPSE.
Accelerated by the Loss of Both
It's Paper and Editor.

You remember. no doubt, the boom"
that struck the West midway in the SOS.
You remember how towns sprung up
with greater rapidity than was dreamed
OF the days of Aladdin; how what was
yesterday prairie became to-day a will
age, and tomorrow a city; how specula-
tion ran riot and fabulous fortunes, on
paper, were made almost in night You
recall how companies, or rather, syndi-
Gates, were formed in every city of the
Nation for the purpose OF taking ad-
vantage of this wonderful growth of
towns by buying up land, planting it
into city lots, and selling again. You
recollect how the older cities of the
plains extended their limits almost in,
definitely, until it seemed as though
the saying of an old farmer friend OF
mine would be realized. "B'gosh," he
used to remark, III you town fellers
keep on layin out editions to yer cities
there won't be any land left for farmin.
It'll all be cut up inter buildin' lots and
railroad right o ways
II was, indeed, awe-inspiring-o or
would have been if il had not been so
pitiful-the boundless hope indicated
by these additions which stretched out
in every direction from every hamlet,
like so many octopus feelers encroach-
ing upon the rich leagues of prairie
earth that lay in bilowy folds spread
ing away to the far horizon.
Boomtown was simply and purely
creature of the speculative form. It
had it's origin in tho back parlors of
Henry Manley's law-ofiice in the city
OF Philadelphia. 1t was the result of a
coolle and carefully conceived scheme
to make fortune easily. And TO Henry
Manley must be given the credit for the
plan.
Gentlemen" he had said, when
half-dozen of his fellow-capitalists in.
vited to his office one February after
noon had taken their seats, there is
money in this tide Of town-building. If
we can raise sufficient funds. we can
make fortune as we'll as the rest of
them | have looked over the ground
We will buy four sections of land, favor
ably situated, lay out one section in
city lots, erect some buildings, adyer-
tise the thing, have an auction sale, and
sell enough to more than pay for our
outlay; then we will dispose of the re-
mainder at our leisure as clear profit
What do you say?p
They were agreed as to the feasibility
Of the scheme, and by the middle of
summer, Boomtown was in the height
of prosperity with houses. stores, sites
for schoolhouses, churches, and even
the State capitol, and other public
buildings and firstof all the Boomtown
Syndicate Oimited) of Philadelphia had
more than realized the amount Of the
investment, and was gathering in the
profits.
Then there came lull Somehow,
lots did not sell quite as rapidly as be-
fore and some of the stockholders were
becoming a little uneasy.
A meeting was held
"I'll tell you what Is the natter"
said Manley, the president of the com
pany; "Boomtown needs a paper"
That's it. exactly" said the spruce
little bankers son, who was secretary.
''The people must be informed, you
know. Of Boomtown's existence.
1--WE must let folks know that there
is such place." translated Manloy for
the benefit Of the others.
Haven't We advertised2" asked one
stockholder.
"les, but you see, it has all been out
side places to get people there Now we
must keep up their courage, 50 that they
will not go away"
This was good logic, and the directors
ordered the officers 70 arrange fer start
ing paper in Boomtown-
II was done. IN answer TO an adver-
tisement. one A. C. Chelton was en-
gagged as editor and money enough fur
nished for the plant"
Henry Manley, as he cores ponded
with tho future editor. became much
impressed with the vigorous character
Of that individual. and actually longed
70 leave his law practice and 60 and as
sis. in getting out the first number Of
u, bocmtown Herald-for he had
stuck type once upon time himself
Six months went by If Boomtown
bclicd her name. and did not boom. it
was mt the fault Of the Herald There
never was a paper that did 50 much /
arguing for its homo city. Vigorous /
pithy locals. sharp criticisms. /
all told Of a mind alert 70 the best in
tcresss OF the place The uaper had not |
made money. but il pushed The toxin.
Manley watched for its weekly com-
ing with as much avidity IS be dad for
bis meals He read IL before he did the /
journals. He formed a
liking for the editor, and often wished 4
he could meet him face to face
III did not know otherwise. should /
suspect that you had a sweetheart out
In that Western village said his /
mother one day. when her bachelor son
was porinr over a letter from Chelton- /
Il have be replied. ''the Herald.
I'm in love with it. and Tn going 0ut 70
rali upon it next week.
Ilc WAS as good as bis word. and Ten
lays later. as the overland express
halicf at BoomiOun. an elegantly ]