The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-08-29
NEW TOWN
| OF LAYTON
BOOMING
Wichita Boy Writes of Town
of LaWton.
FIGHTS AND FIRES
And the Many Troubles Are
Detailed.
FIGHTS
AND
FIRES

Lawton, o. T. Aug. 2S.-Frank Payne,
who has been at Lawton since fling be-
gan, writes the Eagle of affairs in the
new town. He says when the first pas
senger train ran ito Fort Sill there was
/ little outward demonstration except that
the people Of Fort sill being out upon the
side hin to see the first train come sail
ing grandly across the trestIe spanning
Medicine creek and into Fort Sill along
the east side Of the bluff upon which
stands the historic old fort, gave vent to
a cheer.
For nearly 85 years the old stone build
ings have waited. First everything-the
lumber. supplies. even messages from the
loved ones left the great arterw Of steel
that carries with tthe life OF civilization,
way up in Kansas far north of Wichita
/ Then it came from the Peerless Princess
which was the mecca of many weary,
homesick hearts for years, followed by
Caldwell for several years. Yet, then az
now, it is Oklahoma. All eyes turn to-
ward Wichita, which holds welcome for
all, and in reality may be termed an
oklahoma city. OF course, Oklahoma
feels a pride in Oklahoma City, l5I Reno.
Gutrie, Perry, Enid and others, but one
step higher is Wichita, because she is
larger, older, possesses many advantages
a younger place cannot attain for years.
and besides that, she is removed from all
jealous political contention and hence has
rltory
The daily train VIII now run from Fort
Sill to FL Reno, getting into Fort Sill
about nine in the morning and leaving
about four on the return trip. All bust
ness from the Fort has been to Rush
Springs since the Rock Island built
through the Territory, but now Fort
sin IS a station OF herself and the old
grey-haired Interpreter, Mr. Jones, who
has been in Fort Sill for full 30 years, and
Sam Strauss. whom many Wichita peo-
pie know and konw him well as a per-
feet gentleman, can hear with added
pleasure the busy sounds so familiar and
inseparabie with civilization. OF the In
dian traders south of Fort sill and be-
tween the military post and the Com
anche school, which is about four miles
from the post on the school reserve,
there is another pitiful monument 10 a
surly disposition. The Indians like Mr..
Strauss. who is now one of .the county
commissioners.
Just at this time there is considerable
interest in the commercial state of things
in Lawton. Being without a railroad as
yet there is great uncertainty in every
line of trade. especially in perishable
goods. Ice for about eight hours yes
terday brought from four TO six cents a
pound There was none TO be had at
any price for two or three hours But be-
fore dark it dropped to one cent a pound.
During the day the saloons and lemonade
stands were compelled TO suspend busi- /
ness. one man rushed dozen wagons |
up to Richards 20 bring down a car Of
ice he had up there on the track, only
TO meet other wagonloads on the way /
and by the time the ice he sent for ar /
rived here the price had dropped to a /
cent
Perhaps the greatest drop here has |
been in potatoes. While they are vet /
so exceedingly scarce everywhere else, !
they are plentiful here. bringing from /
S1.55 to $3.50 per bushel only. And heavy /
competition at that. Several carloads /
have come as far as Richards where all |
attempts to sell at any price failed and /
they are being sent back up the road. /
Nearly every feed store. as well as ev-
cry grocery, has in n large stock and |
many win be again shipped out as soon
as the road viii receive freight at Fort
sill.
There is also a heavy supply of corn
here which is selling now at CSC and 81
per bushel An the larger stores have in
a large supply. having shipped in from
one TO two carloads apiece, while the
demand IS very light oats are not as
plentiful, but there is fair demand; but
several cars are due here, most OF them
from Wichita houses, and the trade viii
be fair and not likely TO be overcrowded.