Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1901-10-04
UP IN A NIGHT
LAwToM NOW A eusTL,No CITY
or THOUSANDS.
The Wonderful Town IN the Plain. of
Oklahoma Probably Has No Par.
ailel in the History of the United
States.

oilel in Ii History of the United
States.
There is nothing in the history Of the
country that will bear comparison with
the wonderful city. of Lawton (named in
honor CT the brave American general who
was killed in the Philippines) that IL few
weeks ago sprang into existence over
night on the plains of Oklahoma. \ des-
ert one day, it was a city of tents the
next, with u hustling, bustling popula-
ton of thousands. n city of tents one
week, it was Il city of substantial frame
dwellings the next, with stores and
schools and churches and banks, and with
business enough to keep every one on the
jump for twelve hours out of each twen-
ty-four. From a couple of acres square
the townsite has stopped over in every
direction, until now some of its principal
streets are nearly two miles in length. 1t
doesn't matter that the houses have been
run up without chimneys. Bricks are
scarce in Lawtop, and in that climate
chimneys are not needed before Decem-
Der, and by that time the railroad will
have deposited bricks enough to give
each of the 800 houses now standing a
chimney.
When the site of Lawton was first sc.
lected a ranchman who thought he knew
the country pretty we'll shook his head
and. prophesied that the town never
would amount to anything. There's
nothing here to support a town. It'll dry
up and blow away" vas his prediction.
There were others who thought as he did.
But these pessimists are shown to have
been mistaken. Lawton is destined to
become the center of a prosperous dis
trict whose mineral and agricultural re-
sources will support it and keep it grow
ins. for many years.
There can be no doubt that 1.awton is
the biggest city of it's age in the world.
or that Comanche County, of which it is
the county seat. with its 300 square
miles of farm and pasture lands, is the
home of the busiest, most energetic and
progressive community to be found to-day
in all the Southwest. The opening of
the country to settlement was an inn
provement on any opening of new terri
tory by Uncle Sam. The money from
the sales of town lots is to be used for
the benefit of all the people. The rent
of the school land is IL perpetual fund to
run the schools. To the extent that it
goes, the plan is ideal. For several years
there need be no taxes for public inn
provementS, and there need be no chOol
tax as long as the rent will cover the
school expenses.
The most exaggerated business condi-
ton of the new town is the fact that
eighty-siX saloon licenses have been APP
piled for. 1t is estimated that a dozen
would supply all demands. The devel-
opment of the Lawton postoiiice is said
to be without a parallel. On Aug. 8
Postoffice% Inspector Hosford of Wichita,
Kan, opened the postoiice in a small
tent and was in charge for a few days.
Upon the arrival of L. ]. White, the new
postmaster from Arkansas City. Kan.
the office was turned over to him and
his bond was $500. In three weeks his
bond was raised to $4,000. With Il dep
uty postmaster and twelve clerks it is all
that he can do to keep Iii, with the bnsi-
first-class office.
The next largest development is the
banking business. Prominent among
these is the First National Bank. which
opened in a tent Aug. 6. Its deposits
now amount to over 100000. The City
National Bank started the same day. has
deposits of 100000. Two other banks
have been started during the past two
weeks-the Citizens Bank of Lswton
and the Citizens State Bank. All these
banks are now i'll their temporary frame
buildings. The postoifice has moved int
a larger building adjoining the First Na-
tional Bank. And as an evidence of the
desire of the people of Lawton to build
we'll from the start. it may be said that
plans for a $4,000 court house are being
considered, and that efforts are being
made to secure the establishment there
of the Southwestern Normal School.