Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1901-08-15
LAWT0N'S LOT SALE.
Yesterdays Average Prices higher
Than the Day Previous.
TOWN 4 MECCA FOR BEER AGENTS.

SQuatters Refuse to Move on Mr.. Woods
Clamp. H. Fitzgerald Buys $4,000
Acres In Woodward County
for Colony.
Lawton, Ok, Aug. 1O.-The auction
sale of town lots continues briskly,
and the average price each day ex-
ceeds the previous day. Thursdays
average was $500 for IS lots, while
yesterday the average was 1865.
There was an effort made yesterday
to change the natural tendency of
the towns growth and for time it
looked as though the efforts would be
successful. The First national bank
made a bid for a corner lot on q
street that was not considered bust
ness street, and it was sold for 5000.
This started a boom in that locality
and some high prices were paid for
lots. But this did not last long, and
the buying went back to the present
business section.
This town Is the Mecca for brewery
agents, and as the saloons are wide
open and doing a rushing business the
sale of beer is equal to the capacity
of the brewery agents to supply it.
Notwithstanding the open saloons
good order is being preserved, and
there is little indication that the in
PRODUCTION of whisky has made any
material difference in the work Of the
peace officers.
Mr.. Woods, who drew claim No. 1,
is having his troubles these days. Not
only are there number of contests
filed against his claim, but there are
several hundred squatters on various
parts of the land, who claim their
right to the property. These squat
ters refuse to leave, and Woods is
having notices prepared warning all
Of the claimants that they are tres
passers and will be prosecuted.
Fitzgerald Buys Land for Colony.
Oklahoma City, Ok, Aug. 1O.-P. H.
Fitzgerald, Of Indianapolis, has closed
a deal whereby he becomes the owner
Of the Camp Supply reservation,
solid tract of land comprising $4,000
acres in Woodward county, Ok. The
land is fine rolling prairie covered
with bluegrass and excellently wa
tered. The water courses and belted
with timber. Mr.. Fitzgerald will turn
the lands over to . colony he will or
ganize on the same principle adopted
by the old soldiers colony in Georgia.
Fort Sill, Ok, Aug. 1.-Two thou
sand men and women stood under a
pitiless sun in the open prairie Satur-
day afternoon and bid against each
other for business sites in Lawton till
the price of corner lots was forced to
$75 front foot. There is nothing in
the manner of bidding nor conduct
of the bidders which would indicate
a craze or even undue excitement
The men who are doing the heavy
bidding intend to erect their own
buildings and establish themselves in
business. The spectators are buy
ing the cheaper lots in the outer bust
ness district.
A movement has already been start
ed to expend $4,000 in courthouse.
The expenses of the county for the
first year will be less than $4,000.
There are comparatively few costly
bridges to erect, and it is certain that
the sale of lots will give the county
not less than 100000. Comanche
county therefore presents the alto
gether novel situation of big sur
plus-there is an assessor, and with
out any taxes being levied. 1t is all
nonsense to squander $4,000 in
temporary structure, the prospective
residents of Lawton declare. They
want the money spent in paramount
improvements and the best courthouse
in Oklahoma in which to begin bust
ness the second year of the county's
history.
J. R. Woods, the man who claimed
strip along the TOWNSHIP, to the in
jury of Miss Beals, appealed to ex-
Gov. Richards Saturday to have gov
eminent troops put the trespassers
off his alleged homestead. Tele.
graphic correspondence has passed be-
tween ex-Gov. Richards and Ma,
Scott, commanding officer at Fort
Sfll, but no official order has yet been
given. Squatters are now camped on
nearly every lot in the Woods home
stead. 1t will require government
troops to remove them. The squat
tiers claim to have caught Woods nap
ping. Tuesday afternoon, they allege'
he gave receipts for rents paid him.
The land Office lawyers contend that
II he did this he recognized the fact
that the land was not to be used for
homestead purposes, but for town
site purposes. When Woods distrib-
uted his notices Saturday demanding
that all trespassers remove within
ten days the squatters laughed at
him. They have sunk wells on his
homestead and contracted for the
erection of frame buildings. Woods
processes to be unconcerned. His
lawyers declare that if his homestead
rights are denied every other home
stead entry is worthless and chaoa
will prevail.
Lawton, Ok, Aug. 13.-Fifteen hun.