The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-08-11
REMARKABLE
TRANSITION
AT LAYTON
Towns Progress From Chaos
TO Form Is Amazing,
ORDER A BIG FEATURE
Iron Hand Kept on Throat of
LaWIeSS Element.
TENTED STREET GOSSIP
Many Interesting Features of
New Country Life.
ORDER A BIG FEATURE
TENTED STREET GOSSIP

WV OOutiti LliCI
Especial Correspondence of the Eagle
Lawton, o. T. Aus. 1O.-The spirit, the
energy and the capability Of the west
erner is shown in the transition of a
piece Of raw prairie into city of over
1900 inhabitants. This has taken place
in less than two weeks time.
Lawton, an ideal townsite, is at pres
ent thriving city. It's population viii
decrease. for there is no reason why it
should belmaintained, but it win probably
be one Of the large and substantial cities
Of this splendid young territory. The
townsite is now being covered with tents
nnd hastily constructed frame buildings
As fast as a man buys lot, be con-
trives to fiji it with some sort of struc-
ture. over one-half at least of the in
habitants of Lawton, are here for bus
mess. They have encountered difficulty
and obstruction and in some cases danger
of life and property 10 get themselves,
their goods and their money across coun-
try 20 this town, Now they are lubinid
city. The meanwhile the tented rec
tangular townsite is lined with rows on
rows OF tents where the Business of the
town is largely done; where the residents
live, and where the life and energy of the
new town win be displayed until the end
Of the sale of town lots on the site.
The dusty caravans have crept their
tedious way for weeks to Lawton. Every
hour in the day; every minute in the
hour men and goods are deposited some
where adjacent to the townsite of Law
ton. Many leave, but many come. keep
Ing the population about the same When
the sifunS-out process shall take place.
which viii be soon. 1T viii then DE de-
termined just how permanent is the city
of Lawton.
The chief feature which strikes the OBJ
servant is that, despite the congestion
In limited space; despite the rourhness
that must naturally follow the accumu-
lation of Heterogeneous mass of human
fly; despite the rush and the jam-there
IS peace and good order and decent con-
NJ
Lawton. In the beginning. grating
schemes and gambling holes were numer-
Gus. For awhile there were robberies
and murders an around. and it was not
possible scarcely TO approach the young
town without some sort of experience
of this kind. Now it is different Peace
ful conditions followed close on the as
sumption Of authority by the sheriff.
coHpty attorney and others instructed
with the care Of the community and
county Persons are safe now. Murder
ers are not free 90 run riot here Thugs
and pickpockets are watched as closely
in Law-on as i'm Wichita. A woman or
chnd can go around with almost the same
safety here as there. Conditions have {
changed.
For the situation as it now is credit I
should be freely given County Attorney
Walter Stevens and Sheriff w w. Painter I
and his undersherif. John Rhoads. The /
utmost care has been taken by these Of 1
hcials to protect the peace and dignity 4
o. Lawton and Comsnche county. They /
have been assisted materially by Warren I
Brown, probate judge. before whom the I
offenders have been taken. and who has .
NOT spared fines To make an object les 4
son 90 the KIND that delights in evil ,
doing
LAYTON is a good place in which to live.
Tt win he some little time before the (
political and municipal organizations 7
here VIII De perfected The chief inter
est now attaches 20 the sale of town lots
and getting started I'm business. After
thar VIII come the census. and the iucor-
poration of The city. Then there viii be
elections and political disturbances.
one thing which was wrong in the gov
ernments action in the sale Of town lots
vas the patronage question connected
with the sale ~ town lots. Out Of the
iucuoneers and townsite commissioners
thc department saw tit only II permit
'ue oklahoma man 60 DE named for the
place This man is John Quinn of Perry.
and Dennis Flynn secured his designation
b. sen lots 1T Anadarko. Quinn IS q uro-
essional autioneer. and his work f. super
or In that OF any other auCtIcncer IN
-he three county seat towns. lie does
more rapid warz; more Succession work.
ana IS hastcning matters more at tho
same time receiving just as good bids IS
he others. The department. certainly
should have allowed AR FIyun more
voice in this matter. Il does not seem
exactly rieht that government clerks and
officials. in rho civn service. should be
given leaves 81 absence in orscr that
hey may perform services 81 connection
Tith sales ~ town lots ne the rate Of s.
ser day. This is the case. however. ok
ahoma has plenty az good men who could
lave done the work just oa wen 5r better.
ind il would have been the proper thing
% have given il II them.
The relative merits % the three coartv
eats are interesting 70 suds- Tona-
graphically, Lawton is She best situated.
1t present. IL Is not dusty. OWNS 70 che
act that the townsite lately was q piece
4 prairie and the grass is SIN growing
n IT, Its natural location also exceeds
he other towns. II IS a Tar more beaut-
al location than either lIoaart or Ana
arlzo.
Anadarlo's townsite recently was
ornheld. Dust Is six inches deep nearly
veryWhere- II IS awful. Tho wonder is
bal a nan desires 10 stay there evoa he