The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1901-11-08
MAGIC RISE OF LAWTON
Oklahoma City Broke al Records
In Town Building.
sPRANG Up IN A SINGLE HOUR,

IS NO" tAe MeVrOpOHS or the New
Kiowa-Comnnche Country - Ten
Thousand People There and More
Coming Daily-society Already Has
a "FOur Hundred"
Towns in Oklahoma were nearly all
made in one day, but the new town of
Lawton was born in an hour, writes
the New York Herald's correspondent.
Lawton has set the pace as an up to
date frontier village. It will be difficult
for others to follow. q
Where but a few weeks ago stood a
earren waste Of buffalo grass sloplng
toward a small stream today 10000
souls have made their resting place.
Perhaps they may make it their home.
On the border circumstances govern
how long a man shall stay in one town.
While Lawton has been in reality three
weeks accommodating it's present popula-
ton, which distinguishes it as the me-
tropolis Of the new Kiowa and Co
manche country, it was but an hour in
starting.
On July 20 the registration closed at
81 Reno and Lawton. 1t was then and
not until then that white people were
legally allowed to enter the reserva-
ton. Prior to that time soldiers had
camped on the town site of Lawton
and kept the squatter outside.
But every II Of the 167,OOG people
who registered had a right after July
% to tramp and settle, temporarily at
least, any place on the reservation.
Whereas they had been forced to walk
into the land office, have their papers
filled out for the land drawing, then
march off the reservation again, now
they could squat at any place on the
town site they chose.
So on July 80 the birth of Lawton
was announced to the world. Five
thousand people had squatted on town
lots in less than an hour. In three
hours 1000 souls comprised the popula-
ton. And every day since then prairie
schoopers filled with their human
freight have trekked across the plains
EN- route to Lawton. the border city, |
risen as if by magic.
just why the boomers should choose
LaWton for their resting place no one
could tell. 1t is located high and dry, |
so much SO that water has proved
scarce. y government we'll was dug
100 feet, but no water was found. The
thirsty boomers drank the Cache river
dry, then a well was dug - feet deep
in the lowlands, and a continuous
stream Of cold water has been found.
Perhaps the reason that Lawton is a
border metropolis is the fact that but a
few miles away lie the Wichita noun
tains. These hills are said to contain
gold. SO strong is the belief that gold
is in these mountains that the govern
ment makes every man who takes a
homestead any way near them fill out
a mineral clause which puts him under
obligations of FORGETTING the same
should gold be found. The government
is allowed this privilege under the
homestead laws.
But the hopes of Lawton are not all
is interesting about the place. Like
border towns. it must have a histo-
ry. That history is now being made
fast and furious.
The citizens who would have things
run on the."wide OPEN plan are many,
but there are also others who wish for
civilization" 1t is these two factions
hat have already created a bitter feud
to cause no end of trouble. The
wide open" faction is supported by the
noted Bat Carr, who wishes to open
everything by a gun shooting soiree.
Lawton had men among the first
Who understood city government. They
Knew it was necessary to have streets.
accordingly the tents were pitched III S
'ows, a space 100 feet wide being left (
between them for streets. !
h W main thoroughfares were !
Mccoy street and Goo-Goo ave. S
lue. The latter became the midway,
ne scene OF gay revelry at night and t
luick trading in daylight. Dance halls, '
gambling tents and real estate and law t
'fhces comprise the. principal places of q
In any frontier town. and S
had its share of them. There L
vas no cessation to the noise in Law Q
N. n
The center of the town was said to b
re Mccoy street and Goo-Goo avenue, d
'ut town lot spectators changed it o
lalf a dozen times the first day of the I
ales. Things became so uncertain that
% frame houses have been started,
nd as the climate remains warm in
his section for many months to come II
ew houses will be constructed. Z
On the first day that Lawton was
ficially organized-Aug. Ga bank
managed by Dennis Flynn, territorial
elegate to congress; a daily newspa-
er run by w. q. Kimber, and a district
presided over by Judge McAfee q,
'ere among the enterprises of Lawton.
The bank and newspaper Offices were
loved in on wheels. Thirty-one grocery 81
blossomed forth on the first day,
restaurants had already been in full