The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-10-02
by HERBERT VANDERHOOF.
Special Correspondence.


Special Correspondence. |
LAYTON, Ok, Sept. 26.-Four years
ago there was no such place on the map
as Lawton. Today city of 10000 or
II, 900 people exists where four years ago
was only prairie land. For rapid city
building Lawton, even in this land of quick
growth, has certainly set the pace, and
it is one that will not soon be surpassed
even If 1t is ever equaled.
Naturally, the citizens Of Lawton are
proud Of their city, and Of what they
have accomplished In these four years.
And they have good reason to be proud.
The city has all the modern improve
ments and conveniences that are fea-
ture of much older communities in the
North and East, and it's business houses
and private residences are of substan-
tial build and architectural beauty. The
city has an ample water supply, Its sewer
system Is Of the best, its streets are we'll
paved, and the gas and electric lighting
plants are up to date in every way.
Lawton is the county seat of one OF the
biggest counties in Oklahoma, Comanche,
which has an area of 1,S45, 900 acres. 1t
Is way down in the southwest portion Of
the territory, and this situation is one
Of the reasons that account for its rapid
growth. Geographically and CONNER
cially, more advantageous site could
not have been selected. To the west and
south, just over the boundary line,
stretches the vast domain of Texas, which
IS thickly studded with thriving COM
munittes. To the east, just over the
border, Is the Indian territory, which Is
now being rapidly settled, and>which is
destined eventually to repeat the marvel
Gus story of Oklahoma.
A Center Of Trade.
All the trade Of this section naturally
gravitates toward Lawton, and it is in
evidence in the substantial business
houses and the rush of traffic on the
city's streets. But this is only one rea-
son for the city's growth. Comanche
county is a great agricultural county;
1t is also a great stock raising county,
and because of the vast pasture lands,
horses, cattle, sheep, and goats are raised
in abundance. All this makes business for
Lawton, and, as this business is steadily
increasing, Lawton keeps on growing.
Buildings are being all the time erected,
and the only thing that prevents them
going up faster is the lack Of material and
labor. 1t keeps the Rock Island system
busy hauling the timber, stone, brick, and
other building materials that are used
in LaWton every year.
Many of the original settlers in LaWton
have been made rich in the past four
years by the tremendous enhancement
OF real estate values, and these values
OF today, great as has been the advance,
will appear trivial compared with the
values Of four years hence. When the
town site was opened in August, 1901, the
lots were sold at auction on the basis OF
$50 each, and the sum of 100000 was
realized from this sale. This sum was
set aside by the government and ap.
piled to the public utilities of the new
city.
Those early days were the harvest time
Of the shrewd and plucky real estate
man. Property doubled and trebled IL
value over night, and it was not an I'M
usual thing for the same piece of lant
to change owners two or three times II
one day, and always at an advance.
A few miles from Lawton is rancl
Of several thousand acres that is owne'
by former Illinois man. He had Thu
year about 5000 acres in wheat, whic
averaged forty bushels to the acre, an
about 1000 acres in corn and oats. Thi
man is also large raiser of stock, cat
tie and hogs, and owns his vast farm
clear of any incumbrance. When thi
man came to Oklahoma four years ag
be told me he had barely 500 to his name
Today he is able to draw his check an
have it honored for as many thousands.
An Illinois Mans Success.
! Glow did you accomplish so much fror
80 little in such short timer venture
to ask him.
Dealt in town lots" was his repl!
.''I bought one lot for $50 the first day {
the Lawton sale: sold that lot for $25
before night. That looked like prett
easy money to me, and invested my prof
its in some more lots. You couldn't e
wrong. Every piece of dirt in the tow
was valuable and customers were fallin
over themselves to buy. Every train ths
came in had a bunch of men aboard ths
wanted lots, and wanted them bad.
kept on buying and selling until had al
cumulated a good many thousands 4
dollars. Then I came out here in tt
country and bought this property for
few dollars an acre. You can see what
have here"
& Had you been farmer In Illinois
was my next question. H.
Eyes, but not for myself. You Sc
my father owned a pretty good farm
the central part of the state, and my e.
perience was in working for him. B
there was a big family Of us, and, viii
We all had good living, there did not a
pear to be any prospect for my advanc
nnent &c. when had thought over t
matter, I concluded to come down he
and try my luck. 1t was wise move.
How does the land compare for pr
ductiveness with good farming land
Illinois?" queried.
No Comparison Possible.
IT, "Why, there's no comparison to
made AS a diversified farming count
III put Oklahoma against anything
the map. And you must also bear
mind that land down here is only
dollars an acre, not SIS. or $780, as it
North. We took the gold medal at
st. Louis exposition on corn, flour,
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