Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1906-09-06
TOWNS TRADE DAY
CUSTOM OF "FiRST MONDAY" POP.
uLAR IN ALTUS, OKLA.
Come In ThrOnss From
Many Miles With Something to Sell.
How Newspapers and Merchants
Found a Way to Get n Crowd.

How the business interests of a
town "a be improved is shown in the
following article on the observation of
q traders day" in an Oklahoma town:
A stranger in the town of Altus,
Okla, the first Monday of each month
would be surprised at the large crowd
of farmers in the streets engaged in
trading and buying horses and other
live stock and marketing their farm
products, says an Altus correspondent
of the Kansas City Star. They come
from every direction in the country
tributary to Altus, and all day long the
streets are filed with the noise of
trade. The day is known far and wide
as "frst Monday" which means sim
ply that it is the first Monday of each
month, a day set apart specially for
traffic in live stock and such other
or sell.
1t is supposed hat the custom was
brought from Texas, where most citi-
zens Of Greer county once lived and
Of which Greer county formerly was a
part. In Texas the first Monday in
each month is estray sale day at each
county seat, and buyers, sellers and
traders attend these sales in great
numbers. Naturally politicians, col
lectors and selling agents find it ex-
pedient to be present because of the
greatly increased number of visitors
from the country. At Mangum, the
seat of Greer county, less attention is
paid to first Monday than at Altus,
where originally it was known as
horse traders day"
"The custom is developing at Man
gum" said a citizen of that town, "but
I think it will require years for it to
reach the stage Of development it has
reached at Altus. The custom has
drawn upon politics, business and the
gregarious instinct in individuals. You
can easily imagine the Texas horse
snapper in Difference to the Texas
custom in any convenient town on first
Monday looking at the horses tied
around the public square and talking
horse. The groups of men and boys at
the hitching racks grow larger and
larger, drawn not only by business. but
by natural fondness for the excitement
and banter of such gatherings"
When asked lately about the origin
and observance Of first Monday" at
Altus. Horace Shepherd. editor of the
Altus Times, said:
1.-TWO years ago the two newspaper
mon nf tho town ,,,,3nn.t noI- tD ;r,rn,rD
the trade area of the town and decided
that certain days should be set apart
for certain purposes. The citizens,
nor especially the business men, took
up the idea and several meetings We're
held, with the result that the first
Monday of each month was traders
day Every one ~livirg~in Altus' trade
territory was asked to bring to town
anything he wished to dispose Of,
either by trading. selling. swapping or
any old way. The business men Of the
town furnished plenty Of good auction
GERS free of charge. The newspapers
devoted a certain amount Of space to
booming traders day In the editorial.
local and advertising columns, and the
merchants increased their advertising
space to call attention to bargains
which they had to offer for that day
only. AS a general rule. each merchant
took some special article. cut the price
on it and advertised 1t extensively.
For instance, aSgrocer would offer
twenty pounds Of granulated sugar for
81: q dry goods merchant would offer
his best calico ut 3 cents a yard. etc.
Plenty of hitching space and good wa.
ter and shade were provided and every
inducement offered which would bring
q crowd Of farmers to town,
ut Ia rare that II church dinner n
not served OIL irst Monday. Much OF
the interest In irrigation in this part OF