Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1906-05-03

SO lorclDlN Illustrate tne renlafkaDle
growth Of Tulsa as the two pictures
"Before and After Taking"
The old picture was taken on the
occasion Of the Fourth of July cele-
bration in 1887, and It's counterpart
only few weeks ago. While the
former did justice to the burg at the
time, the latter does not, as Tulsa
covers too much territory today to
be gotten within the range of half a
dozen cameras.
The occasion of the celebration
in 'S7 forcibly illustrates the old
life, as well as primeval conditions.
The feature Of the day was a bar
becue, at which three beeves and a
deer were served, together with the
contents Of well-flled baskets brought
by all the natives for miles around,
and it was indeed feast such as
would today put all Of the hotels
and eating houses in the territory ont
of business. The food was spread on
long tables and about this board all
gathered as one great family
A platform was built on a heavy
wagon and upon this were seated
young ladies decorated with stars
and stripes, representing every state
in the union. The platform was also
large enough to accommodate an or
gan and organist, and as the oxen
slowly wended their way to the
grounds, the ladies sang the '"Star
Spangled Banner" "
Pleasant Porter, now chief Of the
Creeks, delivered an address.
The cowboy was much in evidence,
and his high heel boots, big bright
spurs and shirt sleeves, drew "sheep
eyes" frcm many an Indian maiden,
as it must be remembered that less
than dozen white families were
present ON this occasion.
Mrs. Josie Crutchheld and Mrs.
Lilah ID. Lindsey, to whom we are in
debted for the old picture. as well as
information concerning the affair,
say that the celebration was more
like the reunion of one big family
than picnic, as the people
came from miles and miles, and it
was only on occasions like this that
these scattered neighbors were priv
ileged to visit.
In the afternoon the Indians ball
was INDUCED, the players being
dressed in a breech cloth. At night
the dance brought together the old
and the young, the Indian and the
white man, and was greatly enjoyed.
Contrast this picture with the one
presented today on this same soil,
and witness the wonderful transfor-
nation. Take a stroll about the city
and in your minds eye look again on
the scenes of but few years ago,
and YOU can scarcely believe your
eyes. Even today you may see grow
ing on some of the business lots, and
on many of the residence lots apple
trees that were planted by the Indian
about the time of the 'S7 celebration.
Listen to the voice Of the visitor
A., ,o., 1n,l q ,t ha,. no ttc nf tnp
territories, and in tones above the
trample of the feet of the multiplied
thousands. you hear reverberated
again and again:
"The fastest growing town IN
Indian Territory or Oklahoma Is
Tulsa"
Three years ago Tulsa was a little
hamlet, scarcely known outside the
territories Today, she has few less
than 10000 inhabitants. This re-
markable growth may be told in one
word-resources
During the past year Tulsa has
practically doubled in population, and
the present indications are, that she
will double again in the next eigh-
teen months. During the year be-
tween fifty and sixty brick business
houses, and probably four to five
hundred residences, were erected.
Among the business houses were
five-story office and bank building,
costing $4,000; a four-story Office
building, costing 100000; a four
story hotel, containing 126 guest
rooms and costing $l25,OOO; a mod
ern theater building with seating
capacity of more than a thousand
people, and costing $42,5OO; two