The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1906-07-12
oKLAHoMANs At HOME.
"First Mondays" Are Trade Days
Now in Altus Town.

Now in AItus Town.
A stranger in the town of Altus the
first Monday Of each month would be
surprised at the large crowd of farm
ers in the streets engaged in trading
and buying horses and other live
stock, and marketing their farm pro-
ducts. They come from every d.
rection in the country tributary to
Altus, and all day long the streets
are filled with the noise of trade The
day is known far and wide as first
Monday" which means simply that
it is the first Monday of each month,
day set apart specially for traffic
in live stock and such other things
as the farmers may wish to buy or
sell.
1t is supposed that the custom was
brought from Texas, where most cit
liens Of Greer county once lived, and
of which Greer county formerly was
each month is estray sale day at each
county seat, and buyers, sellers and
traders attend these sales in great num-
bers. Naturally, politicians, collec-
tors and selling agents find it eXpe-
dent to be present because of the
greatly increased number of visitors
from the country. At Magnum, the
seat of Greer county, less attention is
paid to first Monday than at Altus,
where originally it was known as
horse traders day.
'gFhe custom is developing at Mag
num- said citizen of that town, "but
1 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, ana
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
the trade area of the town, and decid
ed that certain days should be set
apart for certain purposes. The citi-
zens, more especially the business
men, took up the idea and several
meetings were held, with the result
that the first Monday in each month
was traders day. Every one living
in Altus's trade territory was asked
to bring to town anything they wish
ed to dispose of, either by trading,
selling, swapping or any old way
The business men of the town fur
nished plenty of good auctioneers free
Of charge. The newspapers devoted
a certain amount of space to BOOM
ing Traders day, in the editorial:
local and advertising columns, the
merchants increased their advertising
space to call attention to bargains
which they had to offer for that day
only. AS general rule each mer-
chant took some special article, cut
the price on it and advertised it ex-
tensively. For instance, grocer
would offer twenty pounds of gran
dated sugar fer 81: dry goods mer-
chant would offer his best calico at
three cents a yard etc. Plenty OF
hitching space and good water and
shade were provided, and every in
ducement offered which would bring
a crowd of farmers to town.
ct is rare that a church dinner is
not served on first Monday. Much OF
the interest IN irrigation in this part
OF Oklahoma was awakened at meet
ings held here on first Monday. |
know farmers who travel a distance
of fifty miles to reach A {tus on this
day, and in radius of Ten miles OF
Altus it is rare to find farmer at
nome on first Monday They come
to Altus with their families and
throng the stores all day" kansas
City Star.