The Washington herald., 1907-11-04

ments made 10 take care Of three times
that many-such is Oklahoma City.
Your Oklahoman is proud person, but
his pride is patriotic. and therefore par
donable Eighteen years ago there was
railroad line through a section Of the
Indian Territory which was as innocent
of permanent habitation as the Sahara.
This section was assigned 10 no one tribe
of Indians. A jealous government had
driven from it every one OF the ''sooners"
who had followed Dave Payne into the
land Of promise. Payne was dead. but
his work lived after him. and that strange
land. some two millions Of acres. was to
be opened for settlement Thousands of
homeseekers and Adventures waited on
the line. At noon on the twenty-second
Of April, 1893. ;he crack Of an army car
bine started the race for homes and
riches
On that railroad there was a place
where a tank had been built to give
drink to thirsty engines in their race
across the desert On the morning Of
April p the rising sun beheld about That
water tank a city of 5000 sOuls-a tented
city, but a city with hotels. with saloons,
with gambling houses. with a newspaper
and bank. The town Of Oklahoma City
was born Time went on. Others towns
in the newly opened territory flOurished
more rapidly Oklahoma, increased by
other openings, shook off its frontier as
pect and became an agricultural domain.
Still Oklahoma City was but country
town. Its population gradually grew until
there were 10000 people there. but land
values sagged from the figures Of the
old boom days. Many people went away.
Many others would have gone il they
could have realized on their investments
Then came c. c. Jones, a practical man.
When Oklahoma was opened he knew
that the new settlers would need bread.
SO he became the pioneer miller OF the
Territory and the people call him "Grist
Mill" Jones even unto this day. Jones
grew prosperous, and his faith was
strong. He prevailed upon the Frisco
system to extend line Of railroad from
Sapulpa, I. T., TO Oklahoma City, a dis
tance of 1O4 miles. The town took on
new life, but as yet was only a pros
porous country town. Then came Anton
II. Classen. When the first rush was
made into Oklahoma, Classen was there,
with youth, courage, valise, and q Il
cense TO practice law. Fate gave him a
residence in the new town Of Edmond.
Classen practiced law. taught school,
edited little newspaper. and improved
his acquaintance with the powers that
were in the Republican party. BY and
by he was appointed 10 a position in the
Federal land Office at Oklahoma City by
President Mckinley. He, too, had faith
In the future of the town. He bought
farms around the outskirts at $50 and $50
an acre. There were by this time four
railroads, but Oklahoma City was still
a town.
Five years ago the city Of Oklahoma
paved three blocks of Broadway with
asphalt Presto! The town was no more:
a city was there indeed Other towns did
not have paved streets like that Their
streets were like Broadway had been
knee deep in mud or dust Then Classen
rose 10 the full height of his faith and
organized a street railway company with
a capital Of 10000. and built a mile or
two of street car line. The career of the
city had begun. What is there TO tell
Of all this to-day? Oklahoma City has
thirty miles of asphalt-paved streets,
more than any other city Of its popula-
ton in the world. II has nearly 300
miles Of sidewalks, half OF them OF ce-
ment. The street railway goes into its
fifth year with thirty-six miles Of track,
exclusive Of an interurban road which it
owns. It's capital has been increased,
first from 10000 10 100000, and then
to 100000. 1t could not buy cars fast
enough, so it put up shops and now
builds its own cars right in Oklahoma
City. Here. too. IL builds great electric
locomotives tC pun its work trains. And
IL has made Anton Classen a millionaire.
All OF this, and much more. in five years.
Can you blame the Oklahoman for his
pride?
Those who had farms close about the
old town have grown rich from the sale
Of town lots. Ten years ago there were
no houses north Of Seventh street Now
there are streets laid out as far as For
tieth street, with cement sidewalks, dou-
BILE rows OF shade trees. and a 15-minute
car service 10 the business district The
boosters declare that the city will have
a population OF 10000 by 1913. That may
be too extravagant, but II is certain that
each day adds hundreds to the permanent
roster of citizens.
An example Of how things progress in
this youthful metropolis is the case of
Charles H. COlcOrd- He is a Kentuckian.
and was one OF the pioneers His first
house was built OF blackjack logs. and
In II he directed the affairs Of the farm
which he had settled. He prospered. and
IN time moved TO the city. He built a
modest house and named IL Dewey Cot
tage' in honor Of the admiral who had
won the great victory at Manila on the
day the Colcords took possession OF their
new home. Now he lives in 10000 man
sion on one Of the swell streets OF the
new city. on the site Of his old home is
an amusement park. In the center Of the
park stands a cabin built Of blackjack
logs. That was the beginning Of the Col
cord fortune. and Colcord will not permit
it to be torn away so long as he is in the
land Of the living.
An example Of how they do things in
this big little city Is the story OF Con
vention Hall. Oklahoma City. when II
came into its metropolitan estate. built
a convention hall 10 seat 5000 people.
other cities had such halls, and Okla
homa must be up to date. But other
cities had their great auditoriums for the
convenience of the conventions that had
chosen TO come. Not so Oklahoma. Its
chamber Of commerce went out into the
highways and byways and compelled
them 10 come in. The year 1907 is not
gone. and Oklahoma City has already
entertained eighty-three conventions this
year. And there have been excursion
rates on the railroads 10 Oklahoma CITY
twenty-five days out Of every month in
the year.
Oklahoma City is determined to be the