The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-11-04

 land values sagged from the figures of
 the old boom days Many people went away. Many others would have gone II they could have realized on their in- yestments.
 Then came c. G. Jones, a practical man. When Oklahoma was opened he Knew that the new settlers would need bread So he became the pioneer miller
 or the territory, and the people call him
 .Grist MilP' 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, Indian Teritory to Oklahoma
 City, distance of 104 miles. The town
 took on new life, but as yet was only
 prosperous country town. Then came Anton II. Classen. When the first rush
 was made into Oklahoma, Classen was there with youth, courage, valise and a license to practice law. Fate gave nm residence in the new town of Edmond. Classen practiced law. taught 1 school, edited a little newspaper and im- proved his acquaintance with the powers
 that were in the republican uarty. By
 and by he was appointed to a position
 Tn 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 SZ0 and s30 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 to the full height of his
 faith and organized a street railway
 rpif fnl
 built mile or two of street car line The career of the city had begun. What IS there to tell of all this today? Okla
 homa City has 90 miles of asphalt paved streets more than any other city of its population in the world It has nearly 800 miles of sidewalks, half of them of cement. The street railway goes into it's fifth year with 36 miles of track ex- elusive of an interurban road which it owns. It's capital has been increased first from s100,000 to $1,000,000 and then
 to $sooo,o0o. It could not buy cars fast enough so it put up shops and now builds it's own cars right in Oklahoma City. Here, too, it builds great electric
 locomotives to pull it's work trains And it has made Anton Classen a millianaire All of this, and much more, in five
 years. Can you blame the Oklahoman for his pride?
 Those who had farms close about the 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 stret. with cement sidewalks. double
 rows of shade trees, and 8 1o-minute car service to the business district The 'boosters' declare that the city will l have population of 10000 by 1913 That may be too extravagant but it is cer- tain 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 Kentuckian and was one of the pioneers. His first 1 house was built of black-ja logs and in 1 it 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 1t 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 a S40,0OO mansion 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 begin
 ming of the Coicord fortune and Coleord
 will not permit 1t to be torn away as
 long as he is in the land of the living.
 An example of how they do things
 m tnls DIE lltlle clty IS The story of Convention hall. Oklahoma City, when
 1t came into it's metropolitan estate,
 built convention hall to seat 5000
 people. Other cities had such halls and
 Oklahoma must be up to date. But other cities had their great auditor iums for the convenience of the con- ventions that had chosen to come. Not so Oklahoma. It's chamber of com- merce went out into the highways and byways and compelled them to come in. The year 1907 Is not gone and Oklahoma City has already entertained eigh ty-three conventions this year. And there have been excursion rates on the railroads to Oklah oma City twenty-five days out of every month In the year. Oklahoma City is determined to be the supreme city of the new state. When statehood was apparently as- sured, the city knew that a state fair would come with the growth of the country. Again "Grist Mill" Jones to the rescue. In July an association
 was formed A hundred thousand dol lars was raised and tract of 160 acres was bought in September. Two crops of alfalfa had been cut from the land in 1907. Jones was placed at the helm and he made things happen. In the middle of October the fair was held. There are large permanent build-