Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1910-12-02
EDITORS OBSERVATION IN OK.
LAHOMA.

Oklahoma, the land of Aborigines,
the former home of Greek, Creole,
seminole. where but few days ago
tne Indian. the buffalo, and the deer
reigned supreme, has now yielded to
the Industrial hand of civilization.
No longer do we hear the song Of
the uncivilized nor ,ne cooling of the
wild but the whistle of the factory
and trains and the hum Of business
in the fast growing cities. But yes
terday Oklahoma was territory
with only few thousand white peo-
pie, now she is great state with
hundreds of thousahus of white and
black people dotted over the tree
less prairies OF that rich state. Okla
homa Is rich In minerals, great In
producing cereals. She raises two
crops Of potatoes year: wonderful
In fruit, especially peaches and ap-
pies. To give my readers topog-
raphy of this state would take too
much space. Muskogee, the second
largest city in the state. has now en-
tered the contest for the state capitol
against Oklahoma City. It Is city
of about 10000 people with about
10000 colored people and the col
ored people are doing better here
than any place that l know of In
the United States. They have a
bank, grocery stores, 20 business
and Office buildings ranging from 2
to stories high, built Of the most
modern pressed brick with Is ply
sicians, 21 lawyers, s dentists, Z
drug stores, 16 contractors, all the
mail carriers aresoolared also all the
special delivery and messengers, IA
real estate agents, 4 insurance
agents, 15 restaurants, IA churches.
2 department dry goods stores COM
pletely modern, clothing store, 2
furniture stores, 6 second nand
stores, several heat markets, jew
elry store, numerous repair shops
and blacksmith shops, two neWspa-
pers, several printing offices. ] shoe
store, 40 ministers belonging to the
ministerial union. 1t was my first
time to- go into a bank owned en-
stirely by colored people. Thes.pre
ident Is Mr.. Escoe, Jr., whose father
is also an officer and lives In Wichita,
Kans. He has Just purchased him
self q new $4,000 automobile. MT,
u. G. Johnson is the cashier, 9 fine
business man. Lebron n. Edwards.
is the head bookkeeper of this bank
with capital stock OF $4,000 and
Is known as the Peoples Bank and
Trust Co. The O. X. Furniture Co.
is one Of the largest stores owned
by our people, company with Mr.
j. II. Bryant, manager, student
Of the Kansas University. Mr.. Il. u.
Barrow is a teacher In the schools.
Dr.. Sims owns beautiful three story
brick business building and also 9
very beautiful residence. He Is
brother to our Rev. J. p. Sims j.
w. Adams owns very beautiful
dry goods department store. He Is
from Montgomery, Ala. and has been
In the business for ~ years. he
owns another, store In Okohulgo. Mr..
Elliott owns avery fine clothing
store.
There are so many whose names
we did not get, hence we cannot men.
ton them now. The largest ana
finest church is the First Baptist,
costing fully 100000, pastored by
Rev. s. S. Jones.
To Guthrie, the capitol, we next
went. Here we found Edward w.
Thompson, formerly Of this city,
owning the only colorei drug COM
pany. He is doing we'll and wishes
to be remembered to his old friends.
DR.. A. r. Eagleson, dentist, Is DO
ing we'll. Mr.. S. q. Garrett IS
rioneer loan and real estate agent
doing we'll. He owns very beautl-
full home; his wife Is teacher IN
the public schools. DR.. A. Hugn
Shoals is a physician and surgeon.
Herbert Lee Lang is pastor OF the
Warner Ave. Congregational churcn.
He is a very able young minister
u here are three .colore schools WIN
about is teachers, doctors, law
yers, 8 churches, some other MINOR
stores and residences. /,
Bombey, Taft, Langston CITY ana
Wagner are some of the larger town
owned owned and run exclusively Dy
Negroes. Our next letter Will pe III
Missouri.