Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1915-01-22

What shall be done with the Negro!
This question 10 frequently asked end
but seldom given . rational, intelli'
gent, satisfactory answer. Possibly
e ought toabe changed to read thus:
What shsll the Negro do with him.
self? Not few Negroes are answer
ing the question In this form and In
very satisfactory fashion, too. In.
stance the Negroes who have been
building up the town Of Boley. Okla,
and its surrounding section. There
~ IN illustration Of the successful and
suggestive working out OF the self
segregation idea. 1t has been de.
scribed and commented on by the
Southern Workman: s,g...,i rrr.
''Boley. Okla. is the largest Negro
city In the United States. 1t is sur
rounded by some Of the richest land
in the world and has in its neighbor-
hood most valuable mines of coal
and wells Of oil. Recently it was
the scene OF joyous activity when Dr.
Booker T. Washington and some 400
delegates to the National Negro Bust.
ness league came to its citizens from
Muskogee, through Okmulgee. Boyn.
ton and Clearview, where Negroes are
succeeding In farming, in cattle rails
inQ. IN ni1ing, in the oil and gas
. Aelds and in bookkeeping.
"Boley was founded in 1904 by
Thomas M. Hayes of Texas in the
rolling prairie land on the Fort Smith
i Z Westsrn railroad between Deep
Epfk and North Canadian rivers. and
II IN the heart Of q vast region capa-
blss Of producing such q diversified
c1Dps IS corn. wheat, cotton, potatoes,
alfalfa, apples, peaches. grapes, her
ries and the common garden vege'
takes. O..
This Negro town Is making good
Today 1t has over eighty business con.
Germs, an electric lighting plant, eff
Gent waterworks, two banks, several
attractive churches, a high school
worth over $4,000, a normal and in
dustrial school supported by the c. M.
y. church, nourishing fraternal orders,
q Masonic temple OF the Oklahoma ju.
risdiction worth $4,000. telephone
system, several cotton gins, cham.
Der Of commerce, city hall, a Ne
gro station agent and Negro news
paper. il.
From $4,000 to 10000 people live in
the region surrounding Boley-3.000
are In the township Of Boley and 1900
are in the city of Boley. Here, then,
10 the beginning-really an excellent
beginning demonstration in Ne
gro city building which will be
watched closely by those who are in
terested in the Negro as factor in
business.
The people Of Boley, all Of whom
are Negroes. have shown rare pluck
In going into new country and doing
together what most people said Ne
grOes never could do-exercise initia.
tive and Judgment In building up bust
ness enterprises apart from white
men. They have won their present
success by making their lot one with
the man on the farm.
"Boley Is in many ways a substan.
tial evidence Of the ambition, thrift
and capacity Of the Negro who takes
life more seriously than the average
man OF the race and is not .nterfered
with by unwise friends or out-and.out
enemies. Boley reflects credit on
Mr.. Haynes and his coworkers. 1t
gives promise Of great things. 1t
ought to be better known by young.
doubling Negroes, especially city Ne
groes, who are dissatisfied with their
lot and are ignorant Of what the South
Ind the Southwest offer in golden OPP.
portunities for the sober, hard-work-