USA > Oklahoma > Oklahoma County > Oklahoma City > The story of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma : "the biggest little city in the world" > Part 12
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On April 15th W. J. Gault died. He was among the or- ganizers of the city government in 1889 and was the first legally elected mayor. He also had served as president of the school board and was a member of the House of Representa- tives of the Fourth Legislature. His death was profoundly
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regretted throughout the community. Mayor Van Winkle called the council into extraordinary session and it adopted appropriate resolutions.
Outstanding more or less minor events of the year included the election of a new board of directors of the City Club con- sisting of A. H. Classen, W. W. Storm, M. C. Milner, E. H. Cooke, Fred W. Smith, Dr. Wilson Stuve and J. M. Owen; the selection of Capt. C. H. DeFord as sergeant at arms of the lower house of the Legislature: the resignation of E. F. Cochran as chief of police and the appointment of G. W. R. Chinn as his successor; the departure of Edward Loughmiller, a Rough Rider veteran, for New York as a member of the Wild West show troupe of William Cody who chose ten men from among the Oklahoma veterans to appear in perform- anees in various eities of the East: the arrival of Charles F. Colcord, former sheriff of Noble County, from Perry, and his announcement that he expected to erect a row of two-story brick business houses on Grand Avenue; the election of Clif- ton George as corresponding secretary of the City Club; a proposal by Osear Lee to erect a four-story hotel at Main and Broadway at a cost of $40.000, provided residents of the city would subscribe $5,000 of that amount; and the resignation of F. W. Smith as recording secretary of the City Club and the election of J. McKee Owen as his successor.
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1900-FRANCHISES AND BOND SALES
Final plans for constructing a street railway system nearly materialized this year. Altogether four applications for franchises had been made, and of these the committee of the Council to whom they were referred recommended acceptance of that submitted by H. Overholser. The recommendation was not acted upon at that time because of rumors of a com- bination of interests the perfection of which was calculated to prevent contests for favors. Eugene Everest, lawyer, re- ported to the council at a subsequent meeting that a street railway company with a capital stock of $200,000 was in pro- cess of formation and that he was authorized by the pro- motors to apply for a franchise. Judge Lindsay of Gaines- ville, Texas, and George C. Kelly of Birmingham, Ala., were among the promoters. Mr. Everest told the council he had been informed by Mr. Overholser that the latter was willing to withdraw his application if other persons seeking a fran- chise were really prepared to at once begin construction of lines.
On August 3d a franchise was awarded to the Oklahoma City Land & Electric Railway Company which pledged itself to begin operations by the first of the next February.
Perhaps the greatest event since the opening of the coun- try was the second annual reunion here this year of the Rough Riders Association. Certainly it was the largest attended convention that had been held in the Territory, 40,000 persons being present, and it was considered to have had inestimable advertising value. Col. Theodore Roosevelt, then governor of New York, was the most distinguished of the guests, and his former comrades from all parts of the nation gathered here to greet him. Colonel Roosevelt arrived on July 2d and was greeted formally by a committee consisting of Mayor Lee Van- Winkle, Col. A. O. Brodie, Capt. Frank Frantz, Serg. C. E. Hunter, E. W. Johnson, Anton H. Classen, Judge B. F. Bur-
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well, Sidney Clarke, Dennis Flynn and Dr. David R. Boyd, president of the University of Oklahoma. This committee represented the Rough Riders Reunion Association, and it was joined by Governor Barnes and his military staff. The program consisted of a parade of record-breaking propor- tions for Oklahoma, a speech by Colonel Roosevelt, a roping contest, and spectacular fireworks at night that typified the Battle of San Juan Hill.
An incident of this reunion is said to have had a bearing on important events in the near future. Governor Barnes had ordered that fourteen horses and saddles for use in the parade of himself and staff be sent over from Fort Reno. These mounts were in readiness in a stable early in the day but when a staff officer called for them all but three of them were missing. Their absence was soon accounted for: they had been taken by Rough Riders who had not been provided with mounts. When news of this reached Governor Barnes he grew angry and ordered Adjutant General Orner of his personal staff to recover the mounts. Orner sought to comply with the order but he soon learned that he and his chief and all their comrades of political tinge were virtually ineonse- quential in comparison with these Roosevelt men who had actually fought for their country and who were unhorsing precedents and checkmating conventions in this time of hilarious celebration of their military accomplishments. No opportunity for combat here, Orner thought, and he so in- formed the governor. Only three members of the governor's staff had mounts for the parade. Colonel Roosevelt is said to have been incensed when told of the governor's action and be- fore he departed Captain Finnerty of the governor's staff brought to the colonel apologies of the staff. Subsequently, when Roosevelt was President of the United States and giving thought to the appointment of a governor of Oklahoma, he was reminded of this reunion incident by Benjamin Colbert, an Indian Territory Rough Rider, who had served as his aide. "I have not forgotten it," said the President.
During the Rough Rider festivities, Clifton George, seere- tary of the City Club, fell from his horse and suffered a fracture of the skull and a broken collar bone. For several days his recovery was doubtful but he recovered.
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Before the departure of Colonel Brodie he was presented with a souvenir spoon as a token of Oklahoma City's appre- ciation of his services in helping to make the reunion a memorable success. The spoon was carved from a piece of cy- press by E. W. Discher and painted and decorated by Mrs. T. S. Chamberlain and Mrs. Brackett. Inside the bowl was a portrait of Colonel Roosevelt, mounted, representing him as Rough Rider leader in service. The souvenir was pre- sented to Colonel Brodie with a speech by Sidney Clarke as the personal representative of the mayor.
The Territorial Democratic Convention was held in Ok- lahoma City this year and Robert Neff of Kay County was nominated for delegate to Congress. The republicans in a Guthrie convention renominated Dennis Flynn. The popu- list nominee was John S. Allan of Norman. Flynn was elected by a plurality of 3,180 votes. The nomination of Neff was accomplished after a highly exciting tug. Opposing can- didates were William Cross, a traveling salesman of Okla- homa City, and Roy Hoffman of Chandler. Although the populists later nominated a candidate. Neff was considered a fusion nominee. In that convention the populists presented the name of Dr. Delos Walker for delegate nominee. James R. Jacobs of Shawnee was chosen National Committeeman over Jasper Sipes of Oklahoma City, and the choice ended a contest between the men which started early in the year and which the National Committee declined to settle.
C. G. Jones was reelected a member of the House of Rep- resentatives and other members elected to represent Oklahoma County were John Hogan and J. W. Hadley. John S. Alex- ander was elected county treasurer, William R. Taylor, county attorney : Richard Caffrey, county clerk: Maj. J. P. Allen, probate judge; Charles J. Bowman, register of deeds; Mrs. Mary D. Couch, county superintendent of schools; Charles R. Goucher, tax assessor ; Michael A. O'Brien, sheriff : J. P. Barnard, surveyor: Dr. J. G. Street, coroner, and Ed- ward S. Malone, county commissioner for the district em- bracing the city.
Undoubtedly this was the most growing year that the city had experienced. Its geographical position and its increas- : ing railroad facilities attracted hundreds of persons interested
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in the establishment of industries and distribution plants. The City Club had its busiest year. At the annual meeting in January, C. B. Ames and MacGregor Douglas were elected to the directorate and directors of the preceding year were re- elected. Anton H. Classen was chosen president, M. C. Mil- ner, first vice president ; Seymour Heyman, second vice presi- dent ; J. M. Owen, secretary-treasurer, and Clifton George, corresponding secretary. The club this year entertained del- egations of trade-trippers from Memphis, Tenn., and Little Rock, Ark., business interests of these cities having been at- tracted to this territory by completion of the Choctaw Rail- road to Oklahoma City.
Two thousand names were placed on the club's visitor reg- ister during the year. It had passed resolutions that were forwarded to Congress asking passage of a bill to open the Kiowa and Comanche Indian reservations to settlement. It had inspired the organization of the first Humane Society. officers of which were Mrs. Selwyn Douglas, president ; E. J. Streeter, vice president ; I. M. Holcomb, secretary-treas- urer, and Sidney Clarke, Dr. Delos Walker, Miss Mary Fox, Mrs. E. J. Streeter and MacGregor Douglas, directors. Capt. D. F. Stiles died during the year and his death left a vacancy in the city park board. To fill that vacancy the club recom- mended Joseph B. Thoburn. Important among the club's subjects of discussion was a proposal suggested by C. B. Ames that the statehood convention, to be held in MeAlester in December, should provide for the assembling of a consti- tutional convention as a preparatory step as well as a spur to Congress toward the accomplishment of statehood.
The corner stone of the public library, which meantime Andrew Carnegie had contracted to support, was laid August 16 with appropriate exercises held under auspices of the library association, which consisted of Mrs. Selwyn Douglas, president ; Mrs. Wilson Stuve, vice president: Mrs. J. H. Wheeler, secretary; Mrs. W. J. Pettee, treasurer; Mrs. Wil- liam Brady and Mrs. J. N. McClung.
The city council, on August 20, adopted plans for the construction of a city hall that had been prepared by David Douglas. The cost was estimated at $26,000. On Septem- ber 15, the council sold to the highest bidders the buildings
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FIRST NATIONAL BANK BUILDING
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on the city-hall site. W. M. Jones paid $53 for a brick struc- ture. Mrs. Rachel Key bought a frame building for $151, N. B. Clark bought another one for $110, and J. W. Johnson paid $20 for the board sidewalk.
Publie demands for paving increased during the year and on November 19 the council passed an ordinance providing for the paving of Main Street, Grand Avenue and First Street, between Santa Fe Street and Harvey Avenue and of Broadway and Robinson Avenue between California Street and the right of way of the Choctaw Railroad. This action was urged by a citizens' committee consisting of Charles F. Coleord, O. D. Halsell and Edward Overholser. During the remainder of the year no public issue was nearly so much discussed as that involving whether the pavement should be of asphalt or brick construction, and the matter finally was settled in court.
Bonds in the sum of $20,000 for installing a sewage system and $100,000 for purchasing the plant of the Ok- lahoma City Waterworks Company were voted by a large ma- jority and on September 14 they were sold, at a premium of $7,500, to M. L. Turner. On November 5 the council passed an ordinance providing for purchase of the water system.
Rival telephone companies sought franchises and during several weeks political and business influences were vigorously contended for through conferences, personal solicitation and stirring articles in the daily newspapers. The outcome was the granting by the council of a franchise to the Citizens In- dependent Telephone Company.
Doubtless there is of record in the public archives of the city some documentary evidence of the official condemnation of a cottonwood tree. An innocent old landmark of the for- mer prairies, the last of its family to escape the ruthless axe of unfeeling man, standing fearlessly and somewhat majes- tically at 32 Grand Avenue, was, by the council, declared to be a nuisance, and that declaration bore the seal of exeention. An axe fell upon it and it crashed to the earth, unpitied and unsung. Pioneers recalled that this tree and its former asso- ciates stood in what the settlers called a lagoon that lay in Broadway between Grand and California avenues. It was · within the area of this lagoon that J. P. Culbertson of Paris,
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Texas, in this same year chose to erect a large business struc- ture. That structure, by virtue of nonconformative surveys, spread over nearly half of Broadway and stands today a mute reminder of the line battle of '89. Culbertson paid $7,000 for the site.
The United States Supreme Court on April 1 dismissed the appeal of Richard Caffrey, the county clerk who had re- fused to spread upon the records of the county the returns of the Territorial board of Equalization. Caffrey, however, had been admitted to bail after serving several months in the county jail. On June 30 the Territorial Supreme Court again ordered Caffrey to perform this act. He declined and was again placed in jail. He appealed in vain to Governor Barnes for relief. Caffrey contended at that time he was unable to obey the order of the court because County Treasurer W. L. Alexander refused to surrender the books necessary to the transcript unless ordered by a court to do so.
Other events of public interest this year included the or- ganization in Oklahoma City of an Anti-Saloon League; the acceptance by the city council of an offer of Henry Over- holser to loan the city $30.000 with which to ereet a city hall; the efforts of the City Club and other public-spirited citizens to secure the location and erection of a Methodist College; the organization of a military company of forty members, of which A. Sidney Jolmson was elected captain, L. E. Blakes- ley, first lieutenant, and Dr. A. M. Dietrick, second lieutenant ; the resignation of B. F. Nyhart as superintendent of city schools to accept the chair of Latin in the Territorial Normal at Edmond and the election of Isaac M. Holcomb, then prin- cipal of Washington School, to fill the vacancy ; the reelection at Kingfisher of Mrs. Selwyn Douglas as president of the Territorial Federation of Women's Clubs: the purchase by the Oklahoma Printing Company of The Daily Oklahoman, editor, and of which company W. T. Parker was elected vice of which Roy E. Stafford, president of the company, became president and treasurer, and V. V. Hardcastle, secretary ; the organization of the Texas Association, of which M. Fulton was elected president, J. S. Jenkins, first vice president ; W. R. Reagan, second vice president ; E. J. Giddings, secretary, and J. P. Johnson, marshal, with T. M. Upshaw, Dr. A. K.
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West and J. P. Jolis selected as a committee to obtain quar- ters; the suspension of W. B. Hendrey as chief of police on a charge of neglect of duty, the appointment by the council of G. W. R. Chin to the position, and the reinstatement of Hendrey after Judge Burwell had ruled that the council was without authority to eject him from office; the veto by Mayor Van Winkle of an ordinance granting a franchise to the Oklahoma City Gas & Power Company and the renewed application of that company after amending terms of the original application to overcome the objections of the mayor ; the formal opening of the Lee Hotel on July 30; the organi- zation of the Oklahoma City Heat, Power, Fuel & Gas Com- pany, of which M. W. Gifford of Chicago, R. D. Farmer of Benton Harbor, Mich., and R. G. Hays, J. MeMeachan and A. C. Root of Oklahoma City were elected directors: and the organization of the Frontier Publishing Company by J. B. Thoburn, W. H. Roach and C. J. Creller to publish, simul- taneously in Oklahoma City, Chickasha and Fort Sill, a weekly periodical to be known as The Last Frontier.
1901-OIL AND ANOTHER OPENING
The opening to settlement of the Kiowa and Comanche Indian reservation, in the southwestern part of the territory, on August 6 this year, undoubtedly was the superlative event down to that date in Oklahoma City's commercial history. It was far more important from the commercial standpoint than the opening of the Cherokee Strip, for, so far as the distribution of products was concerned, this reservation be- longed to the city almost exclusively. The city had been forced to divide commercial honors with other towns, the profits aceruing from increased population. It may be said truly that the commercial supremacy of the city was secure from the date of this opening. for the record of wholesale and factory development during the ten years ensuing is one of the most marvelous in the annals of the Middle West.
Oklahoma City men had had a hand in securing the pas- sage of the bill providing for the opening of the Kiowa and Comanche country and it was prepared to handle and profit from the business. It made an unsuccessful effort to get the bill amended so that this city would be made a registration point along with El Reno and Lawton. The registration and. the drawing that followed in a few months attracted to the territory over 200,000 persons and a larger number than that became residents during the next few years. The towns of Lawton, Hobart and Anadarko were established under direc- tion of the Department of the Interior. Some representative citizens of Oklahoma City became residents of these. Among them were Leslie P. Ross, who was first mayor of South Okla- homa City and who was the first elected mayor of Lawton; J. Elmer Thomas, a young Indiana lawyer, who for over ten years after statehood represented his district in the state Senate; Frank MeMaster. the political leader, lawyer and editor; V. V. Hardcastle, the publisher, who was the first elected city attorney of Anadarko.
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Before the passage of the opening act, C. G. Jones, chief of Oklahoma railroad builders, had organized the Oklahoma City & Western Railway Company with a view of extending through the new territory and into Texas the line that he had brought to Oklahoma City from Sapulpa. On October 17 he announced that he had awarded a contract for construc- tion of the southwestern line.
Jones was a consistent worker. His vision of the indus- trial possibilities of the state was clear-lined and distinct. He was a dreamer in a million who made dreams come true. He conceived that the community's interests were his inter- ests. Guthrie had complacently awaited fulfillment of a prophecy that the Frisco would build along a Cimarron val- ley survey into that city. Shawnee had secured the Choctaw and showed indications of being a business rival of Okla- homa City. Jones deprived each of a large portion of coun- try-trade territory by thrusting the Frisco over a virgin route between them, thereby enhancing the strength of his own city in a striking and fascinating supremacy contest. With the southwestern line out of hand for the present. Jones turned his attention to the Southeast. He foresaw the construction of a state out of the two territories within a few years and a rapid development of a large section of the Indian Terri- tory tributary to Oklahoma City. He therefore organized what was called the Oklahoma & Southeastern Railway Com- pany, objectives of which were to be Coalgate, Atoka. Deni- son, Texas, and Shreveport, La.
The impression should not be left that Jones single-handed and alone accomplished the many enterprises with which he was connected during the full years of his usefulness. A few of those who theretofore had been in considerable degree responsible for industrial successes and who thereafter played an important part in the city's development were members of the board of directors of the new Oklahoma & Southeastern. These men were: Charles F. Colcord, W. W. Storm, vice president, C. E. Bennett, C. M. Meade, Edward L. Dun. secretary, and Edward HI. Cooke. The new company was destined to a career of rivalry that will make interesting paragraphs in this record of events.
Oklahoma's first excitement over the actual discovery of
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oil in paying quantities developed this year. The discovery was made at Red Fork, in the Creek Indian Nation. Within a few weeks probably a score of oil concerns had been or- ganized in the territory, several of them by Oklahoma City enthusiasts in the game of speculation. Stock sales were . promoted personally and through newspaper advertising and the purchasing fever seemed to have been carried on the winds. It was during this period that the big gushers had been dis- covered at Beaumont and Oklahoma was enveloped in the cloud of get-rich-quick speculation that covered the South- west.
Among the most active companies was the Red Fork Oil & Gas Company of Pureell, of which Dorset Carter, a young lawyer of that place, was president. Clarence Bennett of Oklahoma City was vice president, and Edward L. Dunn of Oklahoma City was secretary. Fred S. Barde, the Guthrie journalist, afterwards known as the dean of Oklahoma news- paper men, was made corresponding secretary, and E. M. Meade was treasurer. The company reported that it had acquired twelve town lots at Red Fork, that each of these was as large as the average city block, and that one of them was within 300 feet of the discovery well, which was reported to be a gusher. In the following June another well was com- pleted in that district that was reported to have made an average of 2,800 barrels daily. Robert Galbreath was cred- ited with discovery of the Red Fork pool. He and other men of the city were reputed to have made small fortunes there.
Further plans were made also to test so-called "struc- tures" in the vicinity of Oklahoma City. It may be remarked, parenthetically, that all such enterprises, though of a highly speculative nature, are really of more than ordinary impor- tance in these annals in view of the fact that just such enter- prises were instrumental in holding the subject of oil before the public until eventually discoveries were made in spots where over fifty pools were developed, and Oklahoma became one of the leading oil-producing states of the world.
On April 25 the Oklahoma City Oil, Gas & Mineral Com- pany was organized with a view of drilling at Council Grove. Of this W. D. Cole was elected president and Robert Gal-
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breath, secretary. Directors were J. E. Evarts, C. F. Col- cord, F. R. Holt, F. B. Zeigler, A. L. Welch, W. L. Alexander, S. B. Finley, Harry Throckmorton and Robert Galbreath. Officials reported the company had 15,000 acres of leases, and later it acquired 1,200 acres additional in Pottawotamie County. At a subsequent meeting of the directors, J. E. Evarts was elected president. W. L. Alexander, secretary; F. R. Holt, treasurer, and F. B. Zeigler, manager. At about the same time the Oklahoma Oil Company was organized with C. B. Ames as president, J. P. Smith, vice president, and W. B. Armstrong, secretary and treasurer. Oil concerns popped out here and there all over the territory. Roy E. Stafford, who nearly twenty years later became a representative oil operator, was made a member of the board of directors of the Cimarron Valley Oil, Gas & Coal Company.
The annual election of the City Club resulted in A. H. Clas- sen being reelected president. H. C. Milner was elected vice president, S. C. Heyman, second vice president ; J. M. Owen, treasurer, and Clifton George, secretary. W. W. Storm, C. B. Ames and MacGregor Douglas were elected directors. The club this year entertained a large delegation representing the merchants and manufacturers association of St. Louis, and representatives of the Dallas and Kansas City commercial or- ganizations. It sent a delegation of business men to Memphis, to return the Memphis call of the previous year, to advertise the city's resources and to discuss its desires that the two territories be admitted to statehood. These matters were pre- sented in speeches in the Tennessee city by Mayor Van Winkle, C. B. Ames, Nels Darling and others. During the year Mr. Storm resigned from the board of directors and was sue- ceeded by O. D. Halsell. Secretary George, on account of ill health, also submitted his resignation, and the board of di- rectors unanimously rejected it. Entertainment was afforded to representatives of the Commercial Club of El Reno who made known the desire of the city that it should be by the Legislature declared the seat of the penitentiary.
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