THE PRESIDENT'S PROCLAMATION
Coincident with the expectation came the president's proclamation
throwing four thousand claims in Tipp county open to settlement under
the lottery system at six dollars per acre. Among the towns designated
in the proclamation where the people could make application for a claim,
Megory and Calias were nearest to the land. These were the places where
the largest crowds were expected. Therefore, the citizens of these two
vigorous municipalities began extensive preparations to "entertain the
crowds." Megory, being more on the country order, made more homelike
preparations. Among the many "conveniences" prepared were a ladies' rest
room and information bureau, which were located in a large barn
previously used for storing hay.
Calias, under the criticism that as soon as the road extended farther
west it would be as dead as Oristown--now all but forgotten--prepared to
"get theirs" while the crowds were in town. And they did, but that is
ahead of the story.
The time for the opening approached. People seemingly from every part of
the universe, and from every vocation in life, drifted into the towns.
Among these were included the investors, who stated that in the event of
a failure to draw they would buy deeded land. Next in order were the
gamblers, from the "tin horn" and "piker" class to the "fat"
professionals. Although every precaution was taken to keep out the
characters of the city's underworld, who had characterized former
openings, both towns were fully represented with a large share of
pickpockets, con-men, lewd women and their consorts.
[Illustration: On the east the murky waters of the Missouri seek their
level. (page 132.)]
The many vacant lots on Main street of both the towns were decorated
with the typical scene at land openings. There were little tents with
notaries assisted by many beautiful girls to "prepare your application."
There were many hotels with three and four beds to a room, as well as
"rooms to let" over all the places of business containing two stories or
more. There were tents with five hundred cots, and "lest we forget",
there were the numerous "drinking fountains," with bars the length of
the building, behind which were scores of bartenders to serve the "how
dry I am", on one side. On the other, in tents, back rooms and overhead
could be heard the b-r-r-r-r of the little ivory marble as it spun a
circuit over the roulette wheel, and the luck cages, where the idle
sports turned them over for their own amusement, to pass away the time.
The faro-bank and numerous wheels of fortune also had a place. From the
rear came the strains of ragtime music. These were some of the many
attractions that met the trains carrying the first arrivals on the night
of October fifth.