Settling the Conflicting Surveys
Oklahoma City April 27, 1889
— The ‘89er Trail —
The Citizens' Survey, begun the day after the Run, was reconciled with the survey of the Seminole Town and Improvement Company at a mass meeting on April 27.
As the Citizens' Committee and its surveyors worked north from the section line at Reno, a subcommittee of five - the awarding committee met with rival claimants on each surveyed lot, listened to their stories and awarded claims. Crowds gathered around, and a clever settler nailed three boards in a triangle to separate the subcommittee and claimants from the curious observers. The work of the awarding committee proceeded smoothly without rancor.
By Friday, the surveyors had reached Main Street, where they encountered major discrepancies with the survey of the Seminole Town Company and hostility from settlers whose claims would be threatened by realignment. Continuation of the Citizens' Survey would throw hundreds of settlers off their lots.
Saturday morning, a nasty confrontation ensued with threats of violence from Seminole settlers. Another mass meeting was called that afternoon with Angelo Scott again presiding. A conference committee of ten was chosen, five from north and five from south of Main Street, to reconcile the conflicting surveys.
The conference committee quickly went to work and at dusk that Saturday the citizens adopted the report
this page online
Photo captions:
Left: The conference committee created jogs in the streets at Grand and inserted "wedge lots" between Grand and Main to reconcile the two surveys. The jogs remained in Grand (renamed Sheridan) until the City built the Myriad Convention Center and Myriad Gardens in the 1970s.
Research Division of the Oklahoma Historical Society
Right: The Awarding Committee, a subcommittee of the Citizens' Committee of 14,
continued to hear conflicting claims and award lot certificates for weeks after
the survey work was complete. Research Division of the Oklahoma Historical Society
Erected 2018 by Oklahoma City Community Foundation, Wiggin Properties. (Marker Number 6.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the The '89er Trail series list. A significant day of the year for for this entry is April 27.
Location. 35° 28.055′ N, 97° 30.885′ W. Marker is in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, in Oklahoma County. It is in Central Oklahoma City. Marker is at the intersection of West Main Street and North Broadway Avenue, on the right when traveling east on West Main
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Citizens' Committee (a few steps from this marker); The Election of May 1, 1889 (within shouting distance of this marker); Angelo C. Scott (within shouting distance of this marker); A Summer of Political Unrest (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); City Hall by Forfeiture (about 400 feet away); The Building of Oklahoma City (about 600 feet away); Air Force Monument (about 600 feet away); The Choctaw Road (about 700 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Oklahoma City.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 16, 2023. It was originally submitted on October 31, 2019, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 126 times since then and 16 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 31, 2019, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.
