"The new law allowed one the privilege of taking up as much as 8 sections, but at the highest bidder. The time, 4 years to pay for it and the 3% interest rate, remained the same.   I thought of going out to the South Plains and take me up an 8 section ranch. I still had most of my $ where I could get hold of it, but when I got there I was too late.

"I landed at Stanton.  Stanton was the County seat of Martin County, also the county seat Ex-officio for several other unorganized counties.  In the list of unorganized counties, was Terry, Yoakum and others containing the bulk of the State lands just placed on the market.  When I landed in Stanton they told me about the hot times they had just gone thru, filing on the lands.  They told it so scary it didn't sound very attractive.  They had gotten to the point of holding the door of the County Clerk's office to be the first to file.   Several would be trying to get the same land and the first to file was the winner.

"That part of it was right.  But the first one to the door would not let anyone else ahead of him who wanted the same.  Some times the one holding the door would be caught napping or out of the chair they used, and the other fellow would slip in and beat him to it. No one had more rights than others.   It was the one that held that chair.  He had zibs on it and the County Clerk and everyone else honored it.  But when one got the chance to slide into that chair, it was just too bad.    He had it.   Several scraps occurred and some close to killings.  It had gotten to this stage before I got there.  When I saw it, it didn't look at all inviting.  They were still holding the door for what land was left and I didn't try to do a thing about it. It was dangerous to try to get in the Court House for any purpose.  So I didn't try to do anything about it. I was just too late."

Small met Ben West at this time and the two ventured west into Midland County where they camped out and traveled through Andrews and Upton counties.   Ben's wife was a good camp cook who made delicious pies from the green grapes they found and the men supplied the meat for their meals because there was plenty of game...prairie chickens, quail, antelopes and rabbits.  After a while they turned north from Upton county to Gaines and Yoakum counties, then turned east into Terry.   They experienced very little discomforts and camped out near a well on the J Cross Ranch before moving on.

"As we came east from the J Cross we found nesters here and there and the farther we came, the more we found.  We were getting back in the settlements.   Near the center of Terry County we came to the town of Gomez.  Quite a town, it was.  It had so much business there that we were not noticed. We really felt bad over our reception after having been out so long and hadn't talked with anyone since we left Stanton.   Seen hardly a man for two weeks.  We just felt that everybody ought to be glad to see us.    I learned later that Gomez was made up with people largely from Oklahoma who had come out to get land. but being disappointed in that, they huddled down there to make a town, and to organize the county.  That sentiment didn't please the old settlers.    They didn't want the county to organize.  They had had the almost free use of the lands so long they just couldn't bear to see it settled up.  We drove on East to Lynn county which had just been organized.  The County Seat was Tahoka.   They were building their first Court House.  Several different businesses were going in."

An old schoolmate, W. G. Hardin, and Alfred met up once again in Lynn county.   The two had attended a small college at Springtown in Parker County.   Hardin had a lot of information about land and what was available, after being in Terry county.   He knew of the conditions there and was acquainted with some of the people including the cattlemen who did not want the county organized.   He said the town of Gomez fully intended to petition the court for the right to organize and make Gomez the county seat.   Hardin proposed to Alfred Small that they buy a section of land in Terry county, cut it up into blocks, lots and streets and name it to put into the race for county seat.   Hardin knew of some land that could be bought for $3.00 per acre and urged Alfred to go in with him, saying they should act at once.    Although the proposition did not immediately appeal to Alfred, he was venturous and eventually agreed to partner with Hardin in this purchase.

"We hired a couple horses and took off for Terry County.  It was Sunday.   Neither of us were used to riding horses.  We made the trip.  That was OK, but the next day we could hardly walk, and didn't want to ride at all.   We rode right up to Charlie Walker's house where we were to stay the night.   He seemed to understand.  It was late in the afternoon and we hadn't had any dinner.   Charlie already had company.    Mrs. Walker fixed  supper and we lay around (we couldn't sit) talking about the prospective town and the race for the county seat.   It seemed to be in the air.   Everybody  was talking it.   There were already two distinct factions - Gomez and its influence pushing the organization of the County - and the cattlemen, large and small, fighting it.   Things were, at this moment, getting hot.  Gomez had a post office, printing shop, school, several business houses, lawyers, doctors and I suppose, over a hundred people.  Mail hacks and freight wagons were coming and going, bringing more people and more things daily.  That was a proposition a little bit difficult to face.  Charlie Walker was one of the successful who had filed and was living on his claim.  He had a one-room house about 4 miles north of the town we hoped to make.  I said we talked but I mean that talking was done.  I was too tired and sore.  Mr. Hardin was somewhat stove up too, but he didn't complain and had a way of concealing his ails so that you'd never know there was anything wrong with him.  He talked and laughed and joked and carried on as if the trip had been a pleasure."