The Russellville Democrat., 1889-06-27
GREAT IS GUTHRIE.
One of RussellvilIe's Citizens Gives His Opinion of
 the Wonderful City.

Mir. E. J. Strickland returned Mon- day night from Guthrie, Indian Terri
 tory. A representative of the DEMOCRAT
 sought him Tuesday morning and ob-
 tained his opinion of the much talked of country, or rather of that part visit ed by him.
 In response to the question, What of Guthrie, Mir. Strickland replied: ''Guthrie is most wonderful city in
 many respects. It enjoys the distine-
 ton of being the only city in the Unit ed States that was never a village. It
 was city to start on and gradually grows bigger. It is composed of four divisions, Guthrie proper, East Guthrie, Capital Hill and West Guthrie. The population of the cities combined is va- riously estimated from 10000 to 15,000. My impression is that the latter num- Der is not far from correct. The streets are well laid out and many of the busi- ness blocks contain good, substantial houses. These, with but one exception are built of wood. 1 noticed one brick store, two stories high with basement, and preparations were being made for the building of another. The west front of the city is swept by Cottonwood river, swift flowing stream not as wide as Illinois Bayou, but deeper. This river furnishes the supply for an ex- csllent system of water works. Drink ing water is plentiful and good, obtain ed from wells. The population, of course, is mixed. Speculation rules the hour and everybody looks out for No. 1. Upon each arrival Of the train several hundred people crowd the plat form and it is difficalt to get about. The streets are lined with people rushing here and there reminding me of the 4th of July or circus day in other towns. It Is this way every day. There are but few residences in the city and but few men have their families with them. Hotels, boarding houses and restaurants abound and flourish. One can live as cheaply there as in Russellville, AL though 1t appears that there Is but lit- tie in the surrounding country to maintain a city, expensive improve ments are under way and others in evidenclng confidence in the future of the city. Within thirty days a complete system of electric lights will be in operation, and in sixty days street cars will be running on the principal streets. The council has levied an oc- cupation tax upon every character of uuSlHeSS uOHe, anu run LIils soulo oo large revenue is received and expended | In improvements, etc."
 Do you consider the Oklahoma lands | 
 "Yes, quite so. Of course my obser- vation was limited to what could be l seen from the car windows and in the | suburbs of Guthrie. That "brick dust" story is put up job on the country. | ln rrkl so a1 f fp ft.tIa in -nfl l. tiles, but it will produce corn, wheat | and garden vegetables to perfection. ! Farming adjacent to Guthrie is limited | have elapsed since the territory was | opened to settlement. I saw some large | fields of corn planted and looking well. | The timber is "small and scrubby but there is plenty of it.'
 Did you see any Arkansans there?
 Yes, met Judge Cunningham at Ar kansas City enroute home. He has done | we'll at Guthrie. Owns some valuable and is cashier of the Mer- chants Bank. His bank building is | across the street from the United States | land office and IS admirably located. | Judge II. s. Carter's law office is in the bank building. He enjoys a large and | profitable practice. l heard him say | he would not take 5000 for what he had there. He will be down to hold | the next term of court.".
 Are there many opportunities for in- vestment?
 "Yes, plenty of them. But from the best information I could get, I don't think this good time to invest owing to | the uncertainty of titles in all but the | town of Guthrie proper. These titles will be perfected within 90 days after the opening of the territory and then it will be safe and profitable believe to invest"
 Do you think of going back?
 "Yes, l shall go back next fall. Whether I invest or not will depend | upon circumstances. The general opin- ion Is that the Cherokee strip will be | opened to settlement by the next Con- gress, and according to my idea no finer than this can be found on the | globe. 1 shall try to get in there when ,he time comes.