The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-01-17
wIcH1ra ANp GuraRrE.
Business Man who Is Interested In Both
Cities States His OplEiens-The Quit Ok
for Wichita--I he Wonderful Develop
nleIls or Gu. hrie Daring 1891.


An EAGLE reporter had a chat with
Norman C. Raft. Esq, ~ the Carer. aud
during the conversation Nj Rat had
| something 70 say about the present out
look of Wichita and Oklahoma Mr. Raft
RS interested in Wichita realty, aud IS
president Of the Bank of Indian Territory
at Guthrie He spoke substantially as
follows:
u have watched the development OF
Wichita carefully Two years a-o 7 be
came Interested in real estate here because
an analysis of existing conditions and
geographical position, ~ well as surround
Ing resources. convinced me tLas Il was
Gully question OF time before Wichita
should become the principal business
center Of the southwest. The causes and
conditions precedent To revival of
business activity aud the restoration
of realty values, often work SLOWLY; and a
patient conservatism, coupled with inces
/ SAINT and well-iir- cteu effort is Necessary
+ before large results can bs secured The
lessons taught by the depression IN Wichi-
Ia followed By the boom: the conservatism
and strength of your financial Institutions;
( the persistent and unwaveTiRg efforts and
+ Filth in ultimate results on the part Of
F, your business men; the late splendid crop
! and other favorable causes operating to-
( gether seem at last to have turned the
/ tide, and revival Of trade, of activity IN
realty, of investment, has set in and viii
/ no doubt continue 70 gradually bat steadi-
/ ly make Wichita the important city she IS
destined 10 be, unless the upward move
: ment is interfered with by some unexpect-
ed events.
/ While Wichita is fulfilling her mani
( fest destiny" little city TO the south. in
/ the new land of Oklahoma. has been
= g.. - =
/ surprising rapidity. "a prophet IS not
/ without honor save in his own country.
| The same is sometimes true Of cities and
/ towns as well. For while people are look
I ing for Blooms away OF in the north
west, or in Texas. or somewhere else far
/ from home, we have had right here only
/ 40 miles from Wichita, growth equal 10
and greater than any recent instance of
/ the kind
| What would you think OF a town two
| years old which, during the past eight or
/ ten months, has added several thousand
| permanent residents TO its population; has
erected block after block of fine stone and
brick building; has secured score or
manufacturing. industrial and trade en-
/ terpriSes: has about doubled its bank de-
posts; has commenced building unIver-
sity: has contracted for q fine sys
TEN OF water works: has secured
the location OF the Catholic headquarters
of Indian Territory, including Sisters
Charity hospital aud school, residence OF
the bishop. etc; has attracted capital from
all parts of the country for real estate and
other Investments; has increased its post
Office business so largely that lt IS soon 10
have free delivery: has shown such vol
ume OF railroad business as TO attract the
attention of railroad officials and demand
increased facilities; has sent oct tram
load OF twenty cars OF wheat, covered
with canvas upon which in large letters,
were given the facts about the town and
country: has spent thousand OF dollars
and put forth almost unequalled effort N
showing the world the great and varied
resources of a new city and country?
What would you think of a little city
which has done all this aud much
more in less than year.? II the place
were thousand miles y,all this would
be regarded as a yeriCable boom" Yet
right here at home the city of Guthrie has
accomplished all that | have spoken OF,
and have given you but few OF many
causes which are working together to
make Guthrie the business, financial and
social center OF a very large area.
We have at Guthrie q board OF trade
composed Of 800 of as fine business men as
can be gotten together in the west. These
men are working together, shoulder 10
shoulder, for the good of Guthrie. They
are an active, energetic body of men, never
complish and with unbounded faith IN
their town and territory. They have set
out to build splendid city, aud they are
going TO do it.
The opening of the Indian lands east of
Guthrie has added largely to the trade OF
the city. The opening OF the Cherokee /
strip (Which il tributary TO Guthriel IS I
destined TO double the trade of the place .
and to establish Guthrie firmly and 1
finally as the trade center of that whole I
section.
Guthrie is the capital OF Oklahoma. and .
has the territorial offices. It has large 4
wholesale houses It has IA cotton gin, and .
will become cotton center. It has the .
headquarters for several large eastern I
houses It has two good daily papers, and .
several weekly papers IL has strong
banks. occupying banking rooms which .
would be credit 20 Kansas City.
Coal has recently been discovered ia the 1
country contiguous 10 Gnthrie, and IL 10
proves 20 be in quantity. the board of trade
will soon be reaching out for manufac-
turing establishments. sand will get them;
for the board always offers liberal induce
meuts 70 locate in Guthrie, giving land,
town lots and large amounts OF cash 10
those who can show reciprocal benefits 70
Guthrie by location Of their plant or
enterprise there.
The growth Of Guthrie has been sub
stantial and there Is An appearance OF
perrnAnency about the city which indicates
that the development has been legitimate.
not overdoue, and only in pace with the
country and natural re-
sources.
The city has representative in Wash
ington constantly urging the opening OF
the strip No step Is left uutakeu, no
stone is left unturned TO secure everything
which may benefit the city. In a
word. Guthrie offers opportunities for
investment which | do not think CAD be
surpassed in the southwest at this tine.
Real estate is very low when the prospects
of the city are considered. Investors are
coming Ia every day, and every 'Feii-con-
ceiyed real estate investment has paid
Handsomely Although buildings are
going up papidIy. there IS a demand ex-
eeediug the supply.
The business men Of Wichita would en-
jev a visit TO Guthrie. A glance through
Is busy streets aRd its active institutions.
together with trip through the sur
rounding country, xiii Eel repay tee
and - no gr4IerrfifT rrgvrn<S Y s5cQ