The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1900-12-18
puRatAN rAvoRa rHa ROAD.
He Thinks the chostsw Road VII
Greatly Benefit ArdR0re.

he form of interviews the opin-
ons of the leading citizens of Ard
more on the subject of the pro-
posed new railroad, and as to the
best means of meeting the very
demands of the Choc-
baw company.
In pursuance of this purpose the
reporter saw Judge 81. M. Furman
this merning and secured from
him the. following terse expression
Of his views on this all-important
subject. He said:
THE building of the Choctaw
road to Ardmore will do our peo-
pie more good than any other road
could do. 1t will give us direct
communication with one cf the
best cotton and grain markets in
the United States. Owing to the
freight rates charged on grain by
the Santa Fe road, a great deal of
the grain raised in this section of
the country seeks shipment at
other places. Memphis is the
store house and distributing point
of a large section of country where
very little grain is raised and
where a great deal of grain is pur-
chased and consumed. Our grain
to reach this country at present
must necessarily be hauled over
several roads and in a round about
way. This necessarily makes the
freight rates high. The ChoctaW
road being at Ardmore would make
an increase of several cents pei
bushel on oats and corn. The
result would be that Ardmore
would become one of the best grain
markets in tine southwest. During
the summer our streets would be
crowded with grain wagons anG
business would be good all the
year round to the great advantage
Of all classes of our people. Mem
phis is also a great cotton marke
and the probabilities are that Ard
more could get better cotton rate
than she now secures. This woult
enable us to maintain our position
as leading cotton market. Farm
ers are going to patronize tha
market where they can get the bes
prices for their produce and bu,
what they want the cheapest evel
if they have to travel great dis
tance | believe that we hav
reached q crisis in our affairs an
that our action will determine tn
question as to whether Ardmor
is to loose its business and becom
Only a small station on the SAINT
F'e or grow into a prosperous city
J think it is cheaper and in ever
way better for our people to max
some sacrifices and secure thi
road than it is for them to run th
risk of having the road cross th
! Santa Fe either north or south c
US. The point where the Choct6'
crosses the Santa Fe is going t
be the principal city of the India
Territory, because it will then es
tablish a competing point betwee
roads who are trying to build u
rival trade centers. The SAINT
! Fe is working for Galveston, Kar
, sas City and Chicago. The Chot
taw is working for Memphis. Thi
, fact makes them nescessary rival
{ and will prevent pool of freigh
rates. Railroads which have th
same trade centers can pool rates
| Railroads which have rival trad
! centers cannot afford to pool rates
/ am satisfied that the Chocta'
, is acting in good faith with ou
} people. If this road had desire
to hold our people up. it woul
have surveyed a preliminary lin
north or south of US, aud then "
would have been forced to max
3 propositions to the road. But tt
road has come to us with a bus
r ness proposition. 1t should /
met in a business manner. W
cannot afford to treat the roa
, with contempt. With the Cho,
. taw road here property valu
; would double many times ovel
With the Choctaw road to IL
{ north or south of us what woul
become of Ardmore9 How muc
I would property here be worth
J How many Of our people woul
| move awayF"