The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1905-02-03
DEVELOP THE
RESOURCES.
Citizens Of vinita not Living up
to Their Opportunities.

What Vinita needs just now to In
crease business, invite new enter
prises and to grow in SIZE and beauty
is not the employment Of a boomer
at SO much per day, neither is it for
eign advertising at SO much per page,
nor yet the issuing Of pamphlets and
folders TO be scattered broadcast oyer
the world. These may be all right so
far as they 90, but the fault is not in
the stars, but In ourselves that we
are underlings. 1t is an undsputed
fact that the people Of this locality
are not living up their opportunities,
Chance, fate, or the exercise of good
Judgement and foresight, landed a
goodly number Of good people into
this locality and with their individu-
al and united industry, economy and
perseverance, they have built good
homes and established d good com
munity. The foundation ID laid
broad and sure for a city and farming
community here that will insure
thrift and happiness to the future
possessors OF these fertile fields thai
surround Vinita. Having passed
tile days of the frontiers hard
tines and secured title to the fields
and orchards we ought now to unlock
Natur s storehouse and take from
her vaults Thar which will make liv-
ing cheaper and thereby lessen the
burden OF toll
1t requires only glance at the
geological map TO see that we are sit
ting in the lap Of vast wealth. West
OF Us the rocks yield gold to tile
miners pick; south of us the plains
gush forth rivers Of oil at the touch OF
the driller's bit. North OF us we find
the greatest salt deposits in the
known world, and east Of us are the
rich zinc mines OF Missouri; and, in
fact, all around US the hills and plains
are yielding wealth TO every miners
shaft and searcher's cave.
Favored az we are by the advantage
Of location, we are still paying tribute
70 the whole surrounding country. |
We are shippIn. in salt, Oil, cement,
brick and considerable quantity OF
,oal. We are paying a royalty to the
ab0r Of other communities on all
lhese things, and we are paying
OF dollars freight that ought
% be paid BY others. We conld with
,ut uoubt, and we should be, shipping
'omelhing out instead OF everything
u.
Is this the part Of wise men2 Is il
progressive enterprise? Readily comes
he answer: MOI Then what should
V doneg Why, develop the resources
4 our locality just like people OF other
have done theirs. The time
las been when we could not well do
har within ourselves, but that time
ias passed Our bank vaults are full
( money seeking investment, seeking
borrowers at reasonable rates OF in
crest. Our people have ceased to be
borrowing populace and have be-
ome depositing people. The money
, here; the good judgement and in-
ustry Of our people is resident here,
nj here and now should we develop
he resources that await our efforts
nd build a community, the peer Of
ny IN the land. This is the part of
rogressive men: We must go forth
! the vanguard Of progress or become
le camp followers that merely exist
B the leayings Of the advancing
rmy.
There is coal, gas and oil in the
round beneath Us; there is mineral
ere or near by, and we need only a
tile united effort to develop them .
d.