Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-06-27

"
1t has five large and modern equipped
hotels and it has a $4,000 theatre,
which is visited by some of the best
metropolitan companies. 1t has large
and thoroughly equipped gas and cleo
trlc lighting plants and the building of
Oklahoma's first inter-urban line will
pc begun within the present month
Oklahoma City is in truth, as we'll as
name, city. 1t is the wonder of the
southwest and her people have good
reasons to be proud of the growth and
prosperity which they have enjoyed
That such city could be created and
developed within the space of fifteen
years Is one of the marvels of the pres
ent marvellous age.
In the Oil and Gas Belt-cleveIand
From Oklahoma City the editorial
trains again returned to Guthrie, thus
completing circuit of several hun
dred miles run through the best por-
lions of Oklahoma Leaving Guthrie
at midnight Sunday, early Monday
morning found the party at Cleveland
in the midst of the oil and gas belt,
A few years ago Cleveland was but a
name on the map, thirty-five miles
from railroad. One year ago, 1t was
but way station, practically unknown
TO the world at large. On May 20 last
year Oil and natural gas were discov-
cred at Cleveland. The result has been
phenomenal. Since then wonders have
been performed in the oil and gas bus
mess, as well as in the building of the
town. The first oil we'll was
brought in" on July 2, but it
was not until twenty days after
that that well was shot. The dis
covery of oil soon caused the town Of
Cleveland to be run over with oil men
from the east, west and south. The
whole country was leased up and some
prices were paid which were consid-
cred fabulous and the owners of real
estate, some of them at least, made
fortunes. The oil is found in an UNI
usually thick deposit of sand at a
depth OF sixteen hundred feet. The
present production of the field is esti-
mated at between twelve and fifteen
thousand barrels per day. AS defined
now, the Cleveland oil field is two
miles and half long and about two
miles wide at the widest point Within
this radius there have been no dry
holes drilled and while the present
Held is small, it is being gradually
widened and heightened out The
town is supplied with natural gas for
lighting, cooking and heating purposes
and so plentiful is the supply that the
street lights are permitted to burn day
and night, because it is cheaper to let
them burn than to hire some one to
turn them out in the morning and light
them again at night While many for
tunes have been made in oil and real
estate at Cleveland during the past
year, just what the future holds for
this section 1t is difficult to predict
The Standard Oil company is already
in the field and whether they can con
troll the situation Is question yet I'M
determined. It would seem, however
that Cleveland's future is well assured
AS indicating how small the world
is, on alighting from the train at
Cleveland. the writer CA. w. Lee), was
introduced to Captain A. w. Lee, one
of the old settlers, who had come to
Cleveland ten years ago when it was
still thirty-five miles distant from
railroad. Said Captain Lee to Editor
Lee, Where are you FROM"
II am from Ottumwa, Iowa." was
the reply.
"Then you know Major Tom Spill
man"
yes, indeed, Major Spilman is one
of the best men in Ottumwa."
well, you must tell Major Spilman
that his old army comrade, Alexander
w. Lee Of Company F, Fifty-Second
Indiana infantry, is still on earth; that
he is farming and practicing law and
incidentally going for oil; that he
weighs 176 pounds and is ready for an
old time wrastle with the major and is
also ready to bet any amount that he
can throw him yet Also, please tell
the major that if he is hunting for the
fountain of youth" that he should lust
come down to Cleveland, Oklahoma,
and spend the winter with his old
army comrade. I'll take care Of him,
and cont you forget it,"
Tulsa, the Typical.
From Cleveland, the editorial party
crossed the Arkansas river into Indian
territory and the first cop was made
at Tulsa, wonderful and typical new
southwestern town. located on the Ar
kansas river on the northern borGer
of the Creek nation. A few years ago,
Tulsa was a railway flag station To-
day it is the home of 1000 people,
principally of eastern birth and train
ing with excellent schools, national
banks, modern churches, daily news
rapers and an inexhaustible supply OF
rnre water. Tulsa possesses in the
fullest measure the five essentials for
successful maufactures-cheap fuel,
raw materials, abundant labor, ample
railroad facilities and growing mar
ket. 1t is in the center of coal
field, many miles in extent with
veins of coal from thirty inches
to six feet in thickness. 1t has
natural gas, oil, timber and stone. I'll
Is located on the beautiful Arkansas
river and surrounded by some of the
finest farming land in the United
States. 1t is built on high ground.
where half century ago In the shade
of the trees overlooking the broad Ar
kansas river, the Tulsa clan of the