The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1908-11-16

The past year has been one OF un-
usual activity in the building line.
Guthrie has In no sense OF the word
been experiencing q boom. Yet the
number OF buildings erected. the
money paid ont for the same, and the
work actually done on the erection Of
these buildings has compared remark
ably well with former years, has in
fact, excelled former years in many
respects. OF course we must remem-
Der that there never will be such
building activity in Guthrie again as
there was during the early history OF
the town. when all the buildings had to
be erected, the city springing from
raw place of prairie to the commercial
and manufacturing center OF the new
state. But the class cf building now
being done requires a greater skin,
and Is done with an idea of greater
permanency, than we're the first build
ings, which necessarily had to be
erected hurrdly often by common
labor. The building that was done
during the last year was all done with
an idea Of the results being here for
ever.
The past year has been an unusually
unfavorably one In all respects. II be-
gan, (and when we speak Ct the past
year in this issue we mean the year
beginning with the advent OF state
hood or November II, 1907, and end
ing today, during the panic OF last
fell and ended at the heels Of presi
dental election. At no time during
the entire year was there anything
to favor business From all points out
side the state comes the word that the
past year has been a dead one, and al
most invaribly that IL the condition
that exists under such circumstances.
Bnt In Oklahoma, and in Guthrie es
pecially, there has been q glaring eX
ception to the rule that has always
prevailed everywhere else, and bust
ness of all winds has pushed steadily
ahead, there having been not single
break from the start, and there having
been plenty for the laboring man to
d. II he wants to work and will make
his wants known. In fact, there has
been a demand for good labOring men
throughout the year.
Guthrie has nearly 4 dozen general
contractors that the Leader has in
teryiewed during .he canvass for This
issue and not a single one Of them com
planned about business cOnditit MS
Everyone Of them on the other hand
reported this last year the best they
had ever had. Everyone of them re
ported that the prospects for the com
ing year are even brighter than they
gare last year. These contractors are
men, most CT them, who have been
here In the same business for several
years. They have not made any mor
OF an effort for business during the
past year than they did during former
years. The whole fact of the matter
Is that there has been building wave
sweeping over the town, even In race
of unfavorable conditions.
Guthrie occupies a peculiar position
u Is not on a boom. Il Is simply being
bulh M By men who have confidence
enough In the future Of the town to put
their money into some legitimate en-
terprlse Instead of speculating in the
ordinary wild cat way There are very
few wild cat speculators in Guthrie.
The business men, the men of means
who live here do not believe in mush
room growths. They believe that when
they do things they ought TO LOOK
for permanent results, rather than for
Immediate flashes. This accounts lot
much OF the building activity CT the
mast year. For several years Guthrie
seemed to remain az about the same
posltion. She was holding her own
nut was not making much progress
Moneyed men saw that a town that
could hold its own under conditions
that then prevailed MAS pretty good
town to live. Now these same men are
building homes here and erecting busi-
ness buildings and factories Some
of the finest residences in Guthrie
have been erected during the past
year. Some OF Guthrie's largest FAC
tories have been built during the past
year
The building activity that has been
ecsng on during the past year has
really lust begun The coming year Is
much more favorable in every way.
The panic has past, the presidential
election is over The Southwestern
Iron company Is manufacturing ar
cbectural iron and steel, and no doubt
this time next year will see a num-
ber OF mammoth steel buildings scat
tered throughout the business porti- n
az the city. In fact. the Leader Is re-
liably Informed by q number OF CON
tsactors that several such buildings
are already being contemplated.
DurIBs the psst year there were
erected In Gt5thrie as shown by the
aesiYaing peuzits Issued by the nre
onieg, q total o9 $40 DWELLINGS, some Of
tlem me ANGST IA tie city There were
1lso built sevsnty oaa private barns
some OF them also the nnest IN t&e city
And yet with all these added dwellings
OAess se bsraly a vncant ncuse Ia t0wn