The Washington herald., 1909-06-27
OKLAHOMA CITY
GROWING RAPIDLY
Natural Trade Center of Big
Agricultural Region.
HAS FOUR GREAT RAILWAYS
Resources of state Ada 20 The
Wealth Os It's MetropOIis-Commer
ciaI Institutions Increase 10 Per
Cent IN the Year 19OS-PubIfc
Utilities Best Of Their I&Ind.

Ollahonsa City. Okla. June %-Obla-
hcma City. the metropolis OF the State.
IS within seven miles of the geographical
center " the Commonwealth. on the
banks OF the North Canadian River.
which flows through Oklahoma County
from north 10 south The population OF
the city is 5000 and OF the county COCOA
/. is 10 miles froua Wichita Kans.. 20
miles from Fort Worth. 2I5 miles from
Kansas City. and Si5 miles from Chicago.
The rise OF this city 20 rs present size
and Importance IN twenty years estab-
fishes new record IN clty-building. AS
remarkable as tie story reads. 1t explains
itself upon the simple basis Of demand
and supply. Oklahoma Citys trade terri
3 tory consists primarily OF the state OF
Oklahoma, with a population Of l.6oo.OoO-
Resources of the state.
This distributing area IS rich IN agri-
cultural and mineral resources. A few
facts and figures win suffice. Among the
States OF the Union. Oklahoma stands
first in broom corn. sixth in cotton. sew
suth in cattle. ninth IN corn. ninth in
Horses and mules. eleventh IN hogs.
Z
chinery. and ffteen<h in oats. IN min
erals. Oklahoma ranks first IN gypsum.
first In of. frst Ia gas. first IN asphalt.
fthird in coal. fifth in granite. and fifth IN
salt. There are also large quantities OF
marble, zinc. lead. shale. and building
stone
II is a commonly accepted truth con-
ceTning cities OF 5e0oo and upward that
manufactures constitute the. balance OF
power that makes for PROSPERITY. espe-
cialiy during period of hard times. The
actual number OF Institutions IN al lines
OF business IN Oklahoma City increased
on AZ average OF 10 per cent during the
panic year OK ls0S. What was responsible
for this continued growth IN the midst OF
a panic which Frustrated other sections
o. the country? Diversified agriculture.
production so rich and varied as 20
maintain a healthy tone throughout the
jobblng trade OF Oklahoma practically
every month In the year.
It's transportation Facilities.
Diverging In every direction from the
city. transportation facilities are making
possible the most rapid growth amid such
a field OF natural advantages Oklahoma
has $500 miles Of railroad. nine-tenths OF
which belongs 10 the four Southwestern
lines intersectlng at Oklahoma City, where
their passenger and freight division Off
ces are maintained. IN charge OF the
! Oklahoma and tributary Western and
/ Southwestern traffic associations. These
railroads are the Atchison, Topeka and
Santa Fe. the St Louis and san Fran
cisco the Missouri, Kansas and Texas,
and the Chicago. Rock Island and Pacific
There IS hardly an important business
center IN America that IS not reached by
one Of these systems or its direct North
ern or Eastern connections. BY wey OF
these trunk lines Oklahoma City, without
the necessity Of transfer. ships 90 80 per
cent Of the population OF the State. and
reaches tributary points outside Of Okla
hOma on a similarly advantageous basis.
This is easily understood from the fact
that n such an entirely new country the
railroad makes the course which attracts
population
Commercial Future Bright.
That Oklahoma has a great commercial
future Is logical Corn. cotton. and wheat.
the three great staples. suggest the
strength OF her agricultural backbone.
Coal. oil, and gas, the basis OF manufac-
ture, IS guarantee enough that the smoke
stacks OF Oklahoma Will carry the indus
trial message still farther Southwest
The manufacturing era IS coming In due
course
The substantial prospect of the State
spells At the same time the permanent
growth Of its chief city There Is not a
State IN the Union with the same or
greater population and with resources
equal to&Oklahoma but which is to-day
supporting ct least five cities OF 5000.
Therefore It is only stating the facts 70
say that Oklahoma City commands one
OF the most unusual market situations IN
the commercial annals OF this country.
It's Public Utilities.
Oklahoma City has as proud an array
Of public utilities as a city OF 5000 ever
owned.
A metropolitan street railway system
-eNtendS forty miles. with interurban