The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1910-09-28
PEOpLE'SFORUM
Does Ardmore Want Factories.

Sir
Your issue of last evening contain
ed an article headed, Does Ardmore
Want Factories" having cast my lot
here and being interested (selhshly Of
course) in the growth and develop
ment Of the City of Ardmore, | deem
It pertinent to the question to state
what seems to me to be some good
reasons for Ardmore wanting factories.
If this city wishes to gain ground, her
answer to this question should be
most emphatic YES, without a dis
senting voice.
Previous to locating here the writer
lived several years in South Bend,
Indiana, one of the most widely known
manufacturing cities in the United
States-one which has grown from
small country village of a few hun
drcd people to city of lfty-live thous
and. with nearly hundred miles OF
paved streets, splendid schools, water
works, fire and police departments
parks, and all that goes to make
modem, substantial and attractive
city, and best of all, IS a city of homes,
owned mostly by the occupants Of
them. All these things are the result
of the natural growth and development
growing out of the location and growth
of substantial manufacturing indus
tries, fostered by the fair treatment
and encouragement Of its citizens.
From 1890 to 1900 South Bend
made a growth of 40 per cent, and
from 1900 to 1910 the growth was
about the same, and there is now em-
ployed in It's various factories an army
of from twelve thousand to fifteen
thousand people, who receive their
pay every two weeks, with the result
that these immense pay rolls go into
circulation, some of 1t going to the
butcher, the baker, and to all other
lines of trade.
They have a live, active Chamber
of Commerce which Is busy all the
year and more industries are beiuS
located there each year.
Since coming to Ardmore | have
been seeing and hearing things and
have reached the conclusion thai the
trouble with Ardmore is ARDMORE
herself. When some proposition is
presented like the one under discus,
sion, it seems that a lot OF our clti-
2ens sit up nights deyising ways and
means for unloading on it some unsal-
able real estate for about four hun
dred per cent OF its real value, and
failing in that, he doesn't want to
play at all.
We ought to remember that a going
factory employing one hundred to two
hundred men in Ardmorc means much;
II means an annual pay roll Of from
$4,000 to $l50,OOO put into circulation
here and it will percolate through all
the channels OF trade, from the pecan
vender on the sidewalk to the real es-
tate man in the third floor, all will
share in some degree the benefits of a
revived business and the general pros
perity that must follow. That piece of
real estate may not Quadruple in val
ne, but 1t will get its just portion Of
benefits for all these wOrkmen and
their families must be fed, clothed and
housed and Ardmore needs the bust
ness.
Let the Commercial club first de-
termine If 1t is a legitimate, soodfaith
proposition, backed by honorable men
who mean business, and when they
are satisfied on these points, let Ard
more welcome them with open arms
! and loosen up her purse strings, too
| keeping the same strings in her hands
until the promoters have made good
We recently raised money for a new
hotel-enough TO pay for a site about
! MY per cent llOlt lIdu Ith Itttl NdlNt
but here Is something that means
many times more to the city at large
in general prosperity, and one good
factory prospering in our midst with
good shipping facilities and the other
advantages peculiar TO Ardmore, more
will come.
It is a good time for Ardmore to
come out OF its shell; forget for the
time being our small individual inter
ests, take the broader view of the sit
uation. go down in our pockets and
help the Commercial club 10 accom-
plish the greatest sood for the great
est number
Respectfully,
j. /. SINKES.
TWO Boys Killed.