Bryan daily eagle and pilot. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1909-1918, 1911-07-12
OKLAHOMA CITY IN THE DUMPS.

Oklahoma City Is in some respects
the most wonderful city in the United
States. There is no other city OF the
same size that can show as big, mod
ern, up-to-date buildings and UP to a
very recent date at any rate no town
could show a population with more
nerve and hustle.
They all seemed to believe implicit
ly in the town. If any one Of them
had a doubt about it he concealed his
doubts and lied like gentleman in
praise of his city. II would not be
safe TO be knocker and live in Okla.
homa City, which Is a really beautiful
condition to be in provided the opti-
mism business is not carried too far.
Almost any kind of an enterprise
that promised to bring more people to
the town could get help from the en-
! terprising pushers who made up the
commercial club. II stranger visit
| ing the town timidly suggested that
real estate values seemed high he was
regarded with an air of plying tolera-
! ton for his manifest ignorance OF the
present worth and future possibilities
of the metropolis.
But after all and finally, any city is
the result of natural conditions and
resources. 1t Is true enough that
knockers can retard the growth of a
town and pushers can help TO make II
grow, but generally the enterprise that
is induced to some by big subsidy
furnished by the inhabitants Is not
THE best sort of an enterprise for the
town.
Oklahoma City overdid the subsidy
business Just as hundreds OF other am
bilious towns have done before. Real
estate values were inflated beyond
reason and it was only a question of
time until a halt was bound 10 come.
The time comes when the outsider
ceases to invest his money. The in
habitants, especially the real estate
agents, may try TO keep up appear
ances for a while by trading with each
other but that doesn't last long
Oklahoma City was going to build
a capital building from the proceeds
of lot sales in the Capital addition.
The plan looked feasible enough and
a year ago 1t would have worked out
all right and in addition to furnishing
enough money to build the statehouse
would have left a handsome profit for
the promoters of the scheme.
The capital was dumped on Okla
homa City either a year too late or
else three or four years too soon. For
the halt has come in Oklahoma City.
Dry. hot weather has hurried II of
course, but it was bound to come any,
way sooner or later. The lots can not
be sold in the Capital addition and
If the state wants a capital building
it will have to find some other way to
pay for It,
However. If there is anyone WHO
thinks that Oklahoma City Is perma-
nently going to the bad he Is mis-
taken, II is going through the sweat,
that is all How long it will take to
readjust itself nobody knows. 1t may
be year. two years or five years, but
II is certain that when the reaction Is
over with. the fever gone and the pa
tielt restored to normal health ORla-
hcma City will be better town than
II has ever been.
Meantime, a good many people who
invested in city property when the
boom was at its crest will be sorry
If they went in debt for the property
thoy will be worse than sorry; they
viii be busted.
Others will come in and reap har,
vest on account of the decline in
prices. When the ebb tide of discour-
agement is at It's lowest they will
come in and get the advantage of
other mems enterprise and then sit
down and wait till values recover
Topeka Mail and Breeze.