The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1912-08-09
Ardmore, Friday. Angus, 9, 1912
EMPIRE BUILDING.

..uw that the primary is over and
the people Of Oklahoma have settled
down once more n the even tenor OF
rhe.r ways, would 1t not be good
iiea to get busy along lines for the
GENERAL advancement OF the state and
do things in the empire Building
line?
Oklahoma has a climate which Is
unsurpassed, she has soil than which
none is more fertile and productive.
sac has a citizenship composed OF
some OF the best people on earth, she
has an educational system surpassed
by none and equalled by few states,
she has churches and preachers
enough 10 convert and save every
sinner on the face OF Gods green
earth, she has railway facilities to
carry all her products to outside mar
kets. when once these products are
brought in touch with the railways
and she has some public highways
which rank among the first as being
the very worst in the union.
Now that local politics lies dormant
Tor a time, let the commercial clubs
Of the country, the business men or
the country the people all over the
country. get busy In the right direc-
tion. We already have, as JUST STAT
Cd, the railroads TO take our strff TO
other markets. but We have NOT the
hom6made transportation facilities
10 get our products 10 the railroads
The advancement Of every state is
marked by the farm values Of that
state and all farm values are gov
crned by the roads which interlace
the rural districts and bring the farm
and the town into close juXtapos'ion,
The railroads are great empire build
"rs and the country roads are the
greatest Of railroad builders. The
one brings communities in touch with
the outer world. the other brings the
communities together
Thirty five or forty years ago, the
NJ X & r. Ry. was practically the
only railroad crossing what is tow
Oklahoma At that time, from Fort
Worth. Texas. to Parsons, Kansas,
the country was almost a wilderness
At that time the handling Of train
loads Of eelin or nf fruit grown IN
this most productive section. were
unknown. Trains Of freight at tina.
tune were operated hundreds of m!le'
without break or stop, except for Goa!
and water All this is different now
Now beautiful farms dot the hills and
prairies where, little over a quarter
OF century ago solitude reigned su-
preme Fighting against unconquer-
able odds. surmountng almost insur-
mountable barriers, travelling with
force which has proven all but ire
sistible. the general public has made
this one OF the most noted states il.
the union. They have made it
state of wealth. state which with
proper advertising and with energies
carefully trained in the right direc-
lion viii soon outdistance many Of
the older states in even the .hoice
west middle vest and great south
west
But 10 do this, system must prevail
Dollars must be expended where they
will bring in the quickest and best
returns And no dollar was ever in
vested that would pay a higher rate
of interest, or bring in a quicker re-
turn than are the dollars invested in
good roads.
Cool streets and good sidewalks
are indicators OF good towns. Good
roads show a good country and make
good towns possible. The uncut dia-
mOnd will sleep for centuries in the
mass Of blue mud where il was born.
Not until the hand OF the lapidary
has skillfully manipulated this rough
stone does it become gem suited
10 flash upon the head Of royalty. SO
II is with the future of this state