The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1917-09-26
'0|[ BOOM marks I
. PAYNE s PROGRESS
Town of Quay Furnishes
That County's Biggest
Development.
BUILD A COURTHOUSE
Farmers Prospering, Too,
While Towns Erect New
Buildings. +

SALTWATER, Okla, Sept. 20.
Especial The most startling dcvel-
opment OF the past year in PAYNE coun-
ty has been in the town OF Quay. in
the eastern part OF the county. Big
strikes OF oil and gas revived the once
boom town until city lots that had sold
Tor the taxes brought big prices and
farm lands ceased to be rated at any
thing even mildly approximating their
agricultural value
New wells were opened up in and
around Quay until numerous farms
were thickly dotted with derricks and
drilling operations even cncroached on
town residence property New build
ings sprang up over night and interest
m the Payne county fields was trans
ferred from Gushing, Yale and Ingalls,
to Quay
Wildcatting throughout the county
! received a severe setback III the short
age of steel The ingalls, field has re-
corded little progress, although several
| new strikes were made, none OF them
large AT the Armstrong test we'll
northeast OF Saltwater the casing has
been pulled, and other locations in vir-
gin territory have been held back by
the tendency to confine all operations
to proven fields
Many Public Improvements.
In the matter Of public and private
| improvements the county has made
mar ked progress The farmers. on the
whole, have prospered and the towns
have had an unusually good year. At
Saltwater the county is building a new
courthouse and a jail to cost 100000.
This fact is looked upon as ending the
long drawn out sectional fight and in
dicates a future OF cooperative en-.
deayor on the part Of the various towns
IN the county. The state legislature
appropriated $2O00O0 for new build
lngs at the agricultural and mechanical
college at Saltwater. Work on these
buildings has not begun, but will add
much to the industrial activity OF the
town. Two fine brick churches and
scores of new homes are under way or
have been completed in Saltwater.
Gushing and Yale have made marked
progress in town Improvement. Ripley
and Perkins held successful Chautau-
qua sessions and otherwise indicate
plenty OF public spirit.
Fifth in Valuation.
Payne county ranks fifth among the
counties in Oklahoma in assessed val
uaton, having a valuation of $40,6S2.-
0l8 In agricultural production the
! county ranked thirty second among the
count,es OF the state in 1910. IN value,
OF livestock franks fwerAy sixth
Payne county raises grain sorghums.
cotton, corn, wheat, alfalfa, cowpeas,
etc. Enough small fruits and orchard
products are raised for home consump-
ton. Hogs, cattle and poultry are
profitable.
Two farm loan associations have been
organized during the past year, one Of
them having about SS000 in applica.
tions Better farming methods are no.
ticeable over the entire county The
county agent, h + Markland and the
woman agent, Mrs. +. II. Clark. are
receiving hearty cooperation through
out the county.
Community Clubs Help.
| i''hhlcilt IH INC campaign iOf grtat-
er material progress in the next year
are the community clubs There are
twenty-five of these, scattered through
out the county and working under d.
rection OF the county agent.
Payne county has been deeply inter-
este d in good roads Efforts have been
made to place this county on the line
OF the Albert Pike and Ozark Trail,
highways. 1t is probable that the past
year has witnessed more road improve
ments throughout the county than any
three previous years. lnterurban rail-
way connection between Saltwater and
Oklahoma City has seemed a possibil-
ity at times within the past year. Com
mlttees are working on this project.
Every indication points to continued
prosperity and progress for the county.