The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1917-09-26
"Creater ThanAthens"
AndGrowingEachDay
That sOklahomaCitv


width and construction the standard
specifications fixed by the state.
Edmond and Guthrie are linked to
Oklahoma City by smooth, wide road
as well as by electric and steam rail
ways FL Reno and the towns of the
northwest have access to the capital
by excellent roads Jones, Spencer,
Luther, Wellston and Harrah. leading
trade centers are only a few hours
away by auto travel The early con
struction OF high bridge across the
south Canadian river near Newcastle
to connect ends of splendid road, will
open great agricultural territory to
Oklahoma City.
Climate and Soil Of Oklahoma.
Fertile soil under warm, clear skies
make the greater part OF Oklahoma
adapted for farming of crops of the
north and the south, Wheat and cot
ton belts meet in the state and corn
ana corn growers prosper over the
eastern two-thirds of the state. On the
prairies and plains Of the western sec
tons the sorghums wait for DELAYED
rains and take the place Of corn.
The average annual rainfall for the
state is 81 inches, varying from 50
inches IN the east central region to II
inches In the extreme northwest coun-
ties. The mean temperature for 1916
Tor the state was 603 degrees, varying
from $50 average for January to an
average of 8J4 for August The last
killing frost in 1916 was on April 9
and the first killing frost of autumn
occurred October 70.
The altitude range. from 900 feet in
Muskogee county to 1000 feet in Cim-
arron county
The Grand Boulevard.
A grand boulevard twenty-eight
miles long encircles the. city and forms
fast automobile speedway This
boulevard is sixty feet wide and passes
through four parks.
Investments in packing industries in
Oklahoma City exceed Sl000O0 for
plants alone Packingtown is an in
dustrial city within itself The two
big packing houses are those of Morris
& Co. and Wilson & Co, Swift 4 Co.
and Armour & &oCo. have large poultry
and produce handling plants in the
wholesale district of the city. The
Oklahoma National S,ockyards com
pany owns an immense system of yards.
Receipts at the local yards during
1916 were 260,3& cattle, 644ol calves,
7so6O3 hogs, 1890 sheep, 48 838l
horses and mules. Total cars received
were 23,l4l.
One hundred and twenty-five whole
sale and jobbing firms are represented
in the Chamber Of Commerce. Several
hundred factories. from the immense
$4,000 Ford assembling plant to the
small bookbinder or printer employing
a half dozen men. are sending out hun
dreds OF thousands OF dollars worth OF
manufactured products monthly.
No one line of manufacture is rcDre-
sented bv so many firms that breaks in
certain markets affect the city gencr-
ally.
Public Improvements.
Paving has k"n. pace with the growth
Of Oklahoma City. There are 80 miles
OF asphalt paved streets Practically all
of this will be paid for in full in another
year The sewerage system is ample
in the older portion OF the city and
100000 will be spent this year in ex-
tending the sewers to meet new growth.
The street lighting system is being
extended as units OF white Ways" The
downtown section Of the city is light
ed in The mostmoden strong illumina-
ton methods. This plan of ornamental
street lights extending along both sides
of each block is being extended into
the residence sections
A reservoir that will impond water
for two years supply is being CON
s'ructed nine miles west OF Oklahoma
City. Completion Of this will effect
decreas in insurance rates. The fire
department is motorized Thirteen
pieces of motor drawn apparatus are
in use at ten stations
Railroad terminal facilities steam
and electric in Oklahoma City are ex-
cellent. The terminal station Of the Ok
lahoma Railway company, shown at the
bottom of this page is one OF the finest
of its kind in the world Under its train
shed cars to all parts of the city pass
and all interurban electric cars depart.
All transfers are made under shelter
with large ticket offices and waiting
rooms in the main building. The Rock
Island and Frisco railways are building
a Joint passenger station within two
blocks Of the retail district at cost
of 100000 The Santa Fe and Katy
railways have modern passenger sta
tons lust at the edge Of the retail dis
trict A belt line railroad encirolcs the
city and throws off arterie. into the
manufacturing and wholesale districts,
on three sides OF the city
The Oklahoma capitol is located al
the northern limits OF Oklahoma Citv.
II is built upon The highest ground in |
view II cost 81 800 0o and va, com
pletcd and occupied in June, 1917 The
sixth legislature was convened in il car |
" in the winter.
The Paris.
With the purchase Of Fair Park. the !,
location Of the Oklahoma State Fair
Oklahoma City has completed a splen- |
did park system. There are 1870 acre,
in parks Fair Park !. the best i'm
proved I, has huge exposition build
ings, a half.mile track and steel and
concrete grandstand. seating 1000 per
sons Amusement concessions are