South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1919-10-26
MODEST TAXICAB
FARE IN TEXAS
TOWN IS $3.50
Wichita Falls, Once Near Dry
ing Up, Now Full of Mil
Ii0naireS and Autos.

Two years ago. the little hum
drum Texas town or wichita Fails
was drying up after years OF drought.
Today It is "A dream city with water
and oil. and money and plenty Of
big automobiles. Plain. quiet citi-
zens--shop girls and farmers bar
bers and porters-hava found their
income roaring UP into thousands or
dollars a day. But II is town Of
giolent contracts, where hard luck
rubs elbows with Incredible prosper
ity It's a boom town-the end OF
the rainbow-and thoroughly well
oiled oil is the sole topic OF con-
versation in Wichita Falls-and It
Is making a new crop OF million
aires as well as keeping many folks
busy throwing their dollars down
dry wells.
Point OF Conveyance.
For nearly a year Wichita Falls
has been a point Of conveyance for
all sorts OF people from all sorts Of
places. arriving by train or by auto
mobile or creaking into town in the
Old fashioned prairie schooner pack
ed with bedding and babies. and
with the inevitable mongreI dog do
ing rear-guard duty in the dust
abaft the tail gate A year ago il
was a nice little town Of IS, 600 in
habftants-a year from now IL viii
probably 10 be a healthy young city
Of more than $4,000. Right now It
is confused by the sudden intake Of
a meal OF inhabitants that it has as
vet had no time 10 digest. The curbs
are jammed with high-priced and
high-class motor cars. with as many
as 70 parked on an average block
Times Square at Forty Second ST.
after the theaters are out is no more
crowded than are the downtown
streets at all hours Of the day.
Wichita Falls taxis have no taxi
meters. and nobody cares. Money is
the cheapest thing on earth out
thereto those who have it-and
. minutes ago is ancient history
with an oil drill close TO the sand
that will mean a great gusher or a
dry hole. nobody cares what II costs
90 get a repair part quick Men
cheerfuIly pay $4,000 for an auto
mobile to get them from the oil
fields TO Wichita Falls to buy new
drills or TO bring men TO make neces-
sary repairs.
Operate Fleet OF Six Cars.
one garage has been operating a
fleet OF six Studebaker cars since
early in the year, "a hours "A day.
The great speed OF Studebaker big
six and its unvarytng dependability
under all road conditions was, OF
course, of prime Importance in
choosing IL for this strenuous work.
But what is more interesting 10 note,
especially to the uninitated, is the
fact that the beautiful appearance
of the car. its splendid finish, gen
uine leather upholstery and such
features as silver-faced recording In
struments. were OF equal Importance
There is nothing too good for these
OIL barOns OF wichita Fails. The
long. low ralSish lines Of the big
six have the same irresistible appeal
10 the oil man OF the Arabian Nights
town as to the Wall st. broker or
Riverside DIR. society leader.
The service record and the up
keep expense OF the Studebsl<er cars
has been carefully checked up each
day and makes a showing worthy
OF more than passing interest. over
roads that have been made almost
impossible because or heavy rains
ard continuous professions OF We
hicies carrying heavy supplies TO the
oil fields. these cars, in daily service,
average better than IL miles TO the
gallon OF gasoline and nearly 5000
miles per set of tires. Nowhere in
the country IL a car forced 20 de-
liver day in and day out service I'M
der such trying conditions as exist
In the Texas oil fields