The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1921-03-06
The Ardmoreite's
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WONDERFUL PROGRESS

League City, Tex. March 4, 1921
To the Editor of The Ardmoreite;-
1 sometimes wonder if the people
of Oklahoma-those who have lived
there continuously since the advent OF
statehood-really can see and appre-
ciate the wonderful strides in prog
ress made by the state in the few
years in which it has been self gov
erning.
! am inclined TO believe that only
they who knew the old Indian Ter
ritory days and now drop in on the
new order of things occasionally can
appreciate what has been done since
Oklahoma was admitted TO the sister
hood of states and redeemed from
under q government which in the days
OF southern reconstruction was known
as carpet bagger" rule.
While | had in u general way under
stood that Oklahoma had buckled on
the harness of statehood and started
10 work out her destiny along with
her older sisters, | will never forget
my surprise and ama2ement when /
stepped off the train at Ardmore about
two years ago after an absece of
about twenty-one years, and noted
the city as it was in its changed con-
dition. Not a vestige Of the old Ard
more remained as ! could see, and, In
its stead had arisen a modern, thriv-
ing city with all the evidence of that
energy and thrift 1or watch / have
afterwards learned the place TO be
noted. Gone were the old board walks
and muddy streets 10 be replaced by
the modern cement sidewalks. con-
crete curbing and pavements. In
stinctively | looked around for the
Big Iron Store" but 1t was no more.
and as walked up Main street
vainly looking for q familiar land
mark could but wonder at the
change. 1t was as though | had never
seen the place before. My last i'm
preston OF Ardmore had been that OF
small frontier town with its streets
full OF wagons, with street fakir
on tine prominent corners and a crowd
/ VI bapiHk NpdhNA ~
listen 10 him extol the merits Of his
cureall or whatever he might be
palming off on gulhble public, and
here / awoke 10 find myself in immi-
nent danger OF being run down by u
Hudson Super Six.
And in making the drive across
the country 10 Woodford where |
formerly lived (which in the old days
took about five or six hours, but
which now took but about an hour,
or little more) noticed changes as
great as those which had taken place
in Ardmore, comparatively aoeaking.
Instead OF the road struggling off in
northwesterly direction across the
open prairie, 1t held strictly u the
section lines skirting well kept
farms, with an agricultural prosperity
as evident as anywhere in the south
The squatters' cabin so noticeable In
the old days was conspicuous by Its
absence and the tow-headed youngsters
which used TO peep cautiously from
the doorway at the passing stranger
had given way TO the we'll kept farm
child who looks Independently and
fearlessly and often uninterestedly q,
the passing automobile
Since that time It has been my
pleasure 20 return 10 Carter county
three times and each time I have
had new evidence OF the wonderful
progress OF the country. Such con.
trast in the schools and school chill
dren In the days ] knew, II was 0
little shack Of any kind TO be had and
any body for teacher who could
get the people TO pay MIN for teach
! ing the young idea how TO shoot.
But now this thirteen year-old sis
ter has developed "a school system
which Is practically as good as tha
of her ncighboring states and the enc
Is not yet. This In true al least fol
Carter county "a evidenced by IL,
Judgment in placing the present abl'
and conscientious county supcrinten
dent at the helm IN managing hel
kschools. And unless I am mistaken
Carter county is now training an eff
cient state superintendent unless sh,
should tar beyond the limit her phy
sical strength in her work for Tn
county. As daily reader of Tn
Ar,lmoreite, have been an intereste'