The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1921-01-23
TULSA SERENE IN
MIDST OF STORM
Business Depression only
Lightly Felt in This
City.
STILL "CARRIES ON" d"
People Spend More Carefully
But Are Still Buying;
Trade Prospers.
py HARVEY T.. RHODES.


TuIs, has occupied Wnguiarly
fortunate position during the prev
ent period NJ general business de-
preston. Not that th,F economic
disturbance hasn't been frIt hor"#-
for 10 has been and rs being fclt
right now. But IT, effects have not
caused the disorder la local condi-
tons that they have In those ~
other cities especially In the east
To ascertain the viowH ~ local
business men. who are I'm position
to- be- closely associated with busi-
ness conditions. 20 hhnkorc, real cs-
tate men and merchants wCrc inter
viewed. \ condensed report Of their
Views, given after careful ruusidcti-
tinn and based upon knowledge
of iudisputablc facts pertaining 10
the business depression and its ofs
fectS upon the city Of Tulsa, IS given
herewith.
The wave Of unemployment IN
perhaps the most apparent effect OF
the depression. This II tho result
felt most kecnly by the average
family for IL has entered thousands
Of homes over tho nation, bringing
actual want to the doors of those
who formerly held profitable post
tions, hut who. unfortunately, had
not anticipated "A rainy day and VINO
had not prepared for 1t by laying
aside a part OF their income TO tide
them over until better times.
Not long ago " n resident OF New
York or San Francisco--a person
dlsinterostcd In the two cities -hnd
been asked TO say whether Tulsa Or
Detroit would have the better out
look if there should be a period Of
trying times. he would have chosen
Detroit. lie would have reasoned
that Detroit is much larger. and
that IL is "A manufacturing center,
and that Tulsa n city hc has been
led To believe is entirely dependent
for It's existence upon oil, could not
Withstand even a slight depression.
Detroit he would have said IN the
center of the automobile Industry
and has an enormous dinner bucket
brigade. Naturally he would rea-
son that Industrial plants would
insure prosperity when oil might
prove tickle.
He would have reasoned similarly
" he were told To choose between
Tulsa and Akron, Ohio, for that lat
ter city IL the center of the rubber
goods industry aud experienced
tremendous Increase In population
from 1910 to 1920, a population that
was mostly diverted into industrial
channels.
ltONtNtt, tnt ulHlnlflfNNfh D'I-
sons reasoning would have proven
wrong In the light of recent ana
present conditions.
In both Detroit and Akron there
are probably 100000 men walking
tho streets, seeking employment. If
bread lines are To be formed they
will doubtless. start in those two
cities first.
Tulsa, commonly supposed To be
al, An. oil Iats ~
growth and existence. but which In
reality depends upon "A diversity OF
resources, Is weathering the storm
OF depression like a veteran, with
colors flying and with business In
healthy condition. Not that busi-
ness is normal, for that IL impossible
lust row, but that business here Is
hetter than 1t Is in most other cities.
Unofficial estimates from con-
tractors and others In close touch
with tho labor situation are that
the number OF unemployed men
here Is not more than 3,000--and
there's q. tremendous difference be
tween 5000 and 100, 900, even taxi
Ing into consideration tho difference
IN population of Tulsa and Detroit
or Tulsa and Akron.
While the automobile industry Is
virtually at a standstill, closing fac
tories and throwing Thousands OF
men out of employment; while tex
tile mills In the east are either
Cluseu or barely operating, while
stocl mills are running ON short
shifts; while lead, zinc and other
mining ~ virtually az a standstill
,Sl contributing tp the uncmploy
ment situation and fostering "a spirit
of pcsslmism wherever these Indus.
tries ar cdcpcndcd upon for the
livelihood of workers, Tulsa remains
calm Gnd unperturhcd.
For Tulsa has oil. II has agrlcul-