New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 1, Part 20

Author: Davis, Ellis A.
Publication date: 1926
Publisher: Dallas, Tex. : Texas development bureau, [1926?]
Number of Pages: 1416

USA > Texas > New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 1 > Part 20

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

A large dam was constructed across the Wichita River in the north central part of Baylor County, thus forming an artificial lake covering some 17,835 acres of land and holding 444,168 acre feet of water, an acre foot being water one foot deep over one acre of land. In addition to the large reservoir there was "a diversion dam and reservoir built some

The City National Bank of Commerce Building. Home of the Banking Institution of that Name

twenty miles east of the main reservoir which has an additional capacity of 45,000 acre feet of water. From this diversion dam site two canals were constructed, one running north and one running

south of the city limits of Wichita Falls. The south canal is used to supply Lake Wichita with an abundant supply of water at all times. A chemical analysis of the river water made by the Fort Worth

Kemp Hotel, Named for the Pioneer Citizen of Wichita Falls One of the Finest Hotels in the Southwest

laboratories, May 20, 1920, shows that the water con- tains very little hardness of any character. An analysis shows the following ingredients:

Calcium Carbonate 66 parts per million

Calcium Sulphate 245.8 parts per million

Calcium Chloride 104.4 parts per million

Sodium Chloride 112.8 parts per million Thus indicating that the water is excellent water to drink and also to put on the land for irrigation purposes.

The city of Wichita Falls was confronted with a situation similar to that confronting Los Angeles in 1905. In order to maintain our present pros- perity and to provide for the future growth of the city, a permanent and adequate supply of water was imperative.

After many years of testing of the underground water in this part of the state we are assured that the underground supply is entirely inadequate and so full of mineral salts as to make it unsuited for drinking purposes. The only adequate and satis- factory supply within the reach of this city is the Wichita River which extends some 200 miles to the west and flows sufficient water for all purposes. The location of the large dam and reservoir is ideal and seems to have been made by nature for this very purpose. A large natural basin had been surveyed in the north part of Baylor County and a dam was built across a narrow gap in the hills impound- ing sufficient water to take care of a city of a million people and also to irrigate some 150,000 acres of the rich Wichita Valley land in Archer and Wichita counties. It is difficult to realize the change that has occurred in the surrounding country since this irrigation has been completed. On the Seymour road

104

NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

and the Electra road we will see hundreds of homes surrounded with five, ten, twenty acre tracts in- tensively cultivated in field and garden truck of all character. Fruit and shade trees, in abundance, berries of all kinds, sugar beets, long staple cotton, wheat, alfalfa, corn and other field crops will be grown with a certainty of success because an abund- ant supply of water is ready to be placed on the land, whenever required. Farmers will make as much money from a ten-acre tract under irriga- tion as they now make from a hundred acres without sufficient water. Many prominent people in this city have already decided to acquire a small acreage under this irrigation ditch and build a home where

duplicate the wonderful results in those states.

In many respects our climate is more advantag- eous to some crops than either Colorado with its severe cold or California with its rainy season. This project has been favorably passed upon by some of the best irrigation experts in the country and there seems to be no unfavorable features to overcome.

The water is here in abundance, of good quality and favorable for the land. The entire project will be gravity flow, thus saving the expense of pumping the water as is done all along the Rio Grande.

With the cultivation of land which will vastly in- crease the rural population, there will also be the introduction of industries which go hand in hand

The Business Section of Wichita Falls, from a Point Beyond the Railroad Track

they can have fresh vegetables, eggs, milk, etc., every morning with beautiful country surroundings, and run into the city for business on the concrete roads that will be built along the valleys.

Intensive cultivation of some 150,000 acres of land in the vicinity of this city will give us the most densely populated agricultural districts in the state and will furnish the necessary labor for the opera- tion of many factories which will locate here in order to handle the agricultural products and also to avail themselves of the labor thus afforded. Traction lines will probably be run through the thickly settled valley lands to accommodate the people and to handle the products of the farms.

The completion of this project will accomplish two things. It will furnish the city of Wichita Falls an abundant supply of pure water for all future time and thus stabilize and maintain our pres- ent real estate values, and provide for the future a confidence on the part of our present and future citizenship in the continued growth of our city.

It will also bring hundreds of farmers from out- side our country who will locate here and take up the valley land in small acreage farms and build their homes among us and intensively cultivate this rich valley. Under irrigation one acre of land fre- quently nets the farmer from $500 to $1,000 and such acreage planted in fruit, walnuts, pecans, etc., in other irrigated districts sells from $1,500 to $3,000 per acre. Agriculturists have examined the soil in the Wichita Valley and have pronounced it as rich as any irrigated land in Colorado or California, and state that with irrigation we should be able to

with rural communities. Much of the land will un- doubtedly be turned to fruit raising. This will be ac- companied by the organization and building of pack- ing plants and canning factories, to take care of the produce as fast as it is gathered. Manufacturing establishments will also be erected to furnish utensils, machinery and tools used in the cultivation of the land. These institutions will employ a great deal of labor, thus increasing the population of this element. This additional population will vastly in- crease the mercantile business, both retail and whole- sale. Money will be deposited in the banks, all kinds of permanent improvements will be made, thereby increasing the wealth of the community and estab- lishing a stable and permanent business in all lines.

The project will be owned by the people, and man- aged by a board of directors elected by them. It will be carried out under the irrigation laws of the State of Texas and there will be absolutely no profit to anybody connected with the enterprise in the way of promotion or the sale of water rights. The entire project will be owned by the people and the cost, owing to the favorable engineering features will be less than any other irrigation project of this mag- nitude ever completed. The entire cost will be di- vided between District No. 1, comprising the city of Wichita Falls and some fifteen thousands acres of irrigable land north and south of the city, and Dis- trict No. 2, comprising the main irrigable land lying west of the city in the Wichita Valley. The only other expense will be the maintenance and operating expense each year. The bonds will be 40 year bonds and the principal and yearly interest will be arranged in easy payments.

105

TRANSPORTATION AND INDUSTRIES OF WICHITA FALLS

By FRANK KELL

W ICHITA FALLS does not look to oil alone for her substantial prosperity. The city is a wholesale center for a large portion of northwest Texas and southwest Oklahoma, and is constantly adding to its wholesale trade. Because of its location and excellent railroad facilities Wichita Falls was known as a thriv- ing manufacturing center be- fore oil was discovered and gained first place among its industries. Excluding its re- fineries and other plants deal- ing with the oil business there are approximately 45 manufacturing firms in the city having a total in- vestment of more than $7,000,000 and an annual gross output valued at more than $20,000,000. About 1,800 people are employed in these plants.

Among the important articles manufactured in the city are motor trucks, window glass, brick, tiles, fruit jars, mattresses, flour, brooms, tanks and meal. The Wichita trucks, manufactured here, are sold in 68 countries of the world, one shipment recently going to a buyer in the Gobi Desert in Asia, to re- place camels. Flour made in Wichita Falls is sold extensively for export trade also, shipments going to South America, Cuba, Norway, Sweden and many other parts of the world. The capacity of the Wich- ita Mills and Elevator Company's two plants is 3,500 barrels daily, together with 500 barrels of meal and 2,000 bags of feed. About 30,000,000 bushels of wheat are handled on the average each year.

There are 33 companies doing a wholesale and jobbing business, their total investment is approxi- mately 10,000,000 and their annual business is about $36,000,000. This business is growing rapidly be- cause of the increase in wealth and prosperity of the city's distribution territory and its railroad ad- vantages.

The railroads of Wichita Falls have struggled with a traffic problem almost unprecedented and have made an earnest effort to meet the enormous demand made by the sudden growth. Wichita Falls is the

Wichita Mill and Elevator Company, One of the City's Big Industrial Institutions.

division headquarters of the Ft. Worth & Denver, and the Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railway sys- tems, which control all of the southern outlet. More than a thousand men are employed in the offices, shops and yards. Two other railroads now reach

Wichita Falls, one is the Wichita Falls, Ranger and Ft. Worth which was built from Brecken- ridge to Dublin, financed largely by home capital, together with the Wichita Falls and Southern R. R. connects with the oil fields of central West Texas; the other, the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific, built from Waurika, Okla.

The Wichita Falls & Northwestern, built by local citizens in 1906-1911 (with mileage of about 400 miles extending from Wichita Falls across the west- ern part of Oklahoma to Forgan with a branch line from Altus, Okla., to Wellington, Texas, being oper- ated now as a part of the M. K. & T. system, but with general headquarters and shops in Wichita Falls, is a large factor in transportation facilities in this city.

In order to take care of the increased demands on

The Business Section of Wichita Falls, as Viewed from an Airplane. The County Court House is Seen in the Foreground

the railroads entering Wichita Falls many improve- ments have been made here. New construction by the Ft. Worth & Denver in brief is as follows: Two- story office building and freight house, $250,000, with foundation for ten stories; new freight yard north of city, $150,000; new coaling station, $50,000; in- creased yard facilities through city, two new tracks, $10,000; river track, $10,000; eating and rooming house for employees, $8,000; temporary freight house, $5,000; three new sidings, $21,000.

Improvements by the M. K. & T. railroad total $1,000,000. They include: New freight yards north of the city; three story freight and office building; track of heavier steel and ballasting Wichita Falls to Whitesboro; dispatcher's telephone circuit, Wich- ita Falls to Whitesboro; established general offices at Wichita Falls; four train masters, two road fore- men of engines and one master mechanic to handle business formerly handled here by one train master; three sets of dispatchers; track, Wichita Falls to Burkburnett, ballasted and improved, fourteen miles, for heavier traffic than is handled over any similar piece of track in the southwestern region; signal system, Wichita Falls to Devol, Okla .; four mile double track through Burkburnett; 55 industry tracks, 35 miles; additional yard facilities, capacity, 1,000 cars, which alone is more yard trackage than the M. K. & T. had at Wichita Falls prior to 1918.

With these greatly increased facilities in opera- tion, Wichita Falls is looking forward with optimism to the advent of new industries and factories in this district, feeling assured that they will be amply provided for in all their needs. Inquiries are invited and new enterprises welcomed.

106

NORTH TEXAS OIL INDUSTRY By WALTER D. CLINE Ex-President, Texas and Louisiana Division Mid-Continent Oil & Gas Association

W ICHITA FALLS, headquarters for all West Texas oil ope- rations, as well as for much of the work in central West Texas and southwest Okla- homa, is perhaps more pre- eminently an oil city, in the accepted sense of that term, than any other community in Texas. Yet it denies that her prosperity and growth have been dependent upon oil alone in the past, or that with the gradual passing of oil that her development will cease. Wichita Falls had many years of steady and consist- ent growth before the oil business assumed such gigantic proportions, and it is laying systematic and careful plans for maintain- ing her present proud position among southwestern cities when the time comes that oil is less of a factor than now.

At the present time the district of Wichita Falls as the center produces about one hundred thousand barrels per day and just now many pools being de- veloped that promise to materially increase these figures. There are fourteen refineries in Wichita Falls, and thirty-three in the oil district tributary to it, all depending upon the production of the Wichita oil district for their operations. Many of these refineries have their own production.

Practically all of the large companies that operate in Texas have offices in Wichita Falls, and conduct their extensive operations from this city. The Texas Company, Gulf, Magnolia, Sun, Prairie, Sinclair, Humble and others might be named in this connec- tion. In addition, there are many hundreds of

ICto BUT

CLINT

The G. Clint Wood Building, Wichita Falls. Built by the Pioneer Oil Man for Whom it was Named

smaller companies that maintain offices in Wichita Falls and make this city headquarters for their activities. Their personnel includes experienced oil men from every section of the United States, as well as many, not oil men before, who have become such

by reason of their successful and profitable opera- tions here. In fact, Wichita County oil field has been the particular paradise of the so-called "little fellow," for the biggest wells were brought in at depths of less than 1,800 feet, for which the men,

Wichita Falls, Looking Down Eighth Street from Lamar. The Building on the Left Foreground is the Kemp Ho- tel. On the Right is the City National Bank of Commerce

or group of men, with little capital might drill with little expense. This condition has resulted in very extensive development, with resultant prosperity for Wichita Falls.

Oil has already played a large part in the history of Wichita Falls. With its discovery in large quan- tities in the Electra district in 1911 new capital flowed into this city, new enterprises were organized to take care of the business and oil men began to look upon the city as headquarters. The many dis- coveries of new pools since that time in different directions from the city, at Clara, Sunshine Hill, Burkburnett, Iowa Park, Holliday, have added to the city's wealth and prestige.

The total money value of oil produced in Texas during the last quarter was $31,250,000; out of this total $3,538,507 goes to the credit of companies hav- ing their home offices in Wichita Falls. The value of the product in Wichita County of such companies as the Texas Company, Magnolia Petroleum Co., Humble Oil and Refining Co., and others, which are the largest producers in the state is not included in this amount, though all of these companies have big production in Wichita County. The proportion of successful companies having their headquarters in Wichita Falls will be much greater for the present quarter than for the last, because of many new de- velopments.

107

HISTORY AND PROGRESS OF BRECKENRIDGE

By BRECKENRIDGE S. WALKER

F ROM a hamlet of six hundred souls, without fame, without railroads, without everything, Brecken- ridge has grown within the short space of two years to a city that is known nationally and internationally as an oil class hotels, banks with de- center to a city upwards of 15,000 inhabitants served by three railroads, many first posits of more than $6,000,000 and a new post office with 1,649 lock boxes.

February 4, 1920, is a me- morable date for this city. When the Chaney No. 1 well began suddenly on this day to spout oil at a rate of 3,700 barrels per day, the news was flashed across the wires far and wide and the future of Breckenridge as a city was as- sured. The railroads now running into Breckenridge are the Cisco & Northeastern, Wichita, Ranger & Ft. Worth and the Wichita & Southern. These roads centering in Breckenridge located at the very heart of one of the great oil districts of this country, mak- ing of it a logical clearing house, oil center and meet- ing place for the transaction of business concerning this rapidly developing Eldorado. While the produc- tion does not come up to the 100,000 barrel per day mark at this time, yet the prospects are good for it to come back to this point. Lack of water for drill- ing and bad market conditions caused considerable depression in the production. Experienced oil men are convinced that the district is not one-half de- veloped and that many big producers are still looked for in the fields.

. There are now close to 2,000 derricks within three miles of the Breckenridge court house, over three- hundred of these are in the Breckenridge townsite, over seven hundred of the total number of the wells are producers while practically all of the remainder are temporarily shut down for drilling.

Up until recently it. must be admitted that the city lacked water and the streets needed paving while other numerous inconveniences that always ac- company a new oil city were present. However, the progressive citizenship of the oil metropolis rapidly took the necessary steps to remedy these conditions

and the mayor and city commissioners met February 2, 1921, to make plans for the flotation of $300,000 worth of bonds for sewerage system and $600,000 for street improvements. Also plans were made for a flotation of a $250,000 bond issue for the erection

The First National Bank of Breckenridge, one of the Strongest Banking Institutions in West Texas

of a high school and $175,000 additional for gram- mar school buildings. The wide awake merchants and business men pledged themselves to a man to put new fronts on their buildings which improve- ments are rapidly being carried out. To take care of the water situation, the Walker-Caldwell Water Company, at a cost of over a million dollars, have

BRECKENRIDGE VERAS

The Sho yuny city of n

ALHAMARA

TEXAS, ŠTUDA

OWL DRUG

A Portion of Breckenridge from the Intersection of East Walker Street and Breckenridge Avenue

108

NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

built one of the most complete and up to date water systems of Texas, supplying the city with an ade- quate supply of water brought from the Brazos River, ten miles distant. This splendid system was built and paid for in full without bonding the system for a dollar.

So it is to be seen that Breckenridge today is in its period of transition. Those who have never seen an oil boom town, those who have read of the days of '49, Cripple Creek and Goldfield and wish they had lived to witness the romantic side of that period

and those who have resided all their lives in peaceful and slowly growing cities-all such peo- ple should go to the wonder city of Breckenridge immediately if they desire real atmosphere and local color. Within another year the greater part of the town's picturesqueness will have disap- peared and in its place will be found a very live little city of modern brick buildings, paved streets and will resemble any other wide awake busy municipality of the same degree of prosperity and enthusiasm.

BRECKENRIDGE, THE OIL CITY By BRECKENRIDGE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

B RECKENRIDGE, one of the latest and most progressive oil centers of the Southwest, is al- ready a city commanding a prominent share of industries of North Texas. The industries are principally oil, refined oil products, gas, coal, fire brick clay, agriculture and cattle raising. The population is conservatively estimated at 15,000. The city has a banking deposit upwards of $6,000,000 and has one of the finest water systems in Texas, built at a cost of $1,000,000, with a splendid filtra- tion plant, a standard motorized fire equipment, paid fire department, four railroads with common point freight rates and has a sufficient number of well supported schools, churches, clubs and hotels, that would be a credit to any city of the Southwest.

The "Breckenridge oil pool" is the greatest oil producing area in the United States. Oil records

and these plants refined over 800,000 gallons of crude oil during September. Ten of the leading oil companies of the world maintain operating head- quarters here as well as 700 of the smaller com- panies whose holdings comprise from 10 to 500 acres. The monthly payroll of the oil companies operating within the "Breckenridge oil pool" is over $3,000,000.

There are thousands of acres of undeveloped land in Stephens County, which lands are located within proven and semi-proven oil territory, awaiting the coming of outside capital for development. Stephens County has just sold $2,100,000 road bonds. This sale of road bonds assures the county of an ade- quate highway system upon which construction im- mediately started. The plans as outlined include construction of the Bankhead Highway which tra- verses the county east and west and passes through

West Walker Street, Breckenridge. The Largest Building in the Background is the Stephens County Court House. The Three-Story Building in the Foreground is the First National Bank Building

and statistics bear out this statement. The "pool" comprises 34 square miles and embraces over 2,100 standing oil derricks, 1,620 of which are producers, approximately 290 in state of drilling with but ap- proximately 190 dry holes. The production for Sep- tember, 1921, was one-third as much oil as either California or Oklahoma produced and 12 per cent of all oil produced in the United States. The "Breck- enridge oil pool" produced over 2,500,000 barrels of oil during September. Within the "Breckenridge oil pool" are located 23 refineries and casing-head plants representing an investment of over $8,000,000

Breckenridge; also the highway north and south, together with lateral roads throughout the county. Federal aid has been obtained for the Bankhead Highway in the sum of $300,000.

Breckenridge is the wholesale and retail distribut- ing center of all classes of oil supplies for the entire ."pool." Forty-seven oil supply houses are located here and carry stocks that reach a total of more than $18,000,000. Breckenridge is the county seat of Stephens County, which county's assessed valua- tion has increased from $18,000,000 to $50,000,000 during the past two years; is being served by four

109

NEW ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

railroads; is the largest and only incorporated city in the county, is located geographically in the coun- ty's center and enjoys the surrounding territory's wholesale and retail business to the extent of mil- lions of dollars.

City Pumping Plant of the Walker-Caldwell Water Co.

Breckenridge has made rapid strides in the matter of public improvements. Many first class permanent buildings have been erected which give it the air of a much larger city. The streets are being rapidly improved and many of the principal streets will eventually be paved.

The general spirit of the business people of this West Texas Oil Metropolis is to make it a city of permanent prosperity. During the last two years, three railroad lines have been completed connecting Breckenridge with Ranger, Cisco and Graham, putting the city in close communication with the out-

Interior View, and the Officers and Employees of the First National Bank of Breckenridge

side world, both with the North, East and West. This has given great sesame to the mercantile busi- ness, both wholesale and retail.

The city of Breckenridge has a large surrounding territory which makes it a commercial center. The public highways are also being rapidly improved and Breckenridge is already connected with Graham, Caddo and Ranger with good automobile roads. Other roads are being improved to the oil fields and near by cities. The greatly increased population of Breckenridge during the last two years and due primarily to the oil business, has brought to the city many kindred industries and has given permanent

employment to hundreds of men in various lines of occupation.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

New encyclopedia of Texas, volume 1, Part 20

Author: Davis, Ellis A. Publication date: 1926 Publisher: Dallas, Tex. : Texas development bureau, [1926?] Number of Pages: 1416

Author: Davis, Ellis A.
Publication date: 1926
Publisher: Dallas, Tex. : Texas development bureau, [1926?]
Number of Pages: 1416