The encyclopedia of Texas, V.1, Part 14

Author: Davis, Ellis Arthur, ed; Grobe, Edwin H., ed
Publication date: 1922
Publisher: Dallas, Texas Development Bureau
Number of Pages: 1204

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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 the traffic problem almost unprecedented and have made an earnest effort to meet the enormous demand made by the sudden growth. Wichita Falls is the

Wirhita Mill and Elevator Company, one of the City's Big Industrial Institutions

"vision headquarters of the Ft. Worth & Denver, ari the Missouri, Kansas and Texas Railway sys- ".ms, which control all of the southern outlet. More "han a thousand men are employed in the offices, shops and yards. Two other railroads are soon to

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

BANKING HISTORY OF WICHITA FALLS By R. E. HUFF

Chairman Board of Directors, First National Bank

I NSEPARABLY linked to- gether is the develop- ment of a country and the history of its banks. Not much growth ever precedes the founding of the first bank; and the financial life of a people for every succeeding period is permanently re- corded in the ebb and rise of their banking interests. The history of banks of Wichita Falls, beginning in 1883 and extending to date, through severe panics, such as the one of 1893, through gigantic booms such as come to few sections of the country, and yet with never one bank fail- ure in all these varying extremes of financial history -tells a unique story and is a permanent monu- ment to the unsurpassable judgment and guiding ability of the business men of Wichita Falls.

The first bank organized in Wichita County was the private one of John G. James, opened for busi- ness in the latter part of 1883, and merged into the Panhandle National Bank (now the First National Bank) of Wichita Falls in May of 1884, with a capital of $500,000. In 1888, Mr. James retired from the Panhandle National and in 1890 organized the City National Bank. These two banks successfully weathered the financial panic of 1893 at a time when

The American National Bank and M. J. Bashara Building, Wichita Falls, Texas

many banks, both state and national, were forced to suspend. From that year business gradually in- creased as the country revived financially after that depression.

In 1903 the Panhandle National changed its name

to the First National Bank of Wichita Falls, with R. E. Huff as president, after 1888 and W. M. Mc- Gregor as cashier after 1894. The City National Bank in 1892 elected J. A. Kemp as president and

FIRST NATIONAL BANK WICHITA FALLS, TEXAS.

First National Bank Building of Wichita Falls, Texas later P. P. Langford became cashier.

In 1907 the Farmers State Bank & Trust Company was organized and later changed its name to the First State Bank & Trust Company and was con- solidated with the First National Bank in 1915. These banks together with the Wichita State Bank & Trust Company and the National Bank of Commerce, or- ganized later, were the only banks in the city until the discovery of oil at Burkburnett in 1918, which greatly increased all business of the northwest section. The National Bank of Commerce later consolidated with the City National Bank and the names changed to the City National Bank of Commerce. The Amer- ican National Bank, the Exchange National Bank and the Security National Bank were organized dur- ing the oil development. The two former banks went out of business in 1921, paying all depositors in full.

Something of the financial pulse during the oil de- velopment is seen in the following figures: Com- bined amounts deposited in January, 1920, about $25,000,000; February, $47,000,000; March, $69,000,- 000; April, $98,000,000; May, $114,000,000; June, $130,000,000; July, $151,000,000; August, $166,000,- 000; September, $180,000,000; November, $198,000,- 000; December, $214,000,000. On the last day of the year of 1919, deposits had totaled $215, 981.177.18; on the last day of the year of 1920, deposits had totaled $225,292,070.31. The average total per week for 1920 was about $4,000,000; this average now is about $2,000,000.

The combined deposits of all banks of Wichita Falls, June 30, 1920, were about $45,000,000.

Wichita Falls is the banking center of the north- western part of Texas and for much of Oklahoma- a territory in area equal to several states of the ordinary size.

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 eity, in the aeeepted 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. Wiehita Falls had many years of steady and consist- ent growth before the oil business assumed such gigantic proportions, and it as laying systematic and careful plans for maintain- ing her present proud position among southwestern cities when the time eomes that oil is less of a factor than now.

At the present time the district of Wichita Falls as the eenter 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 distriet 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, Sinelair, Humble and others might be named in this eonnec- tion. In addition, there are many hundreds of smaller companies that maintain offices in Wiehita Falls and make this eity headquarters for their

OFICIO BUILDING OFSWING.CLINT HOOD .

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

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, Wiehita 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, or group of men, with little capital might drill with

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 Com- merce

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 distriet in 1911 new capital flowed into this eity, 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 eity'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 suceessful companies having their headquarters in Wichita Falls will be much greatere for the present quarter than for the last, because of many new de- velopments.

In order to transport oil from the field there are

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

now completed or under construction in the Wichita district 100 miles of four, six and eight inch pipe lines. The combined capacity of these lines, when completed, is 280,000 barrels daily.

In all, there are twenty-six pipe lines either in operation in the county or under construction. This number does not include the many small gathering lines leading into the main lines at Burkburnett. With the exception of two, all of these lines have been started or completed sinee October, 1918. At that time the fields were served only by the line of the Texas Company and the Magnolia Petroleum Company. The Texas Company alone now has 390 miles of pipe line serving the fields.

Supplementing pipe lines, loading raeks have been built which have the capacity of 850 tank ears daily. In addition to these there are innumerable storage tanks in the fields, ranging in size from one thousand to fifty-five thousand barrels.

Refining has become a huge industry in Wichita Falls because of the location of the city with regard both to the fields and railroads. In addition to those

in the city itself there are many at other towns in the county. While at the present time the re- fineries in the district are not able to take care of the erude oil from the local field plans are already made for extension to such a point that crude will be shipped from other fields into the city and re- fined here. The new railroad extension being made from the Wichita Southern will pass the Range field and put the Wichita refineries in a position to secure crude oil from that district.

While refining proper is in the front rank, at the same time there are a number of large casing-head gasoline plants in operation and under construction which add to the income from the oil industry. The largest easing-head gasoline plant in the world was recently constructed and put in operation at Burk- burnett; this is the plant of Chas. F. Noble Gasoline Company. This company already has a small skim- ming plant in operation in the northwest field and is making 6,000 gallons of casing-head gasoline daily. The total capacity of the easing-head plant is 40,000 gallons daily.

HISTORY OF WICHITA FALLS By J. B. MARLOW Ex-Mayor

A S I review in my mind the wonderful growth Wichita Falls has made and try to determine the reason for that growth I am constantly reminded of the many instances when a small body of loyal men put their shoulders to the wheel and pushed the town over difficult obstacles. I am there- fore forced to acknowledge that the one thing more than any other which has been responsible for the growth of this city has been its loyal eitizens.

Until 1882 Wichita Falls was an inland settlement boasting of one general store and located in an un- organized county. During this year three eleetions were held on the county seat question. The first was in June, at which time the county was organ- ized. This was a three-cornered election between a 320 acre tract of Tarrant County school land near where Iowa Park is now, the S. B. Burnett raneh section near a settlement afterward called Ruthford,

able to establish sufficient residence. The commis- sioners court agreed after the third election that no further election should be ordered for a year, and Mr. S. B. Burnett agreed to use his influence for Wichita Falls at the fourth election. This was held in the fall of 1883, by which time Wichita Falls had a population of nearly one thousand, and easily selected herself as county seat. The fifth and last county seat election was held in about 1889 by which time the town of Iowa Park had enjoyed sufficient prosperity to become a place of considerable im- portance. Its ambitious citizens had aroused con- siderable sentiment in favor of moving the county seat to their town and accordingly the issue was sub- mitted-as a result of the activities of some Wiehita Falls citizens to an election. The question of this election was to determine the location of the county seat for the next five year period. Factional feeling

Wichita Falls in 1919, Before the Present Big Buildings were Erected. The Old Kemp and Kell Building is the Five Story Structure in the Center of the Picture

now known as Burk Station, about 16 miles west on the Denver and Wichita Falls. In this election there was a total of about ten votes east for Wichita Falls and that was enough to keep a choice from being made. The second election was held about August, 1882, which also resulted in no choice being made. At the third eleetion in November, 1882, Ruthford received half of the votes poled and the Tarrant County School Land and Wichita Falls divided the remaining about equally with about five votes apiece, and again no choice was made. Wichita Falls would have decidedly won the third election if the few additional people who came as a result of the arrival of the railroad, following the August election, had been eligible to vote, but these new comers were not

became very bitter and the enthusiastic supporters of Iowa Park instituted enjoining proceedings against the election offieers. Mr. W. W. Flood was the leading spirit in these actions and the supporter of the elaims of Iowa Park. Wichita Falls was rep- resented by Judge R. E. Huff who was so determined in his opinion that they could not rightfully enjoin the people from holding the election that he was made presiding officer at the poles and the election was held. The only voting place was conducted in Wichita Falls which compelled the Iowa Park sup- porters to come here to vote. This may have been partly the reason for Wichita Falls winning the election by a very decided majority. By the time the five-year period was up Iowa Park had suffered

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

severe losses-especially during the panic of 1893- ," i was so crippled that she didn't care to continue the contest.

In about 1885 the Ft. Worth and Denver was ex- :ended to Harold, about 13 miles to the west, and for + me time it looked as though that town was going ., put Wichita Falls into complete insignificance ay its rapid development. However Harold's growth was not permanent and we soon left her in the dis-

Wichita Falls as it Looked Two Score Years Ago

lance. Passenger and freight traffic didn't amount to much in those days and in fact the town gave very little evidence of ever coming to life. Wichita Falls was then having a hard time trying to keep up with Henrietta and Archer City, both in a busi- tess way and in point of population.

In the spring of 1886 a sod breaking boom struck this territory and many hundreds of acres of grass land were broken and planted to grain crops, but we were doomed to disappointment for no rain of any consequence fell until October of 1887, and of course this was too late for our 1886 crops. For shout eighteen months we went through by far the worst drouth that I have experienced. The good people of East Texas helped us out with a few car loads of provisions which were certainly very much Appreciated.

The years of 1888-9-90 and 1891 were all excep- tionally good crop years and this put Wichita Falls back on her feet. The town commenced to show «vidences of prosperity and growth. About this time some prominent citizens of Henrietta became inter- rated in the building of a railroad from their city : Seymour through Archer City. Our own citizens realized the importance of having this trade terri- try connected with Wichita Falls and the loss which we would sustain if Henrietta beat us. Consequently in'about 1890 the Valley was built from here to Sey- mour as a result of the efforts and money raised by a few of our citizens, and this gave Wichita Falls :hr lead in railroad connections to that territory. The next railroad connection to be established was .n 1x95 when the M. K. & T. was extended to Hen- ritta. These railroad facilities gave us the ad- vantage over our neighbors and we then acquired ihr distinction of being the railroad center of West Texas, which position we have since maintained.

For about ten years, or up to 1900, there was com- faratively little growth. We remained a town of .me 2,800 to 3,000 but we had enough loyal citizens who had vision and determination and who fortu- Fairly had prospered, to keep the town moving for- ward. These men realized the importance of an Li quate water supply if the town was to maintain a substantial growth. But as is always the case sth towns Wichita Falls had no money with which :. procure such a thing. The start was made, how- «wr, in 1900 by the city selling its public school to

the district for a consideration of $18,500. This money was then paid the water company for certain fire protection guarantees and other rights and privi- leges. Then as a result of the combined financial ef- forts of the water company and certain of our citi- zens the dam was constructed across Holliday Creek forming Lake Wichita and giving the city sufficient water for domestic, fire and industrial use. At the time of its construction this was the largest arti- ficial lake in the state and we were all very proud of the achievement. The size of the lake, covering over three thousand acres, promised then to provide ample water for all time and under the worst condi- tions of drouth and only once was there an indication of failure. Of course when this is linked up with the big irrigation system there will be an abundance of water to take care of any future growth or demand dreamed of even by the most optimistic. The present purchase of the water system by the city with the eight hundred thousand dollars bond issue just voted now places the city water supply in the hands of the citizens themselves and insures the city against any future water famine.

The location of the lake was favorable for irriga- tion that lake lying in the bottom between Holliday Creek and Wichita River and a few men with confi- dence in the results were instrumental in placing sev- eral hundred acres of this rich land under the ditch. There is no doubt but what this comparatively small irrigation system had very marked influence on the determination to secure the great project we are about to realize. What irrigation will do in this territory can be seen by the records which have al- ready been made, but the ultimate benefits to Wichita Falls cannot be estimated until we see the thousands of acres in ten and twenty acre blocks with a family on each block and the land giving up its wealth under intensive culture. It has already been demon- strated that this land under irrigation will produce crops valued up to $200 per acre per year. The good which Wichita Falls will derive from this enormous project will be the result of the foresight of a few men about twenty years ago.

As just one of the many examples of what irriga- tion has done in our community I want to mention

Wichita County Court House, One of the Finest Public Buildings in Northwest Texas

one case with which I am perfectly familiar. Several years ago Mr. P. A. Berry purchased five acres under the ditch. Prior to 1917 he had very successfully and profitably grown various truck crops and in that year had expected to beat his previous records but he was unable to get the water and consequently lost his year's efforts. Fearing a recurrence of water

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF TEXAS

tamine he decided to sell but was unable to find a buyer. Fortunately since then there had been an abundance of water and he has made good crops and has refused as high as $10,000 for his five acres. From his crops he has paid off a $1,500 indebtedness, has added over $700 worth of building improvements and purchased an automobile. During 1919 his re- ceipts were as follows: From strawberries and plants, $1,500; from peppers, roasting ears, grapes and onions, $1,100. This is quite remarkable for Mr. Berry is 72 years old and Mrs. Berry 67, and they do all of the work themselves.

From 1900 to 1910 the town made a rapid and sub- stantial growth. Its importance as a shipping point and distributing center steadily increased and was used successfully as an argument for attracting new industries. During this period our loyal men again answered the call of duty and 1903-04 extended the Valley Railroad to Petrol'a in time to head off a connecting branch from Henrietta to that place, thus giving to this city the trade benefits of that rich agricultural territory which soon after also de- veloped into an important oil and gas producing district. Closely following this, two other important rail connections were established. In 1907 the Northwestern was extended to Forgan, Oklahoma, tapping a rich wheat belt, and in 1908 the Southern was built into New Castle giving us a direct connec- tion with the coal fields. This line into Oklahoma would probably have been built sooner had it not been for the fact that the government was withholding 480,000 acres of land from settlement just across Red River. As soon as this land was opened, which was 1907, and the Northwestern line built we com- menced to realize trade benefits.

The discovery of gas at Petrolia, the shipping facilities of Wichita Falls and the promise it gave of continued development, together with a certain amount of right kind of persuasion, was responsible for securing the Ball Brothers fruit jar factory and subsequently the window glass factory. These indus- tries contributed greatly to the stability of the town and marked really the first step whch Wichita Falls took toward prominence as an industrial center.

During this period we were gradually forging ahead of our neighbors as a grain center. Each new railroad connection put us in contact with new grain territory and our men who were interested in that line of business took advantage of the opportunity to make this a real grain center. The magnificent new mill and elevator we now point to with so much pride is the realization of an idea conceived many years ago.

By 1910 we had attained a population of 8,200, a street car line in town and to the lake. The build- ing of residence and business buildings was progress- ing steadily and the place was enjoying a general prosperity. People were hopeful, and had faith in the future. From 1910 to 1918, the year of the dis- covery of Fowler well, progress was considerably more rapid than during the ten years previous, and during this time we more than doubled our popula- tion. By 1918 we figured ourselves about eighteen thousand strong and there was no evidence of a boom in the growth we had been making. It was a sound and substantial growth built upon firm foundations which had been laid by the men of vision and faith many years before. Even some of our largest build- ings of today were contemplated before the big oil rush came.

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The encyclopedia of Texas, V.1, Part 14

Author: Davis, Ellis Arthur, ed; Grobe, Edwin H., ed Publication date: 1922 Publisher: Dallas, Texas Development Bureau Number of Pages: 1204

Author: Davis, Ellis Arthur, ed; Grobe, Edwin H., ed
Publication date: 1922
Publisher: Dallas, Texas Development Bureau
Number of Pages: 1204