Omaha daily bee., 1889-10-20
BENEFITS OF RAPID TRANSIT.

BENEFITS OF RAPID TRANSIT.
Tho marvellous development of Oma-
has street railway service, the substi-
tuition of cable ana electricity for horse
power, and the convenience afforded
suburban residents by frequent fast
trains, is certain to bring about a radi-
cal change for the better in the busi-
ness growth of the city. During the
era of horse power, with its suail pace,
inconvenient and sitting cars, business
was forced out from its natural center
over n dozen thoroug ghfares. Grocery
and drug stores, butcher shops and
others, crowded into residence districts,
to cater to the local trade which
was unable to reach the business section
through lack of accommodation. Many
of the finest residence quarters of the
city were thus despoiled and costly
homes injured by having stores over
shadowing their yards. North Six
teenth and West Leavenworth streets
and Park avenue furnish conspicuous
samples of the species OF business van
dalism fostcred by an inadequate sys-
WIN VI SOi CSU~Nul SCiNllC'
are not censurable for this state OF af-
fairs. Tho opportunities for successful
business were too great to be over
looked, aud they were perfectly jlsti
fled in crowding on streets that prom
ised to be permanently dominated by
horse cars.
Every business man knows that the
l. . 6 Al,
city the better. Even if rents are
higher the receipts are in proportion.
He caters to general instead of local
trade, his credits are less and cash Gus
toners correspondingly larger. There
he has opportunities for enlarging his
business and attracting new patrons
which would be impossible at u dis
tance. For these reasons the cnterpris-
ing and most successful merchants are
always to be found at the center of
trade. 1t is the law of gravitation as
sorting itself in business.
The effect of rapid transit on
outside business is already making itself
felt. Housekeepers and shoppe RS
take advantage of the improved facili-
ties to do their trading down town
where larger and more diversified
stocks afford variety to select from
which cannot be had nearer home.
They are attracted to the business cen
ter as naturally as the smaller towns of
the state are attracted to Omaha, be-
states commerce. This change will go
on until business overhows and follows
| the main avenues. But for the time
beng the small and distant shopkeeper
must be content with the crumbs of
trade while the cream of business here
tofore enjoyed by him will be whirled
away to a common center.
This change will have a tendency to
| make the center of the city more COM
| pact and inviting. 1t will encourage
| the demolition of the disgraccful rook-
cries on leading streets and the erection
of attractive store buildings. Such a
contamination is devoutly to be wished
| Rapid transit will put an end to the
| building of stores in residence districts,
| because they will not be profitable, and
| it will be guarantee that the man who
builds home on prominent street
will not be afflicted with the odors of
decaying vegetables or the smells of a
butcher shop waited into his parlors at
| all hours.
Every movement which tends to con-
centrate business into compact whole
deserves encouragement. 1t is better
for the storekeepers, better for the
patrons, and makes more lasting i'm
| preston on visitors. And rapid transit
will contribute largely to that desirable
end