Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1892-01-28
LOCAL RAPID TRANSIT.
An Open Field for the Investment
of Capital.
MEN WHO WILL BUILD A STREET
RAILWAY FROM FREELAND TO
UPPER LEHIGH AND JEDDO CAN
REAP A RICH HARVEST.

In many portions of the State where
two or more towns are located in close
proximity capitalists are giving the
question of electric street railways much
attention. The vicinity of Wilkes-Barre
is covered with perfect network OF
electric roads, connecting all the subur-
ban places with the city proper. Work
is progressing rapidly upon the line
running through Ashland, Girardvile,
Shenandoah and Mahanoy City. In the
spring road will be built joining Tama-
qua, Coal Dale, Lansford and Summit
Hill. Upper, East and Old Mauch
Chunk has good prospects of seeing
electric cars before another year, and il
is more than probable that Lehighton,
Weissport and Packerton will soon be
connected in the same manner. A
charter has been granted to company
to run through Hazleton and West
Hazeton, but it is doubtful if anything
will be accomplished in the new city for
many years.
The other towns mentioned above,
however, seem to be in earnest in the
matter, and if it has any chance of sue
cess in some of them it should be most
profitable investment for our local capi-
talsts to try something similar here. A
road commencing at Upper Lehigh and
ending at Jeddo, taking in South Heber-
ton, Freeland and Drifton, would be one
of the best paying concerns in the State.
1t is not probable that there would be
any difficulty in obtaining the right of
way through these towns, and the trade
that an electric line could command
would make it profitable from the start.
The traffic to and from Freeland in the
direction of Upper Lehigh and Drifton
is surprisingly large, and it is certain
there would be very few pedestrians
between these points if moderate fares
were charged
1t is not possible to state what amount
would be necessary to equip street rail-
way of the kind proposed, but there is
no doubt that the money can be procur-
ed if the work is placed in the hands of
energetic men. From investigations in
places where railways are in working
operation it is learned that the running
expenses of the road after it is once
started are comparatively small. If the
matter is taken up at once the company
could obtain control of the electric light
plant, which is for sale, and by locating
the plants for light and transportation in
the same building would be enabled to
furnish the former to the town at figure
much lower than was charged by the
present light company.
The TRIBUNE is not advocating the
building of street railway for the sake
of making noise or turning the public's
attention towards impracticable improve
ments. 1t believes that a company
organized for the purpose would receive
the support, financial and otherwise, of
this community and if few good reli-
able men of town would take the pre-
liminary steps in the matter they would
be given all the assistance necessary to
carry the project out successfully. The
opportunity will not always be so advan-
tageous to local parties as now, for a
promising field like this for capital will
come under the eye of some one before
long. A home company is generally
more favorally received than one Or
ganized by strangers, and for that reason
the TRIBUNE would prefer to see the
merchants here interest themselves in
the movement.
1t is of special importance to the bust
ness people of Freeland to see that they
control the trade of surrounding towns,
and to do this they should offer every
inducement within their means. By
making travel to town as rapid, pleasant
and entieing as possible merchants will
be offering an inducement that is certain
to bring their friends and customers here
more frequently than if the same people
had to trudge through snow and mud, as
is usually the case at present. BY in
teresting themselves in street railway
the business men will not only benefit
themselves directly from their invest
ment, but they will also be in position
toobtain the trade OF the outlying suburbs
that now goes to the unlawful company
stores in those places. That, in itself, is
subject which has often been discus
sed, and rapid transit can be relied upon
to deal more eff, ctually with the ques-
tion than any other method.