Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1893-01-05
TROLLEYS FOR FARMS
INTERESTING POSSIBILITIES
OF ELECTRICITY.
Every Fal nsr VIII Htvs Now Force
to DO His Work-Suburban De-
velopmants VIII BE Hast
eneh-NO Horses.

which was 50 prevalent few months
ago appears to have largely died out
, without having accom- lished much.
There are few electric railways in
the suburban territory around the
city, as in Camden. Chester Yves
Chester and some other places but
little advantage has been taken OF
the opportunities for paying traffic
afforded by the we'll populated towns
lying close together in all directions.
The West is far ahead of the East
in this matter and having made u
liberal use OF the electric current for
affording rapid transit in many grow
ing cities and towns. is now prepar.
ing to extend its application to the
more distinctively rural regions.
From Illinois it is announced that
plans have been perfected for an OK
perimental trolley plant in the rich
prairie farming country where cleo.
triclty will be used not only for sup
plying cheap passenger transpOrta-
ton but for performing farm work
as well. This opens endless posi-
bllities for the trolley system and
the Success of the experiment will be
watched with much interest
The improvement OF the country
roads around Philadelphia in the past
few years and the cheapness of coal
here would seem to make it possible
70 use electricity in ways that
were not dreamed OF few years ago.
The advocates Of the new plan say
that in a good farming country where
there is Il creditable amount TO be
hauled to the city it is entirely
plausible TO establish a central power.
house and from this to generate
electricity for II number Of uses.
The wires could be run along the
main road if the powerhOuse is
situated on one. and from this
branches extend in as many directions
as the business would warrant
Aside from the carrying OF paSsen-
gers. which would be conducted in
the same way as now tho electric
railway connecting with some steam
railroad, the electric current could
be used in II variety OF other ways.
With traction wagons, such as are
cOmmoucr in the West than here. all
tho hauling OF the ncighborhood
could be done 1t would REQUIRE no
change in the construction Of the
farm wagons for they could be loaded
as now, and picked up along the road
by the traction wagon. The only
limit to tho number of wagons that
might be taken in one train would be
the power and strength of the haul.
ing machinery. All the farmer would
have to do would be to have his load
mado up in the morning and thea
stay at home and attend to his work
while his wagon was taken TO town in
the ectricHl ira n and the contents
disposed OF there by an agent There
would be no limit TO the load which
he could ship at one time except the
cap city OF his wagon Most of his
horOeS could be dispensed with, and
shipments could be made more quick.
ly and in greater quantities than now.
The use Of tho power from the troll.
ley wire need not be limited TO trac.
ton on the road however The wire
could be tapped for every arm an d
the power used for general farm pur-
poses. The moving machine could
be drawn by electricity instead of
horses. The threshing could be done
without the use OF travelling steam
engine with no expense for fuel and
attendants Even butter could be
churned by electricity and the drudg-
cry of farm work generally reduced.
Carrying the idea still further it IS
even suggested that the country
roads could be lighted with electricity
and electric lights introduced into
the fam house, Illuminating it
brightly and making it more cheerful.
From the staudpO MT of the subur-
ban resident every railroad station of
any importance would be connected
by trolley railways with the country
ly NJ about it and in this way the
area Of territory available for subur.
ban residences would be- greatly on
largeL Small manufacturing estab-
lishments as we'll as the farmers.
could have the freight carried to
and from the stations saving the
teamiug which now often eats much
Of the profits
Electricians look forward TO these
developments as the natural growth
OF few years, Philadelphia with
its great suburban population and
r.ch farming country all about it,
would seem to be peculiarly local ty
where such ideas could be put into
profitable practice. Unfortunately
however it cannot be said that at
present there is any perceptible pro
gress toward their naturalization.