The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1893-03-10
Electricity in the Country.

Ah~ iOiioWlilS CultOIldl from tne
Philadelphia Press of last Sunday,
hits the nail on the head, and it is
worthy of careful perusal Just now
it is especially commended to the
Town Council of Bloomsburg. Appll.
cations have been and are likely to
be made to it, for valuable franchises,
and before action is taken measures
should be decided upon, by which the
municipality will be not only protect
ed, but amply compensated. No hasty
action should be taken. The Press
says:
EVERY one who keeps up with the
news of the day must be aware of the
great number Of projects now on foot
TOR the extension of electric railways
into the country. The newspapers
are frequently compelled to chronicle
the formation of new companies and
the Legislatures in some States are
burdened with applications for chart
ers. Only few days ago a charter
was issued at Harrisburg for the long
est electric railway in the State. 1t is
to run from Scranton to Northumber-
land, traversing five counties and hav.
ing length of nearly 100 miles. Ohio
has several such projects on foot, and
capitalists are eagerly seeking the in
vestments encouraged by the success
which has attended those already
built.
1t is in New England, however, that
The greatest expansiot in this direction
is seen. Lines radiating from all the
large cities and the suburban towns
are proposed. One is intended to
connect Boston with Concord, N. H.,
by running through the Merimac Val
ley and taking in the intervening
towns. 1t will probably be extended
to the White Mountains. The groups
OF villages in the central and western
part OF Massachusetts are also plan
ming electric circuits that will connect
a number of towns and communities.
!he Connecticut Legislature is so be-
sieged with applications for charters
that 1t has been compelled to appoint
special committee on the subject.
Vermont and New Hampshire are
likewise the home of many similar
schemes to supply rural neighborhoods
with electric railways.
There is much to be said in favor
OF this rapid extension of traction by
electricity. 1t opens up means of
communication between nearby pla-
ces long desired. The steam rail-
road is too expensive for such purposes
there not being enough traffic and
freight to pay for the building and
operation. But an electric road can
be built cheaply and operated econom-
ically. 1t offers cheap and quick
transit and by penetrating neighbor-
hoods that have known nothing but
the stage coach or the farmers wagon
relieves that monotony and isolation
that are among the chief objections to
rural life. AS it is the intention to
run light freight cars on many of these
roads for Carrying farm produce to
market they will become a direct aid
to production and will increase the
value of every acre of land in the
nelghborhood they drain.
All this and much in addition can
be said in favor of the extension of
electric roads in the country. But
there is another side a so. There is
a probability that many communities
IN their eagerness to obtain rapid tran
sit In this way may give away valuable
privileges which they will regret when
too late. This side of the case is we'll
presented in the annual report of the
New Hampshire Railroad Commits
sioners. After stating that steam rail.
roads are compelled to buy then
right OF way, construct bridges, road,
bed and fences, the report proceeds to
ask II there is any reason why electric
railroads should not do the same
They propose to do exactly the same
kind of business, carry passenger:
and freight, and why, the Commis
sioners inquire, should the electrics
"be given exclusive and very valuable
rights and privileges in the Highways
to the discomfort and damage of the
public !"
This is question which every com
munity and every Legislature shoult
ask itself before it gives away prlvile
ges that it will be difficult or impos
sible to recover. The country cal