Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1893-01-05
TROLLEYS FOR FARMS
INTERESTING POSSIBILITIES
OF ELECTRICITY.
Every F.N nsr wiz HIvs Now Force
to DO His Work-Suburban De-
velopmcnts viii BE Hast
eued-So Horses.

The rage for forming electric rail-
way companies in the country dis
tricts surrounding philadelphia
which was so prevalent few months
ago appears to have largely died out
without having accomplished much.
There are few electric railways in
the suburban territory around the
city, as in Camden. Chester West
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 ex-
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 p possible
20 use electricity in ways that
were not dreamed Of Il few years ago.
The advocates Of the new plan say
that in a good farming country whe
there is Il creditable amount 10 be
hauled to the city it is entirely
plausible TO establish a central power.
house. and from this to generate
electricity for a number of uses.
The wires could be run along the
main road. ii the powerhouse is
situated on one. and from this
branches extend in us 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
commoner in the West than here all
tho hauling OF the ncighborhood
could be done. IL would REQUIRE no
change in the construction Of tho
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
made up in the morning md then
stay at home and attend to his work
while his wagon was taken to town in
the Q ectrical tran 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.
ICY "llC uCCu tOJ UC IillllCu 10 tfdC-
ton on the road however The wire
could be tapped for every arm and
the power used for general farm pur-
poses. The moving machine could
be drawn by electricity instead of
horses. The threshiug could be done
without tho 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 standpo 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 DO greatly en-
largeL Small manufacturing estaD-
lishments rs well as the farmers,
could have the freight carried to
and from tho stations saving the
teamiug which now often eats much
of the profits.
Electricians look forward TO these
developments as the natural growth
of Il 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 perceptibIe pro
gress toward their NATURALIZATION.