Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1896-01-07
TUESDAY, JANUARY 9TH, 1895.
THE SOLUTION OF THE
TRANSPORTATION QUES~
TION AT HAND.

TION AT HAND.
There is no doubt whatever
that in the near future the trans
portation question will be solved
by the adoption of a better and
cheaper system of transporta-
ton than steam railways. We
may confidently say, that even
if Uncle Sam could to-day buy all
the railroads in this country for
their actual value it would not
be policy to do so. In a few
years many of our supertluous
railroads will be abandoned no
doubt. and cheaper modes Of
inter communication adopted.
Only the main trunk lines of
railroads will remain. and it will
probably be a military. as we'll
as commercial necessity, for
the government to operate and
control them, if not actually own
them.
The substitute for railroads
is the bicycle. the horseless car
riage. and the trolley car. The
bicycle will come more
and more into use. especially
when a high grade wheel can be
had for less than $50, as will soon
be the case. The manufacture
ers of bicycles require so small
d capital that it can never be
m0nopolized, or made subject to
trust processes Of extortion.
The hOrseless carriage. gas or
oil motor is already d demon
strated succcss:both for passen-
ger and freight traffic of limited
distances. With our inland nav
igation improved, and public
highways built such as you
find in every country in Europe
now. the railroad monopoly
would be busted forever. 1t is
a small matter for the state or
country. to build the necessary
leading main roads for centr;,!
traffic. Let the state Of Minnie
sofa, for Instance. put sit. 600. 600
into a proper system of high
ways. and that will be the end of
all railroad eXturtiOn.
The oil on gas motor. or even
steam Traction engine will do the
rest. AS with the bicycle 50
with this, the cost of the outfit
is 50 small that there never can
be "a monopoly OF it.
The elevated electric trolley CAR
is the third system that will play
havoc with the railroads in GER
tain lines of freight transport,-
ton. Grain for instance can be
moved for any distance by this
system cheaper by far than a
railroad. No rAaIbcd. grading
or bridges are necessary. A post
hole is all the right Of way that is
needed. The length Of the pole
adjusts the grade. A cross beam
on the top of the pole and two
iron rails Ike OF s inches cunsti
tute a double track trolley line
Cars or iron cylinders or 1(
feet in diameter and Is or &C
feet long, hangs below the tracls
suspended on rollers like d bal 4
door. The power is generated
and the whole system is operat
ed at stations along the line. II
cost less than $1,000. per mile t(
build and equip the system
There is no doubt whatever that
wheat. can be transported from
Willmar to Minneapolis for two
cent per bushel on a trolley sys
tenn. And it would only cost
100000 to build such a line. AL
that: would be necessary really
to get such a line would be tt
build it across our own county
as the other counties would NJ
doubt build their part.
I'D Thus science and the inven
tive genius of man has come. tt
the rescue Of the farmers and in
dustry generally by these recenj
Inventions for improved trans
portstion facilities. It simpli
les the whole Question. Govern