The Colfax chronicle., 1901-01-05
BENEFIT TO FARMERS.
Save Much of Present Cost Of
transportation.

The construction of trolley lines in
the suburbs of large cities and villages
seems to be an additional benefit to
farmers living near the routes, aside
from the mere facility afforded them
for personal transportation. Some of
the large systems of electric roads in
various parts of the country are now
experimenting with the handling of
light freight and produce, such as milk,
fruits and vegetables for the agricul-
turist, and the success so far attained
seems to solve the question of enabling
the farmer to reach the best markets
at moderate cost for freight.
| Farmers and others interested. in
cities and villages, in the subject of
cheap food supplies. should see to it
that all the trolley lines chartered in
the future should include in their char
ter the right to carry freight as well
~ passengers. Railway Transports
ton which shall pass the doors Of hum
dreds OF farmers ON the way to large
markets 10 at once benefit to every
farmer and gardener as well as to the
consumer at non-producing points.
Many trolley lines could occupy the
early hours of morning, before passen-
ger traffic commences, in carrying
light freight for farmers on the route.
The same might be accomplished dur
ing the night, especially in hot wealth
er, when the depreciation in perishable
freight would be less in the hotter
hours of daylight.
In many of our city markets, scores
and even hundreds Of farmers' and sar-
deners' wagons may be seen trundIinR
along through the streets to reach onr
principal markets during the night. to
be ready for the morning trade Of
grocers and peddlers. If such freiRht
can be brought in over trolley lines
IT would save much of the present en-
pense OF transportation by team.
Our attention has been recently
called to syndicate in Washington.
p. c.. which has come into control of
the majority of the electric lines, Civ
ing the people Of the Capital city i'm
proved service. It is now extending its
system into adjacent Maryland towns,
and in this connection is dealing with
the freight question. Farmers can now
bring their produce, vegetables, milk,
eggs and the like, into Washington at
minimum cost, and at the same time
offer their goods in condition which
viii bring them the highest prices.
The effect of this method is already
shown by the increased business of this
class which the Washington Traction
company is now receiving.
With the transportation problem
satisfactorily solved in this manner,
real estate in the country will advance !
in price; the farmer will receive more
money for the same goods which he
has heretofore been compelled to bring
IN some TO- Is or 90 miles by horse and |
wagon, while rural settlements will
become more thickly populated, with
q better satisfied and more contented |
population.
Should this system of catering to the
patronage Of the farmer meet with as |
much success in Washington during
the winter as it has already in the |
short time it has been in operation, the
trolley officials are authority for the
statement that their lines will be ex-
tended even further into the country. |
and in time to come that the suburbs
viii be thickly interlaced with cleo
tric roads.
TO greater or less extent this same
programme is feasible for other cities
and other localities, and it behooves
farmers and those in their inter-
est to seek such legislation a /
VIII facilitate the trolley lines
N doing freighting business
and ahording increased facilities to
rural populations, both in light freight
and passenger traffic. Nothing win |
prove . greater stimulus to values Of
rural property than improved methods
OF communication, especially the IA
cility for getting farm and garden
products into the market with dispatch