Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1902-02-07
ELECTRIC |::IL Line TO .P|ERz.
y Mass = Meeting u. That rresperess
3 . Iswa.
Nj. Williams Dlscasses the Rail-
!. z :. road Proposition.
Sentiment Favorable Towards Aid
for the Road.

The meeting at Pierz Monday
morning, called to consider the ques-
tion of getting an electric line from
Little Falls to Pierz and neignbor-
ing towns, was, notwithstanding the
inclement weather, very we'll attended
over hundred voters being present.
The meeting took place at Blake's
hall, and P. 81. Berg presided. NJ.
N: Williams and r. +. Lester were
present, and Mr.. Williams addressed
the people at length, OF which che fol
lowing is synopsis:
He explained how electric roads
when first started were only used for
light traffic, but with increased power
and electrical development they had
been adapted to heavy traffic where
desired. To build and equip an elec-
trio line so that it would pay-ca-ry-
ing freight and passengers, required
just as heavy a rail as any other
road. Weight of rails used in rail-
road work had increased IRON 81 to
60, IS. 20 and 80 pound rails. At
Little Falls the N. P. had put in 20
pound rails.
A passenger train could ran on a
grade Of z feet iD tie hundred. Sur
veys showed rhat q grade of only
abost 9 inches in a hundred feet
would have to be overcome to run to
Piers. Part of the way the public
highway could be used. A train Of
two or three cars could be stopped
within forty feet. *..s... g. ..z.. ii, =.
.Tnszs ms 81 i uou % ii tsreston ID B, d,
the Investment, and it is better to
have the road built we'll at the begin.
ming, because the cost of operation
would be cheaper afterward. Electric
roads are built for short bauls. and
rates will be lower than tho expense
OF hauling by team.
One OF the advantages Of an electric
road over a steam road is that you
can board the first almost anywhere.
It can be stopped quickly and farm.
ers could put up platforms for load
ing easily. The electric road can run
through a field without danger of
setting fire or soaring cattle or
horses.
In the East the electric roads often.
run parallel to railroads, aud have
been great factorfor progress. Here
there would be the advantage of the
cheap power at Little Falls general.
ing electricity.
The Water power company has
sold a great deal of stock to the gen.
tlemen interested in the proposed
road, and to utilize part Of the power
was one OF the objects Of building the
road.
With an electric station at Pierz
goods could be shipped in and out
same as elsewhere, power could be
furnished, aud light also, to farmers
and to people in the village.
An electric roads first cost would
b. $40, 900 to $25. 900 a mile. There
must be careful grading and track
laying, bridges. poles, wires, auxil-
iary stations, etc.
C. A. Lindbergh was quoted as hav-
ing seen in Michigan how the electrics
stopped at nearly every farm house,
putting off or taking on all sorts OF
articles, in q way no steam road
could. =" ~*
Mr.. Williams said that a number
OF people > had asked him if the,
county would give the same bonus
they voted q number of years ego
4or practically building to Elmda|e,
or the county line d few miles
south. He said he thought it would
ae only fair for it to do SO, as all
5paits OF the county were taxed for
the $4,000, for building the L.
F, & D. from Little Falls to- the
" est linesd the county, and the
eastern parteo Of he county would
have paid its proportion if the
road had been built from Little
Falls to the southwest part of the
county under the proposition OF q
few years ago. and now if the
company built from Pierz to Elm