The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-07-21
WANTS THE INTERURBAN.
Dr.. Wilson Tells of Eastern Electric
Lines

Lines.
DR.. Wilson. the well known dentist,
who lived here for several years until
Indianapolis has returned to make his
home in the first city of Kansas again.
He has moved into his beautiful resi-
dence on South Topeka avenue and was
the picture of contentment last evening
as reporter for the Eagle took a snap
shot al him while in the act of irrigating
hs premises with a lawn hose.
DR.. Wilson feels mighty good over the
proposition OF Wichita getting an inter-
urban railway as it was the systems Of
interurbans that center at Indianapolis
that attracted him 10 that town so long
after the fever TO come back home TO
Kansas had seized him
The greatest progress of the nine
tenth century, said DR.. Wilson, re-
ferring TO interurban railways. six
systems now running into Indianapolis
and five more building. The HoCsier
capital is now the greatest interurbar.
railroad center in the world as it was
the greatest steam railroad center TWEEN
ty-odd years ago. The old town is her
self again and the building of interur-
bans made her so.
They not only have made Indianapolis
but they have made the entire state. II
those who left the Hoosier state twenty
years ago were To return now they would
hardly be able to recognize the places of
their birth. Every little town thought to
be dead beyond resurrection is alive
to and through these little places every
hour and gives them life and animation
Every village seems to be ten times more
busy if not more lively than it was be-
fore the interurban roads were built
Both Indianapolis and the rural
towns were prejudiced against interurban
roads when they were first proposed, but
three months service changed the most
stpbborn opinions. Now everybody is
for them and can hardly understand how
it was possible TO have gotten along
without them so long. indianapolis alone
paid more than half a million dollars for
terminal accommodations for interurban
lines
The interurban is in America not only
to stay" said DR.. Wilson. but TO do
to solve rates. Indiana is doing its in
ter-community traffic now at saving OF
twO-thirds of the old rates. a saving Of
millions of dollars Probably more than
the cost of the roads has been saved
annually TO the people who are accom-
modated by them. They are doing all
the local freight and passenger business
of the state.
Contrary to public opinion and public
prejudice. the interurban system is OF
comparatively bigger advantage 10 the
small towns than to the larger cities.
1t is boon to the country merchants.
Instead of having TO carry large stocks
of goods, they can now get along with
smaller stocks and smaller capital. for
now, in Indiana. they are able to secure
the goods from wholesale centers within
an hours notice. The farmer comes into
the station and if he cannot find there
what ne wants the merchant telephones
his wholesale house 10 send it down on
the next car; and usually within an hour
the farmer has it through his local mer-
ehaat. II he wants TO he can go in for
Il himself. but his fare and time lost
would be much more than the profits OF
the local merchant"
DR. Wilson is fun OF enthusiasm over
the new road to the southeast and thinks
II viii be a, blessing TO the people OF
the Arkansas valley He believes that /
after the first line Is built lines VIII
come from other directions and that the
later roads viii be glad 10 come without
any subsidies from either the towns OF /
-
always has to be helped. That was the
case In Indianapolis. DR.. Wilson looks
20 see roads running between Wichita /
and Huptchinson. Sterling. Lyons. Nc 4
Pherson. Newton and intermediate points 4
within FIVE years. as well as a system 4
connecting Kingmsn. Pratt Harper. An
thony and other southwestern points /
within seven years. IN fact" he SAYS.
you cannot begin TO estimate The posi- 4
billy az interurba1 railway building n 4
this country when Il Il once started
The reports received b. General Man 4
ager Q. 4. Boyle from the country are i
very iattering- In Salem township tn 4
people are expressing themselves and. Il 4
Is said. they are almost unaziuously IN 4
faver q the proposition which viii b 4
submitted 70 them b. the intsruTban 4
company
n the city Of Wichita TIRE petitions are
being signed I'd slowly OF account % re +
hot vezthe-- There is no opposition bat 4
people are hard % hna these Rot days
The company would Ike 70 have TIE
business f. TIE city wound Up a. soon az
possible 80 tier can beziu ~ork IN the
ocuntrT- which th~y wopi2 ike 70 have
II full BIAS; By next Eeek