Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-01-24
Serving Big Population.

Serving Big Population.
1t is believed by electric railway eN-
perts that the y. +. q {. line will
make record If the highest earnings
per ear mile of any interurban pro-
perty in the United States. No attempt
has been made as yet to handle the
cOmmuter patronage. The thousands
of people who reside west of Chicago,
and who are now travelling back and
forth from their homes TO their place
of business every day over the steam
railroads. Will invariably use the y. +.
4 {. as soon as the road * in posi-
tiun To handle the immense traffic.
The reasons are simple. During the
busy hours they can get fifteen min
ute service. and during the day more
frequent service than they can get by
the steam roads. In addition to this.
the ~. + u {. can carry passengers
at Il lower rate than it is possible for
any steam road. With thevppening of
the branch from Elgin to Wheaton,
which is now practically complete ed
and will be put in operation within
the next thirty or forty-five days.
twenty new cars will be added to the
present equipment. These cars are
now about ready for delivery.
The company will now go after the
commuter business and offer terms to
suburbanites which Will result in OBJ
tanning practically all of this class of
business, which is very profitable 10
an interurban railway. With the open
ing of the spring will come the eN-
cursion business. and il is to the west
of Chicago that her tremendous pop
ulation must turn for recreation. The
Fox river valley. tTaverSed by the FL
gin. aurora & Southern. which is the
north -and-south line connecting Au-
rora and EIgin. corresponds to our
AIillcreek Valley. and is an ideal coun-
| try for excursions.
1t Is for these reasons. having the
population Of the second largest city
in the United States to draw from.
that il is believed and freely predicted
that the ~. + & {. Will have the big
gest earnings proportionately of amy
electric railway in the United States.
Buy \. +. s C. Preferred.
The most conservative banker could
not truthfully state that there j. any
imitation in y, L. 4 {. preferred stock.
The proceeds from the sale of this
preferred stock all went into the pro-
pertv. An investment in A.. L. d {.
preferred. therefore. carries with II
the satisfaction of knowing that there
is no water i'm the stock. There can
be no doubt a. to the great future of
the road. and the assured success and
ultimately higher prices for the pre-
feTred stock. have repeatedly stat
ed that A.. T.. 4 c. preferred will sell
on Il ) per cent basis. or $l20 per
share. II will not go to that figure at
once. but to the patient holder il II
only question of comparatively
short space of time when he will be
able 20 realize that my prediction *
true. Any one can buy it around the
present level and rest assured that
price will at least not go below eN-
listing quotations. On the other hand,
confidently believe that a little re-
neNed activity in this stock. which is
now in evidence. will force prices to Il
higher level, let us say in the neigh
borhood of par.
Six Per CentCumuIatIve Dividends.
II should be remembered that Au-
rora. EIgin & Chicago preferred is a
cumulative per cent DIVIDEND pay
er. The first semi-annual dividend of
3 per cent was declared on Dec 10.
and checks were mailed TO preferred
Stockholders on Jan. =.
No doubt can exist as to the great
earning capacity of the company.
From the investors standpoint. how
ever, it is reassuring to hold secUri-
" like A. r. & c. preferred. which has
n stipulated rate of income, and not
ONLY that. but dividend payments aref
4 fixed charge upon the companys
earnings.
CLAUDE ASHBR0Ok.