Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1903-04-16
USE
Supt. Woodcock, of Moline &
WATERFOWL Road, Gives In
teresting Facts.
CREATING FIELD OF ITS OWN
Extensive Plans Have Been Made
for Improvement of Camp
bells leland.


f. w. Woodcock, who has charge of
the Moline, East Moline d WATERFOWL
interurban road, gives to the press
some interesting data dealing with
interurbans in general and some of
the plans that his company has i'm
mind to make a popular resort of
CamPbell's island. He says:
AT the present time $1,000, 900. 600
are nominally invested in electric
roads in the United States. and upon
this sum $4,000 600 are paid in yearly
dividends. Three hundred thousand
employees receive yearly in wages
100000. There are 10000 miles
of track, on which over 10000 cars
are run. In 1899 ten miles of electric
road were built for every mile of
steam road constructed.
Have New Field.
$50 far the interurbans have open
ed up a field of development which
does not compete with and was not
open to steam roads. BY the means
of convenient location, clean, light
and airy cars and low fares. and the
with small units, they have developed
a traffic that did not previously exist
and could not have been produced by
steam roads. They are developing
beyond this field. however, and al
ready are handling the bulk of subur-
ban and short distance interurban
passenger traffic, besides carrying
freight, mail, express and baggage.
The cars are operated on a time
schedule. and in some cases exceed 90
miles per hour. The roadbeds are
often as expensive and heavy of con-
struction as those of the best steam
roads, and what is more interesting
to the investor, under proper man
agement they generally pay large div
idends.
Aids Steam Road.
~ few years ago the general man
ayers of the steam roads were very
hostile to interurban roads, but the
most far-sighted among them are
commencing to realize that the use
of electricity for transportation has
added an intensity to the develop
ment and commerce of the country.
which will naturally be reflected i'm
its prosperity and its consequent ca
pacity to contribute traffic to all
transportation lines. Some steam
railway systems have already acquir-
ed electric lines which, they are con
Quoting in their own interest. The
auxiliary lines by reason of frequent
service. lower fares and popular ac-
commodations, educate the people to
travel. They are distinctly the 'peo-
pies railway and by their ability To
stop at a customers door they create
a freight traffic not previously devel.
oped, which is of considerable inn
portance to steam roads, as they get
the long haul on such freight with
out comparatively any expense in Sc
curing it.
Boon to Farmers
THE interurban railways plans are
so comprehensive that il viii be pos
sible for those living in rural dis
tricts to enjoy the prosperity in store.
the intellectual pleasures and amuse-
ments incident to thiclkly populated
centers. With parcel freight service
and the use of the telephone, farmers
will simply telephone to the proper
party to obtain what they desire on
the next car, and can so utilize this
lost time .t1 such an advantage as wjlll
very materially increase their finanrlI
cial welfare, and enable them to dis
tribute their additional earnings to
the mutual benefit of themselves and
those engaged in mercantile pursuits.
When the farmer is prosperous it
means increased prosperity for all.
The advent of the interurban railway
with its rapid transportation facili-
ties equally benefit all classes of citi
zens. as through its use all kinds of
farm products are brought more
quickly and cheaply into market, and
general distribution becomes a COM
paratively easy matter.
Plans for CampbeII's Island.
THE interurban company has pur-
chased Campbell's island and it is the
intention to make of this island, with
its $50 acres, the most attractive sum-
mer resort in the great middle west.
1t is particularly suited for the pur-
pose. In addition to being II place of
historical interest, il is an ideal cool
spot for summer outing, possessing
all the natural advantages for COM
fort. In addition, particular pains
will be taken to provide every Access
sorry for the comfort and pleasure of
those seeking recreation. Music.
wholesome vaudeville entertainments
and other forms of amusement will
be provided. The fine electric foun-
tain with its varied colored lights,
which was built for the Charleston
exposition, will be duly installed, pro-
ducing a most brilliant effect in the
delightful summer evenings. The isl
and will be so managed that women
and children can go there at all times
with the assurance that they will be
as carefully watched over as they
would be in their own homes.
VIII Have Mile Track.
"The company also contemplates
establishing mile racing track on
the island. Special arrangements will