Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-12-28
FARMER on lMrERURBAns.

FARMER on lMTERURBANS.
Farmers along the lines of proposes
interurhan railways in Iowa will be
interested in the communication of al
Gazette. wherein he sets forth tht
benefits directly attributable to himseli
from the line of the Rockford, Beloit &
GAINESVILLE fnterurhan, which touches
his farm. 1t will be noticed that among
the benefits derived is an estimated
advance in farm values CT $50 per acre
which in at least one instance has
erystai,ized into the hard cash. Tbs
writer. Mr.. A. ]. Lovejoy, Of Roscoe
postofiiee, says:
Il have been asked several times
how | liked the electric cars running
about the side Of my farm and did
consider them bsnefit or damage.
wish to say that no man who owns a
farm and lives on it can realize the
great advantage 1t is to have an inter-
urban electric road running along his
farm every hour. 1t Is without doubt
the greatest bsnefit he has ever known
and practically places the farmer right
in town. SO Wen satisfied was l when
the matter was first talked of regard
ing the Rockford, Beloit & GAINESVILLE
intsrurhan road. that when was APP
preached for the right of-way along
my farm, which would take a strip OF
eec "a ,.yx- t,rra ~
wide and the length of my farm, that
said at once they could have the land
for nothing and would then be wei,
paid. Yet l never realized until the
noad was built and the cars running
what benefit II would be to me as a
farmer With my telephone and morn
ing mail delivered l am better situated
than II l lived in town, having about
all the benefits of the city and none OF
its disadvantages,
IF one wishes TO attend lecture in
Rockford or Beloit, or &c to the opera
house or to church, he Is but twenty to
thirty minutes from the city. II one
has sickness. a telephone message to
Rockford brings physician on the
next car. Or a need from shop or store,
q telephone message and the next. car
brings you what you order. Yes. sir:
the electric road is necessity and a
check for $4,000 would be no tempta-
ton to have it taken away.
ITO my farm 1t is worth $50 per acre
benefit, and one farm on this line has
sold for $50 per acre more than the
man asked for 1t before the road was
built. This is my opinion of the inter
urban railway"
Mr.. Lovejoy's opinion appears to be
the general opinion OF neighborhoods
touched by interurban lines. The troll
ley lines are not experimental, but are
assured benefits to rural and urban
residents anke. Interurbans are new
in Iowa, but lin 1902 every established
line paid profit to the company that
owned 1t and that is the best evidence
OF its convenience to rural dwellers.
People do not patronize inconveni-
ences.
The Des Moines Interurban Railway
Company reports the gross earnings as
$26,S95. operating expenses $14,S39, and
the net earnings s12,057. The Water
100 & Cedar Falls Rapid Transit Com
pany reports net earnings of about
$4,000. which represents 10 per cent
interest on the actual valuation of
S400, 900. The Boone Suburban Railway
Company reports gross earnings at ST.
1876, operating expenses at $4,553. and
the net earnings at $2,942. The net
earnings represent more than Is per
cent interest on the actual valuation of
$1S,S00. The Cedar Rapids & Marion
Railway Company reports the gross
earnings al s103,694, operating ex-
penses $76429, and the net earnings at
s27,265. The net earnings are more
than IS pr cent interest on the actual
value of s179.9S3. The Mason City &
Clear Lake Traction Company reports
the gross earnings at s37,33O. operating
expenses $29.262. and net earnings at
sS,o64
faint no use to sit down and whine,
When no fish get tangled in your