The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-07-14
ALL ARE FAVORABLE
To the Building of Arkansas
Valley lnterurban.
TAXPAYERS SIGN PETITION
Asking For Special Election to
Vote $4,000 Bonds.

Yesterday afternoon petitions asking
+be MAYOR and council to call special
election for the purpose Of voting on a
nronosition to give $4,000 10 aid the Ar
kansas Valley Interurban railway project
were being circulated among property
holders and resident tax payers with
the result. so far. that ninety-nine out
of every hundred persons approached
cheerfuIly signed them and expressed
the opinion that the interurban propo-
sition was the best thing yet presented
TO the people - Wichita This iriendh-
ness to the proposition, so merry uhdh-
imously expressed. is very gratifying 10
the officers and directors Of the interur-
han company and has given them renewed
encouragement to proceed with their
great enterprise.
The money to be voted is for the pur-
nose more definitely sta ted, of securing
terminal facilities for the road In TINS
city
The contemplated road is to be in The
neighborhood of eighty miles in length
and its general direction VIII he south
east. towards the south line 4 the STATE
the exact route being very largely de-
PENDENT upon the announcement the con-
ranv will receive from townships and
municipalities. IT win cost, when COM
Melted and equipped, nearly a million
dollars. if not more, and already the
COMPANY has in view financial recources
adequate to make the project success
1f
ing expected aid from the beneiiciarles
Of the road.
The logic of the projected road is that
1t viii serve to develop the territory COW
cred by it. stimulate local markets cause
the establishment Of varied local manu-
featuring industries. cheaper freight ana
passenger rates knit the interests oil
the rich agricultural Arkansas valley
more closely, give opportunity TO the
people in communities through which 1t
will run and those Of contiguous terri
tory TO travel cheaply and conveniently
TO neighboring places. take pleasure
rides. indulge in outdoor excursions and
visit local summer resorts and places
for recuperation and enjoyment To
cheaper freight rates on light products
and generally to do the hauling between
the people of the Arkansas valley in
south Kansas.
Many people Of acute foresight believe
Il will at least equal the biggest thing
that has ever happened in favor of mod
ern Wichita. and the fact % its influence
upon the educational interests of the
town is cited as an instance of its value
70 this city That it will fill the city
academies and colleges with students
there is hardly any reason to doubt. and
that the company expects that it viii
Is proved by their purpose to make a
special students rate SO low that 1t will
be an inducement to many TO send their
children TO school here.
The farmers viii probably be benefic-
fairies more directly of the road than
any other class The theory is. and 1t
has been demonstrated practically in the
east, that property along the line of
the road will materially increase in value
for the reason that people can then live
IN the country and have nearly all the
advantages that people in city have
Besides that it will enable them to pro-
duce for local markets to far greater
advantage than those who will have not
such a. good opportunity to reach places
where their small products are in de-
mand Besides. they can reach their
trading places without much loss of time
or without involving the necessity Of
taking a team from work in busy sea-
sons in order to go to town, an item
in itself, Of no small Importance.
How the smaller and larger towns along
the line viii be benefited is not so hard
to see when it is known that it is the
purpose of the company, or an auxiliary
company formed in connection with the
main company. to light towns along the
lire with electricity and furnish power
for local street car service. If necessary,
as well a. to turn mills. operate electric
fans. printing presses and all kinds Of
machinery. Towns that now cannot af-
ford to have electric power. can secure
it easily and cheaply through this means
Besides Il is also the intention Of the
company to operate a rural telephone
system in connection with that by which
they win operate their road. for all cars
viii be run by telephones instead OF by
telegraph.
a great many people do not seem to
understand that an electric road can do
everything that steam road can do
and make faster time Ii can haul any
thing from a band box TO a train Of
coal. In the east trains of coal having
as many as twenty-five cars are pro-
PEELED by electricity. and one Of the odd
things in the development Of electric
freighting is that hay can be carried
cheaper than by steam. one Of the most
important features Of traffic in eastern
electric roads is the hauling Of hay from
meadows into the big cities and centers
Usually the freight trains run during
the night. when the road is clear of pas
senger traffic, for in short roads all PAS
senger cars run between sunrise and
Hundreds OF good residences are being
railways much more pleasant and far
safer than riding on steam railways
The petitions viii be in circulation again
today and qualified residents in every
part Of the city viii be given an op-
portJnity 10 record their names in what
will prove 10 be ron of honor II re-