The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-09-20
THE PUBLIC AND IT'S UTILITIES.

To older people in community no change
is more marked than the attitude of the
public toward what is known as modern
improvements-new enterprises, new inven-
tions of general utility. Take railroads, for
example. Among the groups Of citizens in
the smaller towns watching the building of
new trolley lines and waiting eagerly for
the appearance of the first car is sure to be
one or more old men who recall the doubt
with which the building of railroads was
regarded half a century or less ago. A
State exchange quotes one feature of these
as saying of what is now branch of the Big
Four when it was opened between In
dianapolis and Lafayette in 1852, that the
line would never pay, "as a man with an
ox-team could haul all the freight between
these two points that would ever be to
haul" Probably all the early railroads
were regarded by many people along their
routes in much the same way-as enter
prises Of doubtful value and Importance.
1t was time when the march of modern
progress that soon gained such tremendous
Roadway was just beginning. Few persons
guessed at the country's possibilities of de-
velopment. and none dreamed of the dis
coveries and inventions that would create
new wants and bring about. different
standard of living and a new and broader
outlook in both city and country.
Railroads soon proved their usefulness;
they not only served the regions through
which they passed as traffic carriers, but
helped to build up and develop these re-
gions. A Geographic network spread over
the country, bringing distant points into
close touch. Machinery of all sorts faci-
itated manufactures and made the work of
farming easier. The telephone came and
annihilated distance where speech is con-
cerned. Newspapers filled with news of all
the world reached the remotest points daily.
Electricity made possible the trolley sys-
tenn and interurban service. All these things
have familiarized the public mind with the
wonders of science and invention and have
caused it to look expectantly for still fur
Their developments. No skepticism is ex-,
pressed as to the utility Of projected troll
ley lines; on the contrary, the benefits of
these are fully understood and their build
ing eagerly desired. Doubling Thomases
have given way to cheerful prophets who
predict marvels of invention and discovery
equal to any yet given to the world The
general attitude of mind in regard to such
matters is one of expectation and hope.
1t is a common thing TO hear elderly men
and women express wish for a longer
lease of life that they may see the coming
wonders of the worlds growth-to see what
will of wireless telegraphy, of the
discovery of radium, Of the continual ex-
periments with electricity. and on. Per-
haps they confess the feebleness Of their re-
ligious faith when they thus admit doubt
| that all mysteries Of mind and matter will
earthly life, but their curiosity concerning
| things mundane is nevertheless very human
and very significant of the mental attitude
| Of the days. People now accept marvels
| with but little surprise, and at once begin
| 10 speculate regarding future developments.
| If the tendency is to produce Missionaries
| and dreamers it is not necessarily bad
result, for out of dreams much may come.
| The man who invents an epoch-making de-
vice must first have had visions. The pub
| lie, at least, is awake to it's benefits and
| its blessings, and that is state Of things
| to be desired