Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1905-02-14
THE lNTERURBAN.

Nothing further has developed thi:
week in regard to the building If the
interurban electric road between this
city aId Merrill that can be given to
the public al this time, but we under.
stand those interested are keeping
steadily at work completing arrange.
meEts. As stated in Neal Browns in
tslview last week some difficulty has
been experienced in getting permission
for right of way through certain
farms, but that difficulty was anticipat-
ed at the outset. There are dead men
/ in every community who attempt to
throw stumbling blocks 10 the way of
every enterprise, but fortunately con-
domination proceedings can oe resorted
to to gain such rights, though it is pref
| cradle to secure them in a peaceable
way. The parties opposing the road
don't realize the value of it. Last week
the Merrill Advocate interviewed a
great many of the business men of that
town regarding it and all, with the
exception of few jealous merchants,
| expressed themselves as favoring the
enterprise. The excuse offered by
those opposing it was that large
number Of Merrill people might go to
Wausau to trade. Evidently our mer
chants are selling cheaper than their
Merrill brethren. Every Wausau man
who has been interviewed on the sub
ject has offered words of encourage
ment. The expense of constructing
such line would be very great and
some have their doubts as to whether
or not it would be a paying investment.
Some, however, are of the opinion that
it would pay better than the promoters
anticipate, especially during the sum-
mer months, when the line would be
largely patronized by excursionists.
Every clear, warm day, families would
ride along the line until they found
some shady retreat and would spend
the day. On pleasant Sundays, the
laboring mans holiday, the capacity of
the road would be over-taxed.
Wisconsin, 1t appears, is fast be-
coming a state of electric railroads.
New lines are being constructed in
many sections every year, and all are
proving dividend paying investments.
One has recently been surveyed from
Clintonville TO Amigo by way of Eland
Jet, NATION and Phlox, distance of
about fifty miles. 1t is to be known as
the Red River Valley Electric Ry 1t
will be completed SO that cars can be
'unning by July LIST. 1t is surveyed for
double track, and it is said may be
extended to the mining country of
Northern Michigan. A contract has
already been given the Wisconsin
Bridge and Iron Co., for the construc-
ton of steel dam across Red river.
The electrical machinery will be fur
nished by the Westinghouse Co. of
Pittsburg, Pa. The equipment will be
heavier than that in use on any other
road in the state.
The extension of the electric railway
system has been phenomenal. 1t is a
system which is gradually drawing
the people closer together. 1t was at
first intended for local travel but has
outgrown its infant stage and it is now
no uncommon thing to ind lines fifty
miles or even greater in length 1t is a
fact that the number of passengers
carried on steam railroads has been
actually falling off for several years.
In one state where the electric system
has advanced with great vigor there
were carried on the electric roads last
year four times as many passengers as
on the steam railways. The electric
roads with their $4,000 miles of track
are carrying more than half as many
passengers az the steam railways with
| their 200, 900 miles of track There is
no telling what the system may do for
| Wisconsin. Ii makes cities like Wau.
sau the centre of great farming and in
dustrial communities. Surprising that
Wisconsin was as densely populated as
is the state OF Rhode Island she would
have 30,000,0OO population. Think
what the electric road would then mean
to such cities. Hamlets would become
villages, and villages become cities.
Steam railroads are recognizing the
Importance of the electric systems
The Boston a. Maine Ry. Co, which
controls half the mileage in New
England, has purchased an electric
system and is extending the line, in
some instances paralleling its locomo
tive track. The New York Central and
New York, New Haven & Hartford
\ roads have done likewise. So have
other lines The steam railways are
not keeping abreast of the times The
locomotive must carry its own power
producing equipment and reminds ont
of the times when our forefatheri
carried their own heat and light Il
church with them The locomotive i
heavy, costly, unsafe and requires skill
to run it. The electric cars are light
can be stopped more readily while il
motion, and the danger from collision
is almost eliminated. Every year thou
sands of lives are sacrificed on tn
steam railways.
! The electric car is the poor man
horse. He can jump on the trolley a,1'
go out into the green fields. The SCI
person can go out into the rural dis
tricts and get supply Of exhileratinI
country air. 1t is a boon to the ma
confined in the Office for ten or twely
IL