Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-12-21

the steam railroad Is to the nation and
the street car lines to the city. The
resources of the nation cannot be de-
veloped without steam railroads reach
ing from one section Of the country
to others, criss-crossing each other
In all directions, and reaching every
considerable town and city. Prosper
ity under modern conditions Is not
possible without such transportation as
meets the requirements Of the coun-
try
The steam railroads by their loca-
ton determine the location of the
cities. BY the system of rates charged
they determine the prosperity and de-
velopment Of the cities and the indus
tries that shall be developed and fost-
cred therein. BY the freight rates
charged they can make or unmake eth
er the city or the individual. The street
car lines determine largely the develop
ment Of the different sections and dis
tricts Of the city. The development OF
the city in which they are located is
the reason for a justification Of their
existence.
The interurban lines, speaking broad
ly. develop the state. In their construc-
IlOH lIley GNllGI III 1iO ISSPSSl 11oAh "SAA
built steam lines. The difference is that
they are short where the others are
long their service is frequent, where
the service of the steam cars Is infre-
quent; their rates both for freight and
passengers.is lower. They are intended
to bring the farm, the country town and
village in close contact with the city
in which they have their terminals.
They are not to be COMPOUNDED with the
trolley lines of the city, which are more
lightly constructed, carry passengers
alone, and charge a fixed sum for dis
,tances within the limits Of the city,
whether long or short The interurban
carries both freight and passengers on
mileage basis, and for very much
less than the steam lines can possibly
affordYto carry them.
We think very few realize the. effect
which the development of the inter-
urban lines will have upon the cities,
the towns and the farms thru which
they pass. The aim Of the steam rail-
road is to secure the low, long haul.
Inasmuch as the cost of securing the
traffic is the same for ten miles as for
one hundred, or five hundred, and in
asmuch as the interest on the invest
ment is the same and the operating
expenses nearly the same, whether the
haul be long or short. the steam rail-
road insists upon the low, long haul
and a relatively high short haul. All
the difference to 1t between the short
haul and the long haul is the additional
coal and oil consumed-a negligible
quantity. Hence the effect Of the steam
| - ,k,oT iv,s fovry
great centers, to build up great cities
where vice and misrule and political
corruption run rampant, until these
great cities have become the plague
spots of our civilization. The steam
railroads have converted the states
Of Iowa. Kansas and Nebraska from
wild prairies to highly cultivated fields,
but which after all are only back pas
lures of the men who manage these
roads. Were it not for the modifying
influence of our Iowa railroad law
which is on mileage basis, the state of
Iowa would be a state of farms, with
only two or three considerable Cities
That we have such a large number of
cities Of the second class is due to the
mileage principle in the Iowa railroad
law, modifying to some extent the eff
fects of the low, long haul.
The effect of the interurban is di-
rectly the opposite. These lines being
short, with low fares and frequent ser
vice, they tend to build up manufac-
turing interests in cities that have
the raw material. We can illustrate
what we mean better by giving a brief
history of the development Of Des
Moines.
Twenty years ago we had number
of short, narrow gauge railways enter
ing the city. They brought in cattle,
hogs and grain to the packing
houses and mills located in the city,
raw material to other factories, and
these prospered. No sooner had
these roads been absorbed by longer
lines of standard gauge than the en-
terprises which had been built up by
these short lines largely disappeared.
Why? Because it was not to the in
terest of the railroads to carry ma
terial for manufacturing to Des
Moines and leave it there. The same
effects were noticed in all other in
land cities where there were packing
houses and large factories. BY the
development of the interurban, Des
Moines@and cities similarly situated in
the United States will get back all
that they have lost by the absorption