Mexico weekly ledger., 1906-11-01
ELECTRIC ROAD
Meeting HERE.
W c PICKING. OF MEMPHIS
No. DISCUSSED THE PLANS
AND PROPOSITION OF THE
COMPANY. ANSWERED
LLoUEsTIoss Re
GARDIx6 THE
MArTER-DoEs
NOT DESIRE
c0NTRIBU-
fIoxs OF
BONUS
-
.AUDRLM COUNTY WILL HAVE TO
SUBSCRIBE $4,000 IN STOCK.
-
Line Win be Over Hundred and
Fifty Miles in Length and Come
Throngh Rich Farming Land
Water Power From the
DesNoinss River VIII
Furnish Electricity
Citizens Look Up
On the Matter
Fsvorably.
AUDRLK COUNTY WILL HAVE 70
SUBSCRIBE $4,000 IN STOCK.

VIC Picking, OF Memphis, No., was
in this city Friday in the interest OF
the proposed electric line from Cedar
Rapids, Ia, 70 this city and, at two
O'Clock, met \ representative number
Of Mexico citizens in the Elk Club
rooms where be explained his PROPOSE
tion and answered all questions re-
g1rding the rad. Mr.. Picking's plan
in one that can not but meet with the
approval OF all who beard him and
from the success be has met with in
other cities the rad will be in opera
ton about fourteen months
Mr.. Picking had the following tosay
to q LEDGER representative, today,
when asked for a short interview.
aThis city will be the southern ter
minus OF the road and Cedar Rapids
Iowa the northern ne The con-
tract for the necessary materials to
contruct it from Fairfield, la, TO
Memphis, . distance Of 50 miles, has
been let and all preliminary surveys
completed. 1t will cost, when finished,
in the neighborhood Of $50, 100 per mile
and though an inter-burban line, its
will differ from the usual road Of that
description in that 1t will pass through
a country where no steam line is and
will not only carry Small parcels but
also mail and freight a. ever descrip-
tion.
we are making 1t a rule 70 follow,
wherever IL is possible, the country
roads thereby not cut up the farms
and making 1t more convenient to all.
The expense of building the line in
this county will be nearly 80 600, the
line being IS miles in length. The
right OF way costs something like a
$1,000 per mile, or $4,000 for Audrain
with $4,000 for construction. We do
not ask for donations but that the
cost be taken in preferred stock bear
ing 6 per cent. interest and redeam.
able In ten years"
The power is furnished by the Des
Moines river at KeosawQua, Ia, where
two plants with an emergency steam
plant In case OF low water or some IN
known trouble arising that would
make the use Of the river for a short
time impossible are to be built. The
plant will cost $500, 900 and must be
divided between every county that
the line passes through"
From Memphis to this city the dis.
lance is 81 miles and at no place where
we have talked the matter ever have
we met with anything but the heart
lest cooperation. From Fairfield &c
Memphis we have lighting and power
contracts in almost every city through
which we pass and expect to continue
this practice over the entire route
"The grade is not to exceed II pei
cent. and the road is to be constructed
with 10 pound rails and 2640 ties to
the nile, the same Specifications as a
large steam line, because we intend
haulding all manner Of heavy freight
and passenger traffic. The trains will
be Of about six cars each. We will
stop at all cross roads and at every
place where a passenger desires to
enter a train. Ii a man is a heavy
stock shipper we will let him put on
a hundred foot siding, IL he wishes.
The road should be operation by 1905
unless some set back is experienced
A good. sized crowd Of representa-
tive citizens assembled at the Elks
Hall at 3 o'slock. The meeting was
called TO order by VIM. Pollock who
was Immediately after made chair
man and r. r. Arnold, Jr., was elect
ed secretary. Mr.. Picking, Represent
ing the company, was introduced and
addressed the meeting in behalf OF the
proposed road. He stated clearly
and specifically the proposition
as it is offered and the enterprise ap.
parently has the support and en-
couragement Of the local business
men. IL is declared by them a practi.
cal and profitable investment and it's
to be hoped 1t will be pushed to a
successful termination.