The Oskaloosa herald., 1906-01-18
Interurban

The coming OF the De5 Moines In
teEurban electric line to Mitchellyille
was opposed from the first. Mer-
chants and business men, property
owners and residents alike saw unfav,
orable conditions arise, and ven dis
| aster staring them In the face. The
electric cars, 1t was commonly held.
would take the people to the city for
all their merchandise. People would
remove to Des Moines and the electric
| cars, It was contended, would depopu'
late the town. Even men Of careful
thought haG a fear OF the enterprise
and when the cars appeared In the
city the line had few friends.
But what has been the result? The
opposite Of the ant~i-interurban predic.
tious has transpired. The town Of
Mitchellyiile today has d prosperity
greater than any 1t has previously
known. There 10 more business and
more people to do business, Mer-
: chants are selling more goods and all
property has never been at a better
figure.
No less than thirty new houses have
been erected In the town since the
building OF the interurban line
through the place. Lots that were
priced at fifty dollars and thought
worthless almost have been sold al
two hundred dollars. II was found
that the %interurban was bringing peo
pie to the town 10 live, In place OF TAX
Ing them away. One merchant assert
ed TO the reporter that there had been
more transfers OF real estate In the
town in the six months following the
arrival OF the interurban than there
had been in the previous six years
and a number OF b~ystanders stated
"That's the truth"
The residents OF the town patronize
the i~nterurban and rarely think about
the steam cars as a means OF trans
rortation OF any sort. The cars pass
each way every hour, and even were
the fare by the intrurban greater than
by the steam railway, the people
would patronize the interurban cars
Everyone has q friendly feeling fol-
the system today. IL Is &c quick, &c
clearly, and 80 advantageous In al
emergencies.
Mitchellyille would rise In rebellion
81 the railway we're to be taken from
them today. TIL statement is unani
nous, "The interurban IL a necessity
not a luxury. We cannot do without
II now"
The above statements we're gather
ed here and there about the town Of
Mitchellville, OF residents and OF bust
ness men and property wners. ANY
one desiring TO verify what has beer
said may readily do 70 by writing tc
Peter Miller, j.. b. Uni, both prominent
resident Of MitcheIlyille, and TO John
Edmundson, a hardware merchant Of
the place.
Mr.. Uhl owns a large farm near
| Mitchellville. He wanted the line to
crogs his place and offered a deed for
the rightofway and one thousand dol
lars In addition II the line would only
cross his property.
Mr.. Edmundson had a similar OK
p~erience, offering the road every In
ducement to be favored by the line
These men knew OF the value OF an
electric line and their beliefs ~ vel
supported by the subsequent develop
ment OF the town.
Mr.. Elmnndson states that In hif
opinion an electric line brings 20
many benefits that II does not hurt
any place, no matter how II crosses
He says the farmers viii join hands
and help a good thing along in Ma
lhaska county II they know when they
are vol on.
nc explained how great an sdgart
tage the line was TO a merchant In