Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1907-04-29

four to eight miles north of Columbus
land increased In value from 20 to 50
per cent. From Minerva Park to
Westerville. ranging from eight to IL
miles, land is now selling from 500
to $3.50 per acre. / mention this a.
an instance coming under my obser-
walton.
Take all the interurban railways In
Ohio and traverse them through the
country, and endeavor to buy farm
land improved or unimproved. along
the railways and you invariably find
an increase of from 10 to SO per cent
in value over land in the country re-
mote from the interurban lines and the
same condition prevails in Indiana,
Illinois and Iowa. So much for the
material side of the advantage Of in
terurban railways in advancing the
price of real estate.
The interurban has been found to
completely transform and change the
habits Of the resident rural communi-
ty. 1t brings the farmer to the popu-
Ious centers in the transaction OF bus
mess. It creates a new market for his
products he adapts himself to new
situations and If he is wide-awake and
business-lilxe he finds market him
self for his special products, deliver
ing his goods over the interurban by
freight, express or otherwise, into the
hands of the purchaser, saving the cost
of middlemen. commission merchants,
etc.
We know of farmers who have In
connection with the interurban rail-
ways, lna0e snug fortunes, some AL
tie iislldlng OF uairy prouucts, recely-
4Ils Lalley 5lIces 1or lue.l D4..Sl, cream
and DuttermIlK and cottage cheese.
others have Deen successful in the
marketing OF their poultry and eggs,
ana others in the SAFE "a tneir special
Euted snokeu nam and bacon. Some
Oh tnem give speclal afternoon 20 GER
rAes ana fruits, others 10 vegetables,
ali of them py the Inrerurpan railway
coming directly IN contact with the
city Grade sollcited by themselves.
Again taking the educational side,
We md that the interurban tends to
enllghten rand educate the rural com
munity. Quite a percentage of the
farmers are sending their children to
the better grade OF schools, is being
found convenient for them to attend
more liberal educational institutions
in the county seats and cities and re-
SIDE within their own homes at com
paratively small expense.
Then look at the conveniences. Sup
pose a farmer telephones doctor Ia
the city for medical assistance. the
next interurban car brings him to the
door. Suppose he wishes to attend
some lecture, entertainment or theat-
rical amusement through the use of
the interurban he is transported to the
city and returned to his own door.
Suppose then he wishes some COM
modify or special piece of machinery
or medicine or assistance, mechanical
or otherwise, With the use OF the
telephone and interurban it is brought
to his door.
Bankers in cities and county seats
declare that the interurban has ten
dency to make farmers more BUSH
ness-like in their habits. You will
observe also on interurban lines a
marked Improvement, as a rule. in
dwelling houses, out buildings, fences,
etc, the lines having q tendency to
improve the whole community they
traverse.
We therefore say that all farmers
should cooperate with the promoters
or any reputable set Of business men
who are engaged in the undertaking
of building an interurban railway. in
securing the right Of way. We know
of instances where interurban rail-
ways have been laid through townships
paralleling the public highways, and
where the residents along the line
have agred to furnish the right of way
free Of cost, and the farmer who do
mates the 35 or so feet as the case may
be, from his land, is paid by the farm
er who owns the land on the opposite
side of the railway at a reasonable
figure, This seems like a fair, just
and equitable basis, or mode of set
Element, as each Is mutually benefit
ted, placing both Of them on an equal
footing. one giving and the other re-
ceiving.
The interurban railways have come