Omaha daily bee., 1907-02-24
Electric Interurbdn Railways

service maintained between cities and
towns over long distances. Thus electric
lines extend between Cleveland and Toledo.
a distance of some ninety to 100 miles,
which run trains covering the distance
in six hours, and limited express trains
which make the trip in four and a half
hours
One immediate result of the interurban
electric road has been a decided reduc-
ton in rates OF fare on the steam roads
which in turn has stimulated the offer
of still lower rates on the electric lines.
The average rate on the interurban lines
is about III cents per mile. and on the
steam lines It was about double this until
the law OF the last Ohio legislature forced
the steam roads down to a maximum D
cent rate. The effect OF trolley operations
in Massachusetts has so far been to injure
steam passenger traffic within q distance OF
about ten miles, but otherwise the steam
roads have gained enough to more than
offset the local traffic losses. The effect
of the Ohio electric road development has
been to inJure steam road traffic over
much longer distances than ten miles. Says
the article in question::
I'm the last seven years the number of
passengers on the steam railways has
fallen off by 100000, not because there
ing trolley has stolen the traffic. There IL
little travelling now in Ohio by steam be-
tween points where electric lines pass. This
preference for the trolley for short distance
travel is due 20 several causes: First.
Most of the railroad stations are not in the
center, but on the edge of the towns, and
are thus less conveniently situated than the
electric lines. especially in stormy weather.
Second. It costs less TO go by electric
lines. Third 1t is very much more con-
Yenient, owing to the greater frequency OF
the service. Trolley cars usually run every
hour, while steam trains only run thrOs
or four times day. Fourth. The fire.
auency of stops makes It possible for many
to use the electric who could not use the
steam lines. Between Cleveland and ODER
lin. for example, distance OF some thirty
miles, the number OF local passengers car
rled by the Lake Shore steam road had
fallen from 10000 In 1895 TO 81. 76O in 1902;
and between Cleveland and Plainesyille the
loss has extended from 1879 292 to 2S.7OS
in the same time. Between places served
by steam and express electric lines the
latter are now said TO have from rs to %
per cent Of the total passenger trafio.
But whatever has been and is to be the
effect Of the electric railway upon the
steam road" comments the Springfield.
MASS hepuphcah' X - having pfoLouhd
influence otherwise of a social and economic
nature. II is revolutionizing the trade sit
uation in the manner TO be observed about
our city. centralizing in the larger places
the retail business in the more valuable
and least perishable commodities, but help
Ing rather than hurting the grocery. pro-
vision and similar stores I'm the smaller
places. The general effect in other words,
has been to decentrallze resident popula-
lions and build up suburban communities;
TO centralize certain classes OF trade; to
stimulate pleasure and business travel
enormously; 10 bring the country sections
into closer communication with the centers
of population; 10 thereby improve farm
market facilities and enhance the value
II farm lands. and TO make life in the
country districts more tolsrable ana at
tractiVG"