The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1907-02-28
TALKING INTERURBAN.
The Electric Line is Attracting
Attention Everywhere.

The following is from the Iowa Home
stead OF recent date:
''The corn belt has not been hasty in |
establishing interurban electric lines.
However, there is not state in this
area in which this new method of trans
portation has not been introduced and
we predict that during the next five
years there will be the largest interur-
ban railway development in the central
west that has ever taken place in the
country. We base this belief on the
fact that these roads wherever they are
established have become exceedingly
popular.
every man in the corn belt is di-
rectly or indirectly interested in this
modern railway. They are beginning
to branch out from populated centers
in such way as to very materially eff
feet the value of land in the townships
through which they pass, and in the
near future it would not be surprising
| if no point in the corn belt were more
| than few miles from an interurban
electric line.
| ut has been demonstrated beyond
doubt that interurban railways do not
iniure small towns, but on the other
hand the experience is that their intro
|
ton, increase in business and certainly
greater comfort to the residents of such
towns. True it is that these roads
change the character of the business
that is transacted in towns where they
pass, but where people instead of
lighting the system adjust themselves
to the new order of things, it only means
growth. The records up to date indi
cate that the interurbans not only in
crease the population of the towns adj
jacent to largely populated centers, but
that the townships through which they
pass are affected in the same manner.
at goes without saying that the
establishment of interurbans increases
the price or value of agriculturally
land. Land ordinarily doubles in value
in five years after the establishment of
an electric line. This is due to the fact
that such land is more desirable for
; farming purposes. 1t means, of course,
that old-fashioned methods can no
longer be employed in farming land
worth $500, $3.50 and 5000 per acre.
Improved crops must be grown on such
land and likewise improved stock. One
can no longer keep COW that will only
make 200 pounds of butter one year or
raise steer that weighs 500 pounds at
about twelve months of age. 1t means
: the application of scientific principles
to practical agriculture, or on the other
hand, dispose of the land and let the
: next man try it.
: "But the greatest effect of interur-
bans mural communities is to increase
the attractiveness of the farm. When
churches, theaters, lecture hall, ETC.,
are easily accessible to rural people
life on the farm becomes to many diff
ferent proposition. Isolation because
of poor roads or poor transportation
facilities generally spells in too many
instances, monotony, which results in
discomfort and finally in the boys and
girls leaving the farm. Those without
practical experience along this line
5 might think that the opposite would be
/ true, namely, that the electric line
: would tend to make the city more pop
ular in the esteem of the country boys
! and girls, but this is not true. ALL the
{ advantages of the city are easily OBJ
f tainabe when these lines are establish
r ed, and yet along with this, there is the
independence of farm life.
'Interurbans, to some extent, solve
the help problem in rural districts
t Men will much more readily leave the
Z populated cenLerS lOf rural ulSuflcUS Oh
t these lines than they do over the wagon
road. This has been proved beyond any
question of doubt. 1t is as true when
applied to help outside. This means an
4 improved situation generally because
: there will be fewer idlers in the cities
s because the work and the man will be
t brought together.
e "On general principles, therefore
t we have no hesitation in advising
S all of our readers to- do everything
q that is reasonable possible to encourage
the establishment of electric lines. We
have known men to fight these lines
!. just as if they were undesirable innova-
:: tions, but it would be just as sensible
to fight the introduction Of the tele
phone, new farm machinery or anything
else that is modern
Is ~