The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1907-11-28
ETNERURBAN RAILWAYS
Letter by Engineer OF erookIngs
Electric Line.
Brookings, Nov. 2lst. %.

ested in knowing some OF the lateS
developments respecting lnterurbaf
Railways, especially since consider
able number Of these are taking par
FRI the construction Of the Br0okingS
aud Sioux Falls Railway.
The experimental period Of the In
terurbau Railway has past. IT Is nc
longer questionable business enter
prize. and a scheme Of doubtful util
ny. Ninty percent OF the existing
roads ia this country are paying, and
many Of them very largely. The cost
Of construction and operation Is very
much less than steam roads, and their
usetu mess, 10 the average citizen Is
much greater
There is an abnormal estrangemcnt
existing between steam roads ana
their patrons. It has existed many
years and Is growing worse and worse
all the time. The spirit Of accommo-
dalton rs lacking on the part Of the
roads and their patrons feel this ana
resent IT, The remedy is the Inter
arban Road, which not only affords
but it usually brings them to keen
sense Of their long neglected RESPONSE
bility to- the people. In sections Of
the country supplied with interurban
roads the trunk lines are awakening
to their duties, and Offering better
facilities, quicker service and lower
rates. II its mission had no other end
than this the interurban road would
be of signal value, to the people
but this Is q mere incident In It's use
ILLNESS one, however, well worth
considering.
OF course the essential factor, and
primary question In the Interurban
road is will II pay" and If there is
a doubtful side to this all important
question, and at the same time an ur-
gent need for the road, then this re
solves itse!i into How may it be
made to pay?" An expert who is
Familiar with all phases Of lnterurban
Roads, their various methods of con
etruction and operation, Is the only
one who can satisfactorily solve this
matter TO attempt its solution with
out his aid is to court failure and
SHANGHAI disaster. Ills services ought
10 he called into the matter at the
very inception Of the project, for even
ne cannot rightly Judge the merits Of
abe proposition except he makes a
survey. and careful investigation Of
all the many facts pertinent to the
have been spoiled by inexperienced,
BUT we'll meaning promoters, neglec-
ting this precaution, and many pro
iects OF doubtful merit have been
developed so as to be attractive to
Investors by wisely observing the ne
eessity for expert advice.
In communities where the popula
lion Is not sufficient to warrant the
construction Of complete electc roads,
with power houses and overhead troll
hys. The mterurban ear operated
BY ST am gasoline or electricity, and
containing within its self the means
of its own propulsion, Is generally
adopted. These ears may be used for
passenger traffic, and can also be used /
as locomotives for handling freight |
durable and always reliable for any sort |
of railway traffic. Many trunk lines |
are using some type of this car in
local passenger service, suppanting
with them. the dusty smoky, cinder-
Infested day coach drawn by com
non locomotive They are clean and
com Portable to ride in and will run
nust rs fast and just rs safely as any
locomotive drawn train When the in
pr extra cars, may be attached. and
HE service of the thus formed train
nada entirely satisfactory.
In the rural districts il is not n ques
lion of "how far do YOU live in the
as it is how long does
L take you to make the trip" when
the produce Is ready for the market
md the prices are right the farmer
wants In sell when the churning is
fonc. tire egg basket full, the cream
-separated." the farmers wife wants
w 60 to town and see her customers.
Very likely, however, when these
s2dsgs are ripe for market, the farm
NJ sha ell Of his big boys are blowing.
" G1fssg something else that requires
VI see Aorses on tlte place. How nice
n ~ rad how convenient 10 take an
sssesNfBaa cart fhn 10 the nearest
&sssers Dispose - flae produce, and
kfx@e seafA hs eiaAe 10Y alnasr. II
sNcsssssys Ard If els.s faeasef in con.
ssctsoa Tlssf 4 sAw ~ kss fAfzBbors.
kAgs ccssr sh4ssS sspsclA RaSs by.
a. 4