The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1908-02-20
AN IATERURBAN
IS A GOOD THING
ONE BETWEEN IOWA CITY AND
CEDAR RAPIDS PAYS.
IT BUILDS UP THE BUSINESS.
/ Helps the Regions Through Which i
Runs and Affords Great Con-
venience for Business
and Pleasure.

Iowa City, Ia, Feb. 19.-The pro-
moters of the ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
ifiterurban electric line could secure
much information concerning the con-
struction and operation of its propos-
cd line and much encouragement to
push her project by careful investi-
cation of the affairs of the Iowa City
Cedar Rapids electric line. Anyone
who has had relations with this line
merely as a passenger must become
impressed with the fact that it is a
financial success; not only that, but
LSat 1t is an Invaluable adjunct to the
business welfare of both the terminal
cities and of the country through
which it runs. This conviction will
of the day, and in practically all sea-
sons, tho cars running on this line are
literally patronized at all points.
Sometimes it Is difficult to find seats
and on special occasions, such as the.
ater nights in Cedar Rapids, or uni
the cars carry their capacity with ex
tras added to the regular equipment
All of this is an ocular demonstra
tion, before an inquiry is made as to
the business of the line, and there is
no question in the observers mind as
prise.
Investigation merely adds to the
conviction, and one at once becomes
an enthusiastic supporter of the in
terurban idea.
The Iowa City-Cedar Rapids line is
twenty-six miles long and runs
through one of the richest specimens
OF Iowa's wonderfully productive soil
1t has its terminal stations at conve-
nient points in the business center of
each city, and runs by the easiest
course between. Its car run an hour
apart, starting from the east end sat
a. nj. and stopping between IL and
o'clock at night It became pop
ular means Of travel from point to
point along the line and between the
two terminals almost Immediately af.
ter 1t was opened some two years ago
istence when it failed to pay expenses.
1t does not depend on large towns be-
tween Iowa City and Cedar Rapids for
support, but serves and is literally
patronized by the ordinary sparsely
settled rural communities. When it
was first opened the largest town on
its line between Iowa City and Cedar
Rapids was North Liberty, located
about half way on the line. 1t had
one store and three or four dwellings.
There were several other similar but
smaller settlements through which the
road was built. Now North Liberty
is place of four hundred inhabitants
with number of stores and many
new dwellings. At least thirty houses
have been built there in the past two
years, and 1t is growing rapidly, and
will, in time, become an important
business place of thousand or more
Inhabitants.
This is but one result of the build
Ing of the interurban. Another Is the
increase in the value of land, which
now brings from $100 to $i25 an acre.
Still another is the increased profit it
affords the farmer on his produce
which they are now able to take to
market on stormy days when they
cannot farm, and when it would be
out of the question to go to the city
by train. Butter, eggs and poultry
bring higher prices in such seasons
when it is difficult to get them to mar.
Continued on page A.