The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1908-07-30

Ike ours the merchants, having cheap
or rent. can easily compete with a
large city. We have two electric rail
roads and two steam railroads.
Elm Grove, West Virginia; pop
1000; 10 miles from city OF 4o,ooo
pop.-Elm Grove was a small country
tcwn before the electric railroad reach
ed here. Now we have a bank, drug
store, grocery stores, hardware stores,
enameling works and plumbing shop.
We have another electric line in sight.
Don't stop electric railroads. They
are a good thing.
Columbus, Indiana; pop. 12,5oo; Al
miles from city Of 225,oo0 pop.-Some
OF our merchants complained at first,
but they have more than made up for
the loss now. Our trade has gradually
increased yearly, but much more so
after the electric line was built.
The old fashioned credit system
which was always a blight gives way
TO increased business for cash. Cities
of y, 900 or upwards become distribute
ing points to merchants in smaller
places. The wholesale merchant in
stead of buying in carload lots or less
buys several carloads at a time. They
pay cash and get better prices than
before. They may divide their in
creased profit with the retailer and
thus stimulate business all along the
line.
The interurban railroads are just
the stuff it will not be many years
before they are just as important as
the telephone and possibly az general
in their use.
Communities without them will be
at a discount as compared with those
that have them. Every town that
wants these facilities, however, ought
to bear in mind that it costs something
to get them. They must chip in
and pay for terminals, depots, shops
and all such necessities. They ough'
to join hands with the farmer, who
helps with the grading and bridging
and provide their part of the expense
No interurban railway proposition
of good commercial merit will go beg
ging for money to buy rails, ties ant
equipment, if the local interest to bt
benefited by its construction, will
show their good faith by taking holC
of the matter in a substantial! anC
earnest matter.
The money raised locally diminishes
the amount necessary to borrow, cuts
down the fixed charges and lightens
the bonded indebtedness. This in
turn increases the roads surplus and
enables it to pay it's dividends earlier
in its career.
The burdens borne by the loca'
people, however, are in no wise com
mensurate with the benefits derived
1t is an investment that will bring
larger returns in proportion to the
amount paid out than any other thai
can be made.
1t will not be long before every
town of medium size will be looked
upon as slow and behind the times
unless it has an interurban railroad
or two.
1t has not been more than five OF
six months since a large party O.
wholesale merchants chartered an in
terurban car in Cleveland, Ohio ant
took a run out among their retail
friends. The trip was one of grea'
enjoyment and very helpful to bust
ness. Interurban parties are frequen'
in the middle west, the people get to
gether and become acquainted. Fish
ing and hunting parties use the inter
urban cars as freely as they would
their own conveyances. Mutual ac
: pudillldIlCcS SIOW up Wucu Sluipls {
corresponding knowledge of each othel
was possible. Travel is greatly pro
melted by the intermingling of the
people. This business is not taker
from the steam roads, except in cases
where the i%nterurban road parallels
the steam road, but is created by the
convenience and frequency of the in
terurban service. People acquire &
riding habit, and like most habits
good or bad, when once acquired
grows and increases in practice.
The social and business economy o.
our people revolted at the methods ant
practices of the trunk line roads; the
old dirt roads and the horse vehicle
came next, that was too slow anG
smacked too much of the middle ages
so as the last means, ingenuity, which
never fails when the actual test comes
PRODUCED the %interurban railway, which
has proven to be the happy medium
striking the popular fancy and APP
pealing to the good ommon sense
of the people.