The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1908-02-14

terurban roads. In fact where Their,
is reasonable excuse for the creation
of traction property and where wei
built and ably managed, they have
proved universally profitable and only
where properties have been cheaply
built and poorly managed has there
been a default.
Looking back thirty-five years it car
be recalled that the steam roads were
then disjointed disconnected combi
nations of small systems which in re.
cent years have merged into great
continental lines, but during their ear.
lier periods the steam roads were not
unlike the present electric systems
Then came the advent of the airbrake
the automatic coupler, the electric
light and various other improved in
novations, together with the CONSOLE
dation into long lines and the intro
duction of the sleeping car and nc
one dare predict what will be the
condition when the electric systems
have had thirty-fve years 'of expert
ence, as even today, at so early a
date. the dining car, observation car:
sleeping car and chair car are no long
er novelty. Modern sleeping cars
that cost $4,000 each are now operat
ed between Decatur. H., and st. Louis
dining cars out of Indianapolis to Day
ton, O.. and elswhere and the speed
of mile a minute on Indiana electric
roads is not uncommon.
Electric Freight Trains.
Only a short time since people re-
ferred to electric roads as street car
lines, but they have grown from the
suburban line to the interurban line
and from the interurban to the cleo
trio railroad; so that today it is pos
sible feasible, and profitable to op-
crate electrict locomotives, hauling
long trains. loaded with heavy freight,
and do all those thing as common
carriers alike with the steam roads.
One who reads of the achievements
of a decade in electrical railroading
can not other than doubt the advance
ment made and the advantage offer
ed, but a trip through the central west
will serve to convince the most skep-
teal that the electric railroad of today
is thing practical and not to be de-
spised from any point of view.
The farming communities have
found that it is more pleasant to ride
in the warm car in the winter time
and enjoy the cool, pleasant breeze in
the summer without wearing out his
horses, carriages and harness and en-
during the blistering sun or the incle-
mency of winter.
Another illustration that will dem
onstrate. the extensive extension of
electric roads in the central states, is
the fact that as soon as the gap of
thirty miles is built between Craw-
louisville, Ind, and Danville, ILL.,, it
will be possible and reality to take
a sleeping car at st. Louis and by
continuous electric roads travel to In
dianarolis. Louisville, Cincinnati, Day
ton, Toledo. Detroit Cleveland, Erie,
Pa. and Buffalo. New York and at
no distant day into Pittsburg Pa, all
of which no doubt will be a reality
within another year. as all the lines,
except the gap mentioned, are now in
operation.
Indianapolis is at the present time
with all the cities named
except ST. Louis and soon will be in
communication by electric lines with
Chicago and Louisville.
Value to Small Towns and Farms.
In the beginning of interurban con-
struction in Indiana and other states
it was feared that they would ruin
the business of smaller towns by fur
nishing the rural population with
much convenience in reaching the
cities. But the statements have not
been justified as it has been shown
that they are beneficial to the small
Ter towns as to the larger. The
farmers of the central states were
quick to see the advantage of rapid
service w, the result that they have
been liberal in the matter of right
Of way and even making donations.
1t goes without saying that the es-
tablishment of interurban increases
the price and value of agricultural
lands, which ordinarily double in val
use within five years after the building
of an electric road This is due to the
fact that such lands are more desir-
able for farming purposes. 1t means
of course, that old fashioned methods
can no longer be employed in farming,
that improved crops must be grown
on such lands and likewise improved
live stock. One can no longer keep a
COW that will only make 200 pounds
of butter a year or raise a steer that
weighs 500 pounds at twelve months
of age. 1t means the application OF
scientific principles to practical agri-
culture, or, on the other hand, dis
pose of the lanI ami let the next man
try it.
Attractiveness of the Farm.