The Montgomery advertiser., 1908-06-30
rT .sHouLp pr nurLr.


 interest and business men of that city. for 1t bears on what some consider the most sensitive portion of the human anatomy. generally referred to as ''the pocket nerve" It also means c great deal to the people of one of the ricfst portions of East Alabama. and they also. should take . lively interest in 1t. The project looks to the building of an electric railroad from coiumbds to Society Hf1l. which lies near the line between Macon and Russell counties. Society Hill is nearly or quite thirty miles almost due west from Columbus. and a glance at the map shows that the proposed road will traverse s rs- zion which is rich in Agricultural re- sources. for 1t is region of splendid farming lands. and is also portion of Alabama almost entirely destitute of railroad facilities. for the road from Columbus to opeiika. and from coiurd- bus to Union Springs leaves broad expaEse of country cut of from rail- way transportation. Most of the trade of this section now goes to Columbus. and if things were allowed to remain as they are that city would not suffer materially. but things are not likely to remain as they are. and that is. where the commercial interests of Columbus are vitally interested.
 The peril threatening the business of Columbus lies in the projected electric line from opslika to Eufaula. which the promoters declare will soon be built and put into operation. 'If." says The Ledger. in speaking for the projected read to Society Hnl; "A road shall be constructed from opelika to En. fauia 1t will traverse one of the richest and most productive far ming sections of Lee and Russell counties. and thousands Of dollars of tho trade of those people come to this city every year. If such a road is built and pnt into operation it is just as na- turai for those whose farms are fin proxinlity to it to take advantage of the convenience of using 1t for trans porting their products to market and for carrying such things to them from the mark ct that they need as it is for water to run down hill. No one with any business ga gacity will think of dis outing the proposition. Those people then will not come to Columbus but win naturally avail themselves of the most convenient market. which will bs ooeiika. And if it should be that hey will not receive quite as much for their product there or that they would have to pay a little more for what they Buy there than they would in Columbus tand we are not saving this would he the ease, for opelilxa is a good mar ket) they could afford 1t on account of the convenience of the road; 1t would be more profitable even If such should be the case than to haul by private con- veyance their products to and from Co., iu--rus." .---- --',-
 This extract points out very clear iy what will naturally be the result of the opelika and Eufaula line. and shows that the only way for Columbus to meet the situation is to build line that will draw to it the traffic of the country which may soon be invaded. and its trade deflected, by the other road. There is nothing formidable or even difficult about the scheme. We have On various occasions called at- tention to the rapidity with which elec- tric roads are spreading in the North and Middle West, not only for passen- ger traffic but also for light freight. Such roads can be constructed at far less cost than steam roads can, and can also be operated cheaper and with more facility, and trains run moro frs- quently than can be done on the ordi- nary railroads.
 As to the power for driving the ears. that has been provided by nature and held for the time when it will be need ed. The Chattahoochie River at colum- bus can supply electric power to op. crate e score of such roads if so many are ever constructed. The falls at and above the city are of almost limitIess capacity. If the projected line were not to cross another stream where elotric- ity could b developed, Columbus can i'll all the demands that can possibly be made on her for many years to come. Electricity is fast becoming the moving power of the world and the Chattahoo- ches is full of 1t in a potential con- dition.
 But 1t is not at all sure that the projected line would stop at Society Hill, at least very long. From that point 1t would be natural to continue it west to chshaw. or southwardly to Union Springs and thus connect 1t with the railroads connecting Montgomery with the towns east and southeast If 1 1t could turn down to Union Springs 1t 1 would traverse another section of good country now needing transportation | facilities which could thus be so easily | supplied. If nothing more Is done, | however than build the road as pro- posed from Columbus to Society Hill it | is a project which the former city | should not allow to fall to the ground |