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


If the farmer can enjoy all of these
privileges and at the same time par
ticipate in the profits of the interur-
ban railway company that supplies
them, ne is still more interested and
benefited. If he owns stock in the
read he has a voice in its manage
ment, and is deeply concerned in it's
welfare. He feels that the road be-
came a reality, to some extent, by
his active aid, and if he owns enough
of its seven per cent preferred stock,
his dividends will pay his taxes. Five
shares of stock will bring him $500
per annum and it will always be
worth all it cost besides. Many Of
the greatest fortunes in the world
consiet entirely of railroad stocks.
Why shouldn't the farmer have some?
His farm will increase in value large
ly. Why shouldn't he pay something
for this increase, especially since what
he pays is simply a good investment
bringing him seven per cent yearly?
He will never get the advantages of
an interurban railway unless he puts
his shoulder to the wheel and helps
to bring it into existence. He can
not afford to let an opportunity like
this pass him by and leave him with
out accommodation and facilities that
some of his neighbors are sure to get.
This road will be built along the line
where it gets the greatest encourage
ment, where the people who want it
will subscribe for its stock. V takes
money to build a railroad, and unless
the people along it's route show suffi
cient interest to pay for the grading
and bridging, give the right of way
and depot grounds. no outside inves-
tors will take hold of the project.
There are large investment cmpanies
ready to buy the bonds of a good road
where the people have shown interest
and faith enough in the project to pay
for the grading, bridging and give the
right of way and depot grounds.
1t is up to the people to say wheth
er the road is to be built or not If they
want the modern transportation faciii-
ties they will lose no time in getting
the interurban road.
Now to get down to business. We
will assume that every acre OF farm
land supplied by the increased railway
facilities offered by the interurtan rail
way will be increased in value. The
American Farm World, one of the
leading agricultural papers of the
United States, says:
Farm land quotations show enor
nous increase in values in districts
supplied by interurban roads. Lands
in the west have advance 80 and 100
per cent in value since 1902. On the
frontier and in all of the new agricul-
tural states the increase of settlers
would probably account for some of
this enhancement in values, but in
older states, where values for many
years were practically stationary, the
interurban road has caused rapid in
crease in values during the period
named This is due entirely and di.
rectly to the interurban roads branch
ing out in the country from the cities
and towns where the farmer does his
trading, and in large measure mar
kets his produce.
For instance; take a farm of say
100 acres situated ten to twenty miles
from town, or it's neare st trading place,
acre or $4,000. The interurban road
will cause an increase in value so that
$50 per acre would be a reasonable
price, this enhansment brings the farm
up to $4,000, which is an increase of
$4,000. Suppose the wise farmer anti
cipating the certainty of a large in
crease in values says that he will
take five or ten shares of preferred
stock in the proposed new road, so
as to encourage it's being built his
way, instead of leaving him out and
suppose he realizes $35 to $40 per
year in dividends, owning the stock
and securing the interurban road,
wouldn't it be a good investment?
Perhaps he does not happen to have
$500 of 81 900 to spare all at once, If
not he may pay his stock subscrip-
tion in installments, ten per cent down
when the subscription is made, and
ten per cent in 80, so or 80 days. The
balance in one and two years, the
deferred payments drawing legal rate
of interest until maturity. He gives
his note for the deferred payments,
and these notes are used to- pay for
the grading and bridging Of the road.
If he owns two quarter sections his sub
scription ought to be doubled. This
plan ought to apply to all farms three