Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-12-29
SECTION NETWORK
OF INTERURBANS
Eyes of Capitalists Beginning
to Turn in This Direc-
ton.
PROJECTS UNDER WAY
At Least Three Lines Will Be Oper-
a.ting Into This City Within
Year.

That the day of the interurban rail
way has just commenced is evidenced
by the great number of new lines be
ing proposed almost monthly in var
ious parts of the state, and the large
number already built or in process of
construction. The eyes of capitalists
are now turned particularly to this
section of the state as Offering the
most fattering inducements for the
investment of money in electric lines.
Within a few months the Rock Is
land Southern will be sending its steam
trains into this city. The electric trains
will follow in the spring. The line to
the southern end of the county is TAX
ing tangible shape. and it is believed
will be a reality inside a year An
other is the Tri-Cities & Northeastern,
which will begin construction in the
spring from WATERFOWL to Albany, with
plans to send its trains into Moline
Rock Island and Davenport.
The latest line proposed in this part
Of the state is the Rock River Traction
company Last week the directors of
his road closed deal with prominent
Inanciers of Milwaukee which, 1t is
believed will practically assure the
building of the line. The men behind
he movement have built roads before
and they have much faith in the pro-
iect submitted by the Rock River Trac-
lion company. 1t is believed that con
1ruction will soon begin at Sterling,
he line 10 be extended in this direc-
ion.
Bureau County in Foreground.
Bureau county seems to be a fayorite
surveying ground for engineers at the
present time Surveyors have been
crossing and recrossing the county
boundaries stalking out proposed lines
and making estimates of the amount OF
capital needed to complete them. 1t
means an elapse of several years. per I
haps. before any of the lines are actu-
ally realized. but the time is not far (
distant say capitalists, when Bureau /
county will be a network of electric .
roads. 1t will not be long. they say. .
before farmers within its limits viii
be practically able to step from the .
doorsteps 10 an elegantly equipped .
electric train and trayel 70 Chicago.
field. Sterling. or,the tri-cities. Prince
ton will then become the hub of the
several lines sand one of the most i'm
portant interurban centers in the cen
lral west.
Hub Mt Princeton. !.
At present Princeton is touched by
only. one trolleyline. 1t is the western
terminus of the Mckinley syndicate
lines The volume of business trans
acted over that part of the system
passing through Bureau county, how
ever. has astQnished even the most en-
thusiastic offits propagators and mas
opened the eyes of hugdreds of finan-
ciersiDach of other systems who have
surveyed through the county to the I'M
limited resources that may be easily
developed as soon as its rich fields are
connected with the larger cities sur
rounding it.
Less than three yearsrago electric =
cars penetrated only the most eastern +
portions of the county. At that time
the farmers were prejudfcd against a
railroad of any kind for the reason
they believed that sEheir7 farms would I.
be ruined if crossed by a set of rails.
MERCHANTS in all the villages fought
them flor fear they would carry the
buying public TO the larger cities. And
to persuade a local capitalist to invest +
ais money in stock was an impossi-
soility.
Interurbans Gain Favor.
Today the smallest country merchant
Is an interurban enthusiast. offering in
ducements of every nature to the sey-
eral promoters IL they will promise
that the road will be laid by their
doors. Land owners in many instanc-
es are furnishing free right of ways, :
and besides are taking great blocks of $
stock. City men with money to in .
vest are waiting for opportunities to
lake interurban stock
Muscntine North & south
That the Muscatine North & South
railway intends extending the line to 6
Burlington this coming spring is now t
believed by those who are in closeA c
touch with the matter here All the g
surveys have been made for the work. L
and it is understood thar the contract q
Tor the work has already been given +
% an eastern firm of contractors It Z
s also believed that in the spring of -
1911 the road will be extended to Dav-
import by the way of Sweetland Cen :
er and Blus Grass. Following this it =
8 said that the lire will be electrified :,
md an interurban 80 miles in length
md tapping absolutely virgin territory T
will be running from Davenport, to
:
spends 100000 During Summer.
General Manager Howard of the L
North & South Is very reticent about o
he matter and refuses to make a
tatement. However, the company has
pent nearly 100000 the past summer ;,
Hing up the thestle work on the river =,
ront at Muscatine for a distance Of Il