Connecticut western news., 1909-06-03
TROLLEY PROSPECTS
 ARE LOOKING UP
SINCE VISIT OF THELEGISLATORS

spected inc Proposed Route Ex-
 pressed Themselves as in Favor of
 it-What an Expert Says on Subject
 Since the visit of the legislative con- mittee on railroads and street railways to Southern Berkshire as far as Canaan, those who had the opportunity of taking the trip with the lawmakers feel just little bit encouraged as to prospects of of an extension of the Berkshire Street Railway O.. s lines from Great Barring ton to Canaan. Some of the committee members who had previously opposed legislation which would allow such ex- tension changed their opinions and were heard to say that they would favor It.
 l.. s. Storrs, President of the New England Investment and Securities Co.,, gave in Springfield recently an address on trolley extension in Western Massa- chusetts, the tenor of which was that the undeveloped areas Tn Berkshire and Hampshire counties, once the scene of | tivity, are capable of being restored to their former prosperity by means of the trolley. Reference was made to the fact that the state of Iowa was gridironed with transportation lines to such an ex- tent that there IS scarcely spot in that big state that is ten miles from rail road, while Western Massachusetts has several such areas of considerable extent. MT. Storrs says in part
 i "It would seem from this that tha ter ritory between the Berkshires and the Connecticut river, and especially that in the southern portion, should receive at tention, not only from those interested in transportation, but from all who have the ultimate welfare of the common wealth at heart.
 "Thesa figures merely emphasize the desolation which is gradually spreading over this entire area, a condition which believe can be changed in a relatively short time to one of comparative pros perity when proper transportation is provided. By providing transportation I do not mean merely the construction of the necessary line and performing service over the same, but giving that line and all the surrounding territory upon which it depends for ultimate suc- cess, that careful study and constant at tention even to the most minute details which has proved so wonderfully suc- cessful in developing areas in other parts of the country.
 'Is there anyone who claims that this area of 1900 square miles is not suscep- tibiS of development and re-population when supplied with the proper facilities and attention? The hill farms were once productive and that at time when we had not heard of such terms as scientific farming" ana intensive cul- tivation." Today the successful farmer is as attentive to the little details as any of the managers of manufacturing industries. and the "byproducts" of the farms, which formerly were not considered, are made to yield good returns. A soil that is capable of sup. porting f1ourishing brush and weeds in what were once fields of grain and pas ture can certainly once more be made to bear grain and vegetables, and the fen ces of hillside pastures can be extended to include areas containing fodder upon which goats can live, with the other | farm stock.
 Recently scientific examination has been made of the soil through the south ern tract and it is found to be a good productive ground, part of it available for market gardening, other parts for grain, and almost all capable of support ing fruit trees. Portions of this area contain valuable minerals, and of all industries mining of the low grade min erals depends more than any other upon convenient transportation.
 "Here Is surely a territory worth de- veloping and capable of supporting a greatly increased population, greater, in fact, than ever before; with the ultimate result that any transportation company would be financially successful though there would be leaR years when no re turns could be expected on the invest ment.
 Love of The Hoss