Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1909-12-09

mail delivery and the installation of
the telephone. Let stranger enter
the neighborhood, either on foot or
driving a strange team or odd looking
vehicle, or if an automobile should be
passing, some one calls up central and
everyone connected on that system is
on the lookout for him before he gets
far along and has no time to work the
farmer, II that should be his business
When the interurban railway has beer
built through the country with many
other conveniences which our city
cousins have been enjoying long ,we
will not hear much of the discomfort
among the rural citizens and the iso
lation Of country life, and the much
talked of problems of how to keep our
boys and girls on the farm.
with all those modern conven
fences and quick means of conveyance
as Is now furnished by the autome.
biles when the roads are good and
which can be furnished by the interim
ban at all times regardless OF bad
roads, then and not until then will
these social and Industrial problems
be solved that are written and talked
so much about by the writer's Of farm
papers. G am glad to say, however,
list only in the fertile mind OF the writ
cry. have talked with a great many
farmers not only in Wapello county
but in other places where the ipterur
bans have been built and in use for
some time. and they almost universal,
!ly say that they would not be without
| it for many times its cost to them,
/ either in increase OF taxes or donation
OF the right-of-way to the builders 81
the road. Some say we do not want
4 it, as it will increase tho price of our
7 farms, making higher assessments and
thereby increasing the taxes on farm
property. While we will admit this il
true. the conveniences to be derived
by the farmer by having the interur
ban near his home is woYa many
times the raise in his taxes by beinH
able to make quick trips to town with
bis vegetables, fruit. dairy products,
and in fact everything that is produc-
ed on the farm and in securing the
HIGHEST market price for his goods by
being able TO deliver them fresh to his
customers at any time regardless Of
the bad conditions OF the road such
as we are now having in Wapello
county. | know from personal exper-
fence that often in the busy season
the wife or children may have to 60
ito town to do some important trading,
when if one was connected to the
town by an interurban line they could
make the trim ard not have to take a
team from the field, which is quite IN
item with the farmer when he is busy
aultiyatine or caring for his matured
crops. Now, my brother farmers, let
MS be on the lookout for everything
tibet is offered Us to improve our finan-
cial and social conditions We all now
, admit that the rural mail service the
telephone and the automobile have
i not only added to our happiness and
pleasure but have been benefit to rs
: financially by keeping us posted on
$ market changes | notice In a little
hook before me, the cost Of an cleo
: trio interurban, as computed by w. Al.
, Rowland Of New York City--that to
!; proiect, build ard equip an internrban
, ard nut on the rolling stock--costs an
. proximately, in rornd numbers, $2.750
3 per mile. or in other words. an inter
!. urban line twenty-five miles long,
: would cost when finished with good
! material ard ready TO commence busi.
t ness, s6S,T50. AS said before, have
= talked to a good many farmers and
l. nave hlSU TCtElFcu. lSttEiS ItoIl
/ asking what we as farmers can do to
!, bring the nteruTban within our reach
t I'll tell you what we should do when
d ever an interurban presents Itself to
$ u.s. Do not let that opportunity pass
g as it is said that opportunity knocks
0 at our door but once, and If we do gu,
y duty to secure an interurban line, our
y county will be lined with them in ev
8 cry direction in the near future"
Mayor Says Street Stands Must Go.
G Davenport, Dec. THE fruit stand.
s and shoe shining stands on the stree
y corners and sidewalks will all go afte
!, April of Mayor Scott has his wa,
and it is evident that fight to pu
4 them all off the streets will be madt
d next spring.
"a April first the licenses which man,
:. OF the men who conduct stands hold
will expire, and the mayor is in favo
lof issuing new ones to none of them