Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1910-02-22
lnterurbans.


John Wright, of Pennsylvania, who
worked on farms in the north part of
this county thirty years ago, called on
us, with his wife, recently while on his
way to California. He was full OF
questions about former times and
named our children from their pictures
when shown him, and his recollection
of neighborhood happenings of thirty
years ago was entertaining and anus
ing.
In time I turned the conversation to
what he had been doing since he left
teresting account, a part of which !
wish to recall.
He said: 1 went from here to a town
l20 miles east of Pittsburg on the B.
& O. railroad, a town of about 5000
inhabitants, and about five and seven
miles from two similar towns.
1 bought a little farm joining town
and added to it piece at a time. till
had nearly 400 acres. Then 1 sold most
of it and we moved into town. Some of
US concluded we needed some street
railroad and we organized a company
to build sixty five miles, part of it
TO run out to the other towns. l took
the contract and built twelve miles OF
this in and about our town and now as
soon as the other towns are ready TO
take hold with Us we will run our road
out to them.
I told him I felt much interested in
his story, and if he pleased L would
like to hear as much OF the history of
their street railroad as he chose to
give ME.
We'll" he replied, II know all about
it. / built it and own more than half
the stock and EXPECT in time to build
the rest of the sixty-five miles which
our charter provides for, Our track is
of good sixty pound rails. The grad
ing is the least part Of the expense. our
grades are limited to > yer cent. Inc
cost of our twelve miles and equip
ment was about $4,000 per mile. we
have fine powerhouse and every-
thing made of the best and sufficient
for our whole line. The machinery
was expensive. and 1 had it made and
placed and warranted by those who
know how. so when we We're ready to
start things went off without any fuss
or friction I had the contract and
put in everything I had and all l could
borrow ard pushed things
Well. I remarked, you seemed to have
confidence in il. Yes he replied'
somebody had to have, and my doing
as I did inspired others with confidence
and made things go lively. We were
working it on a home stock subscrip-
ton and it was easier collecting 1t
when work was going on lively.
How has your railway paid on the
investment? I asked, TO which he re-
Piled, with emphasis, From the day we
started our first car it has more than
paid expenses and interest.
MANY of our people sold their stock
as soon as they could get their money
| back. The road was what they wanted
and when they could come out ever
they were more than satisfied Some
held on awhile and got more for theiI
stock. I can get 81 for every 81 I have
in it. but l don't want to sell. Then
l want to build some more if our in
terurban road, our people, and the peo-
ple of the other towns are ready to
help"
Why. asked. can you not go or
and sell stock, if it is worth double, ano
build and complete your line?
We'll" he answered, 81 own it anc
/ control il and have tried it and l know
can make it pay, and I want to con-
/ tinue 10 make it pay, and can use the
! profits of the company in extending It's
/ lines. If our people don't want to hell
there is plenty of capital watching u;
and would snap up our stock quick L
j it could get a chance to do it,
4 Now comes another with i1terurba1
news, Oliver Howard of Red Oak, wht
was brought up in this county, cam'
with his wife and stopped with Us OF
a visit. From him we learn that PEG
pie in Red Oak, Greenfield, De:
Moines, and intermediate points hav'
organized a company to build an in
terurban line and have raised a stool
subscription of 100000. The presiden
( of the company is prominent bust
4 ness man in Greenfield who is
brother Of an interurban builder. wh'
has successfully built and equipped
over thousand miles of street ant
interurban railroads, in and about Co
lumbus. Dayton, Cincinnati, and othe
cities in Ohio and some cities in In
diana and is now head Of a compan.
which built, financed, and owns ant
manages a line in and between tw'
large cities.
A field man of this company ha