Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-12-24
is A MODEL Line.
Traction System" Between
Cottonwood Falls and
Strong City, Kan.
BUT TWO MILES OF TRACK
Four Horses Do Work and Though
Passengers Are Few Good
Dividends Are Paid.

For towns of less than 1.5OO popula-
ton the intercity transportation facii-
ties between Cottonwood Falls and
Strong City. Kan, probably are the
most efficient in the world.
When the age. traditions and history
of the company are considered in con-
nection with the dIgni6ed atmosphere
which permeates the official title of
this public utility. cents is a very
small tariff to charge for its services.
With such name as the Consolidated
Street Railways company it would be
consistent to expect a more remuner
alive tariff than a nickel. The aver
age visitor to the twin villages hav-
ing an ever open eye to bargains i'm
mediately decides that here is a chance
to practice economy of the kind that
economies.
GROUND FLOOR, so TO SPEAK.
More than twenty-five years ago the
system was built by men who had con-
, fidence in the ultimate development of
the two towns. Some day. they rea-
soned, the individuality of Cottonwood
Falls and Strong City will be lost in
the growth of big city. The conclu-
sion at which they arrived is obvious.
| Their tracks would ha the first laid;
their franchise would have premier
privileges over that of any rival COM
pany. The total expense of building
two miles of track was less than $500.
No expensive electrical apparatus
was necessary. A cable with its at
tendant perpiexlties likewise was
avoided. The power system adopted
by the Consolidated Street Railways
company was similar in all the major
and minor details to that employed by
the ordinary farmer in blowing q corn
field. Well fed horses furnished the
motive power then. and the dynamo
has never been renodeied. 1t suffices
for all the problems that have so far
confronted the company's administra
ton.
The car is small. the platform small
er. But the seats are comfortable. and
seldom are there any strap hangers on
the line. The honor system of cash
payment is operated by the company.
a small glass covered box. in the top
Of which is an opening large enough
for n nickel TO slip through, is fastened
at the front of the car
HALF HOUR OF GRACE.
The passengers board the car aud.
after conversing on the topics OF the
day, institute a sort of pilgrimage to
the little glass box. 1t takes n half
hour to make the trip between the
towns. and there is ample time for
each passenger to deposit his nickel
without hurrying.
The combined equipment of the
Consolidated Street Railways COM
pany consists of two cars. four horses. |
a barn. q small pasture and a half
dozen large crowbars which make up
the wrecking crew. Three drivers are
employed by the company. two regular
conductors and relief man. who cares
for the horses and drives for the other
men at mealtime. a regular schedule
is maintained between a. N. and
10 D. m, and seldom does a car carry
less than eight or ten passengers.
Some months ago a motorcar was
given a test trial on the line. but it
was too heavy for the light rails. and
the motor itself gave considerable
trouble. For several days the service
was crippled. and when the real horse
power was restored a sigh Of salts |
kSCllOu WIS III OOlu lON
PAYS DIVIDENDS REGULARLY.
Accidents are unknown to the Con- !
solidated company. Never in its his |
tory has a horse ran away or a car /
turned over. Lawyers who prey with |
suits against public service corpora
lions would starve in the twin villages. |
And probably the absence of accidents,
lawsuit and the like Is a large factor
in the financial success of the COM
pany, for the Consolidated Street Rail-
ways company pays regular and fat
dividends, the small populations of the
towns it connects notwithstanding.
In strict conformity to the Kansas
state laws regulating transportation
companies no free passes are issued
by the company. However, family
passes can be bought. The company I
provided for long expressed demand
when it announced the sale of yearly |
and lifetime pass books. One member
or all of family can ride on the cars
by presenting the pass. The plan has
been very successful and highly pop 1
ular with the company's patrons.