Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1911-01-19


electric roads running into
Springfield. The only trading
done in Columbus and Dayton,
cities twice and three times our
population, is done by parties
who would go away from the
city even if we did not have cleo
trio roads.
Chicago Heights, Illinois; pop
$4,000; 20 miles from Chicago
This is the best year we have
ever had. Electric railroads
bring a great many people into
our town to do their trading.
Versailles, Kentucky; pop. s.
600; IL miles from a city of 100,-
600 op.-Electric railroads have
not made any decrease in trade.
Lyons, New York; pop. 5000
40 miles from city of los, 900 pop
and SO miles from city of $50, 00C
pop.-Before operating the peo-
pie were opposed to electric rail-
roads, but since, it has benefited
us commercially and socially.
believe it will be the making Of
Lyons instead of otherwise.
am in the hardware business, and
l believe that l can truthfully
say that our increase in business
has been fully 10 per cent.
Xenia, Ohio; pop. $4,000; &c
miles from city of 125,000 pop
Trade has increased wonderfully.
Population increased nearly
double. Hundreds of homes have
been built. We have another
road to Springfield, IS miles dis
tant. Building of traction lines
from small places into large cities
help both, and if is an ordinary
sized place like ours the mer-
chants, having cheaper rent, can
easily compete with large city.
We have two electric railroads
and two steam railroads.
Columbus, Indiana; pop. H.
500; Al miles from city of Us, 600
pop.-Some of our merchants
complained at first, but they have
more than made up for the loss
now. Our trade has gradually
increased yearly, but much more
so after the electric line was built.
The old fashioned credit sys-
tenn which was always a blight
gives away to increased business
for cash. Cities of $4,000 or Np-
wards become distributing points
to merchants in smaller places.
The wholesale merchant instead
of buying in carload lots or less
buys several carloads at a time.
They pay cash and get better
prices than before. They may
divide their increased profit with
the retailer and thus stimulate
business all along the line.
The intururban railroads are
just the stuff" it will not be
many years before they are just
as important as the telephone
and possibly as general in their
use.
Communities without them will
be at a discount as compared with
these that have them. Every
town that wants these facilities,
however, ought to bear in mind
that it costs something to get
them. They must chip in" and
pay Tor terminals, depotS, shops
and all such necessities. They
ought to join hands with the far
mer, who helps with the grading
and bridging and provide their
part of the expense.
No interurban railway PROPOSE
tion of good commercial merit
will go begging for money to
buy rails, ties and equipment, If
the local interest to be benefited
by its construction, will show
their good faith by taking hold
of the matter in a substantial
and earnest matter.
The money raised locally d.
minishes the amount necessary
to borrow, cuts down the fixed
charges and lightens the bonded
Indebtedness. This in turn in
creases the roads surplus and en-
ables it to pay its dividends
earlier in its career.