Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1912-07-25

the population as shown by the 1900 United States Government census.
 The lnterurban is in position to he of unlimited benefit to the com munlty through which it operates by furnishing cheap electric power to the large number of small industries | that are always to be found in small towns. The offering for sale of such | power is material incentive to l small manufacturing industries to To- | cate along the right-ofway, which, 1 of course increase the population in | the community, thus working double l benefit to the interurban as well as to the community which it serves.
 Many illustrations have come to my notice of the adv1sability and advantages gained by such communi- l ties through the sale of power to their manufacturing industries dur ing the last few years when water for steam making purposes was quite scarce in North Texas. The furnish ing of such power often enables the electric lighting plant in the small town to buy current much cheaper than it could manufacture it, thus enabling it to furnish an all day ser vice and other conveniences which tend to develop and promote resi- dence building in these small towns, and thus holding and adding to their population, practically precluding the tendency of the population to migrate toward the cities
 It is well known fact that the people living in the small towns and cities, through which the interurbans have been built, very quickly improve the appearance of their homes, chur- ches and business houses by repaint ing and remodelling them because l they make frequent trips to the lar ger cities where such Improvements are considered of more consequence, which awakens the spirit of pride and public spirit within them, with the consequent upbuilding and inn 1 provement of their buildings in their i own community and this develop ment in each instance is continuously going on at rate that is little short of marvellous.
 Because of the rapid and frequent service given, the average being about 36 trains, or IS trains each way day, continuous urban popula- ton from city to city, and town to
 
 many ways. It means much to the wage-earners and others of limited means, as it enables them to pur- chase much more commodious homes in the outlying districts than they could otherwise afford in town, and it gives them frequent and reliable service to and from the larger cities where their daily employment is gen. Ill., xytci0 <f in
 transportation does not so much cause the population to drift the more densely populated sections as it does to attract persons to reasonably close proximity to the interurban, so that the quick transportation is avail able when needed.
 It enables the farmer to leave his horse hltched to the blow or culti- vator, in the field. and go to town or city and purchase "a necessary 4 repair part, getting back to his blow with a minimum loss of time. It en- ables the small merchant, through frequent express service, to supply his customer with up-to-date wares on short notice. It enables the fre- 1uent delivery of mail. It enakles the farmer to carry his family sev- eral miles to church, and to send his children daily to city schools. It en- ables the resident of the small town to visit the city and enjoy the opera or theatre, and return from 10 to 30 miles within remarkable short time after the performance is over. It enables the farmers to transport his produce quickly to the highest mar ket whether it be five or 30 miles distant and return with the proceeds of his sale within a few hours. It has built up rich settlements along it's route. It has built up great cities. It has increased and developed mag nificently the resources of the cOun- try through which it operates. It has increased the payrolls of the diff ferent towns and cities. It has mater tally increased the revenue to the city, county and state through the payment of taxes. It has developed the intellectual and financial stand ing of the communities. In doing all this it has torn down nothing. It has not made vacant, nor left undesirable any property along it's route. It has laid waste no fields. It has left vacated no buildings. It has been a benefactor to all mankind in almost every walk of life.
 We are living in an age of rapid progress and development and in the building of the interurban we are furnishing to the country and suhur- ban district practically the same pub lie utility services that have done so much in the past in the develop ment and building up of the larger cities.