The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-05-29
1T MAKES WEALTH
Extensions of Electric Rail-
ways Cause Rise in Values.
SparseIy Settled Regions Are
Now Happy Communities.
TOWNS AND CITIES BUILT
Owners Electric Railway Want
Government Regulation.
Water in Stock Could Not Be
Squeezed Out Now.

New York, May 29.-Tomorrow the
of the American Electric Railway as
ISOLATION and of the American Electric
Railway manufacturing association
will end up on the rival Of their spec
ial train in New York These execu-
tive officers have been journeying
throughout the country since April ~
Their itinerary included eleven thous-
and miles by railway train and four
| thousand miles by trolley cars and
automobiles. With respect to the
number of miles Travelled and the
length of time occupied by this excur-
sion, it is without parallel either IN
this or any other country. At the
time of the departure of these execu-
tive officers it was reported in this
column that the excursion was under
taken for the purpose of bringing
about good understanding between
United States and the communities
which they serve and also to enable
the electric railway companies to ap-
preciate as fully as possible he bene-
fits which these two associations bring
tC the railway companies through
their continuous constructive labots
along the lines of standardization and
efficiency. The electric railway com
millions of newly-created wealth, for
the development of the railway trolley
and the standard electric railroad did
not begin until about the year 1890.
The visible wealth or property of the
electric railroads and the highway
trolleys of the United States is APP
portioned among the thirteen hundred
companies which OWL and operate
forty-two thousand miles of track,
ninety thousand cars and which en-
ploy three hundred thousand persons.
Thes4 railroads are now carrying an
nually approximately eleven billion
passengers and the number is in
creased greatly each year.
The Indirect Wealth.
But while statistics furnish admir-
able records of the visible or assess
able wealth of these companies there
are no records or statistics which can
tell accurately what the wealth indi-
rectly created by these railroads mi
trolleys since 1890 is. The apprecia-
ton of real estate. especially in the
suburbs of large towns, which can be
easily traced to the influence of troll
leys and electric railroads, reaches in
the aggregate a stupendous figure, but
it has been estimated that the extern
sion of trolley lines and elevated rail
roads in New York city now wholly
operated by electricity has increased
the assessable wealth of the city by as
That is the estimate made by some of
the expert real estate appraisers who
are in the employ of the insurance
companies that make large loans upon
the security of bond and mortgage.
The Telephone and Trolley.
1t is now beginning to be understood
by men of large affairs that the tele-
phone and highway trolley are serving
regions even more rapidly than steam
construction has done. The telephone,
the trolley and the automobile truck
are opening up vast tracts which IN
the past were remote from the main
railroad lines. The executive officers
OF the American Electric Railway as
sociation, of which body Thomas NJ
McCarter, of Newark, is the president,
have for a year or two been anxious
to get into personal touch with the
communities in which the highway
trolley of the electrified railway is now
operated. And in order thoroughly to
understand that the universal feeling
in the United States is-at least as far
as boards of trade. chambers of COM
merce and citizens associa ton are |
concerned-respecting the trolley and
electric railroad it was thought exped- !
lent to make an itinerary for a journey
which would practically cover the en- |
tire United States, for there is no con- |
sidera BILE portion of the United States |
now which does not now come under !
the influence or the highway trolley |
or the electrified railway.
Not Pleasure Excursion.
While the journey has abounded in |
incidents and has afforded |
these executive officers an opportunity |
of seeing mucl, the greater part of |
the Unitc1 States, yet this journey has |
been ono of very hard woTs. Most of |
the steam railroad travel has been at |
night. The party. having arrived at |
any town in the morning, was invari- |
ably welcomed by a reception commit /
tee; communities, especially in the |
south and in tie far west, regarded |
the corc1ng of tiis party as an event |
not to be neglected The citizens |
the parry to hotels for break |
fast ana as soon as possible after /
breakfast was ended the visitors were |
taken a1ltomobil'ng or by electric cars |
far into the suburbs for the purpose |
of getting a good idea of |
local conditions In this way, many
hints which hereafter will be- /
come material facts were received by
the party. hints which will lead to ex-
tensions of trolley lines or to construc-
lion of new ones. Usually there were
a luncheon and reception. This OPP
portuniiy was taken for the delivery
IF informal addresses These COM