The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1913-11-20

EuSIlS. Inc question OF OUT
side financial aid was not one of neces-
sity by any means, but the Luces
realized that every stakeholder would
be a booster for and a patron of the
road, and this is the eason why they
are interesting the people along the
line. Favorable public sentiment is
the best asset a road a have.
Mr.. Luce said that the company had
the survey completed as far as Brook
ings, and arrangements have been
made to build the line as far as Ivan
hoe, no matter what action Brook
ings takes. The people along the line
to that point have shown their N
fidence in the company, and they will
get the road within twenty-four
months. Work on the line is now in
progress some distance west Of Mime
apolis and it will be pushed rapidly.
President Luce said that electric
lines are profitable if built honestly
and not over-capitalized. They are
cheaper to operate than steam roads,
and consequently show a bigger mar
gin of profit. He gave some figures
showing the wonderful growth of cleo
trio lines and made the statement that
more miles of electric road was built
last year than of steam roads. At pres
ent there are ten thousand miles of
these lines in Indiana and Ohio, and
today it is possible to go from st.
Louis to Boston by way of New York
entirely on electric roads.
The speaker said that in a recent
conversation with James ]. Hill the
latter had told him that the Luce
line had the best territory through
which to build of any road in the
country. This territory is not de-
veloped, although it is through one of
the best farming sections of the North
west, and there is practically no COM
petition from other roads. We know
that east of and close to Brookings it
goes through a fine farming country
and one that is at some distance from
a railroad.
Mr.. Luce called attention to the
fact that he and his father were put
ting in their good money to build a
conservative and profitable road and
they had just enough confidence in it's
ultimate success to stake their for
tunes.
Such a line, said President Luce,
would increase the valuation of prop
erty in the country through which it
passed, and it would be a business
getter for every city on it's line. The
tendency Of electric lines is not to
promote new towns, but to rather
build up the established trade centers,
such as Brookings. The road would
run trains about every hour and fur
nish excellent service to the man who
wanted to go to Bushnell or Mime
apolis. Local trains would take care
of the short distance traffic, stopping
to pick up passengers most anywhere,
but the limited trains going clear
through would make stops at stations
only. The line will decrease the dis
stance from Brookings to Minneapolis
between fifty and sixty miles.
The electric road will handle all
kinds Of freight, in addition to the
passenger traffic, in fact they will
carry everything that a steam road
does. The passenger and freight rates
are about ninety per cent of what the
steam roads charge. The highest type
of electric motor, which operates the
Luce line cars, will haul one-third
more than the big steam engines. The
equipment Of the electric line cars
will be just as fine as the first-class
overland trains, and their sleepers are
longer and better equipped than the
standard Pullmans.
Mr.. Luce said that the company at
present has 700 men, 700 mules and
three steam shovels working on the
road just west Of Minneapolis. This
force will be greatly Increased and
work pushed with all speed. Where
the track Is being laid at present is a