The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1913-11-22
LUCE ELECTRIC LINE
President Luce Visits Brookings
a d Explains His
System

Brooklngs Register, %: Last FRI
day was n of the biggest days for
Brookings boosters since the organiza-
tiaon of the commercial club. Presi-
dent Luce of the Electric Short Line
Company. was here from Minneapolis
ard spent the day as the commercial
clubs guest, and at the evening meet
ing he outlined the progress of the road
and it's plans in 60 far as Brookipgs
was concerned Following the meet
ing a grand banquet was served at
the Leon hotel, to celebrate the
change of management, and Mr.. Luce
and Prof. N. K. Hansen, the plant
explorer of the state college, were the
guests of honor.
President Hall of the commercial
club introduced Mr.. Luce and he ex-
| planned how he and his father came to
| be interested in the electric road.
Some ten years ago they were the
owners of a big string of grain ele-
~vatois, but foreseeing the coming of
the farmers cooperative elevators
| they sold out. Where to best invest
their money was a problem but after
much investigation they chose the elec-
trio railway field. They went to work
quietly and it took them five years to
get title to the present splendid ter
minal property OF the company in the
heart of the wholesale district and
close to the retail, hotel and theatre
districts of Minneapolis. With this
important work completed they started
their actual work of building the line
westward. They proposed to build
forty miles of road free Of indebted.
ness and bond the line to extend the
work ON westward. They had expect,
ed to retain the complete ownership OF
the road themselves, but a move by
prominent bankers and business men OF
Minneapolis induced them to form a
stock company. The bankers and
business men asked for an opportun'
ity to invest in the stock of the com
pany, and President Rogers OF the
Minneapolis Commerce and Civic as
ISOLATION, at the request of the Luces.
appointed a committee Of prominent
meI to GO over the company's books
and investigate it's immediate and fu.
ture prospects. This report was &C
highly favorable to the company that
they found ready backing from the mcsi
prominent bnakers and business men,
including Ex-Governor Van SAINT and
ex. Mayor Eustis. The question of &C.
cepting outside financial aid was not
one of necessity by any means but
the Luces realized that every stock,
holder would be a booster for and
patron of the road. and this is the
reason why they are interesting the
people along the line. Favorable pub
lie sentiment is the best asset a road
can have.
Mr.. Luce said that the company had
the survey completed rs far as Brock
ines, and arrangements have beer
made to build the line al far al
Ivanhoe, no matter what actor
Bookings takes. The people along
the line to that point have shown
their confidence In the company, and
they will get the road within twenty
four months. Work on the line IL
now in progress some distance west o.
Minneapolis and it will be pushet
rapidly.
President Luce said that electric
lines are profitable If built honestl.
and not overcapitalized. They arr
cheaper to operate than steam roads
and consequently show q bigger mar
gin Of profit. he gave some figure
showing the wonderful growth Of cleo
trio lines and made the statement tina
more miles of electric road vas bull
last year than of steam roads. A
present there are ten Thousand miles o
these lines in Indiana and Ohio, an,
today it is possible to go from st
Louis to Boston by way Of New Yorl
entirely on electric roads.
Such \ line, said President Luce
would increase the valuation o
property in the country through
which it passed, and it would be
business getter for every city OF it
line. The tendency of electric line
Is not to promote new towns. but Il
rather build mp the established trad
-..A~- 80 }. R~onklnn~ qNh> ~n~S