The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1918-01-10
peve1oping Freight Facilities.

Ken0sha people should take more IMAM
passing interest in the suggestion OF
Britton I. Budd, President of the Chi
cago, North Shore and Milwaukee Elec-
trio railway company, that the Lines OF
this company be utilized for freight
traffic. The plan has been suggested as
a war emergency measure but President
Budd does not appear to be making any
effort to camoufage it in this manner
and he frankly admits that his com
pany would like to get slice OF the
big freight business of the North Shore
in and out Of Chicago. We would not
be agreeable to the running of freight
trains through the heart Of the city. 1t
is not the place for freight trains. 1t
the Kenosha Electric Railway company
suggested that it run freight trains
down Main street and stop at each
store for the delivery of freight the
plan might appeal to few people but
it would appeal to only a few people.
There are places for carrying freight
and the places do not include the main
streets of cities. Railways are usually
built some where not to interfere with
business districts Of cities. They should
be built so as to Inconvenience the
least number of the people of city.
1t seems to us that this has been the
case Of the North Shore Line. The pro-
per utilization of vast investments Of
capital is a matter greatly to be desired
at this critical time in the history of q
nation. The best possible shipping
facilities are to be desired for every
city at any time in it's history.
The North Shore line has consider
able possibilities as freight line. 1t
can not offer all that the steam lines
can offer 1t might be hard to run a
#rain a mile long over it and provide
for the proper distribution of freight
from 1T to lot Of lines leading east
and west out Of Chicago but the line
can do much to relieve congestion of
aoca1 freight. Kenosha has big pack
age Of freight business with Chicago
and Milwaukee. Nearly all of this
freight could he handled with dispatch
NV cars on the North Shore line. From
midnight until dawn the lines of this
ccmpany are practically out of use.
There are eighty miles of railway which
aose their value to the people when the
owl car starts North and South from
Kenosha. This is mighty poor con-
Bervation Of resources.
Some people seem to think that the
company will insist that war time en-
Urgency be converted into peace time
convenience. What if it is9 IF the
North Shore company can contribute
materially to The shipping facilities of
Kenosha and it's neighboring cities we
can see no reason why the door should
be slammed in its face. The company
has shown a willingness TO do things
and do them in big way anL there
is every reason to believe that if it goes
into the carrying of freight that the
service it will offer to the cities it
touches viii be the same efficient ser
vice that it has offered in the line of
passenger traffic The Factor that the
cars may be run by electricity rather
than by steam viii be in no way eff
feet the prompt delivery Of freight.
The company should be encouraged
il the movement. North Shore munich
pal cities should add the weight of their
influence to the movement started by
the company in Chicago. 1t is dis
tinetively q community question. 1t
is one that may well be taken up by the
Chamber of Commerce, the Retailer .
Association and the Manufacturer IS AS.
ISOLATION. Undoubtedly with the pro.
per support of these organizations and
similar organizations in other cities
along the lines Of the company closer
relations could be established with
Chicago. Possibly the problem of get.
ting passengers into the loop by the
electric lines would be more easily
solved. Possibly the development OF
the business of this company along
these lines would make it possible fol
the officers of the company to see the
great chances offered for the building
of new line to connect Kenosha will
the great territory to the west of the
city. Certainly there can be no loss t
the city in giving proper support t.
the movement.
Chicago people have shown willing
ness to look on the plan with favor anc
there seems to be no good reason why
the other cities to be benefited by i
should not show willingness to co
operate.