Jasper County Democrat, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 January 1902 — THE EASTERN TRACTION COMPANY. [ARTICLE]

THE EASTERN TRACTION COMPANY.

One of the most Important Interurban railway systems radiating from Indianapolis will undoubtedly be the Eastern traction company's lines, recently reorganized from the Indianapolis & Greenfield railroad. It Is now being rapidly extended from Greenfield to Knlghtstown. and this extension will be In operaUon In less than nine months. From Knightstown it wtll be pushed without delay to Richmond, with branches to New Castle and Connersvllle. From Richmond It will, within a short period, be carried on to Dayton, there to connect with the great Ohio system of electrio roads and compass a territory embracing a population of nearly 4.000.000 people. This will then be to Indianapolis the greatest feeder of all the Interurban lines and to the fortunate Investors a permanent source of gratifying profit. Its securities will be equal to any Investment In Indiana and the fact that the Central trust company of Indianapolis, of which Mr. Charles E. Coffin, one of the most discriminating and conservative financiers of the West, Is president, has undertaken the promotion of the enterprise is sufficient evidence of Its absolutely safe and remunerative character. The officers of the company are all well known and prosperous Indianapolis business men of the highest standing, who have become heavily Interested In the company because of Its superlative control of one of the most prosperous and wealth-produc-ing regions of the West. Not only are the towns through which It passes and will pass and the country It will serve In Indiana extremely rich In products and manufactures, but Its close alliance with the vast electric railway system of Ohio will draw to Indianapolis an enormous business that could not otherwise be made to pay tribute to this city. It will rapidly become one of the most potent factors that could be desired for the further development of the trade of Indian ano 11a Seventeen Miles. The oompany at present owns and operates seventeen miles, In addition to five miles of track It utilises In this city. Tbs present terminus Is Greenfield, but before Aug. 1 next cars will be run regularly to Knlghtstown and no delay will be allowed in completing the further extensions proposed. At present the company operates ten cara The running time between the court houses of Greenfield and Indianapolis Is one hour. A very attractive feature of the road Is Spring Lake park, a delightful summer resort, sixteen miles from Indianapolis, where various entertainments are maintained. The run is made in less than an hour and a great many city people avail themselves of the ride out both afternoons and evenings during the warm months. The original company started to operate the present Une June 19, 1900, and has been remarkably successful from the beginning. The power station la four miles west of Greenfield, near Spring Lake park, and la a model of perfection.

It oont&lns two 800 horse-power engines, which are much in excess of present needs, but were placed In position In anticipation of the proposed extensions There are two K. W. generators and three 250 horse-power boilers. The switchboard Is the most complete and expensive in connection with any similar plant, and cost SB,OOO. The oompany has an ample supply of ■flfater and operates Its own private water works. The officers of the Eastern traction company are Frank Maus Fauvra, president; Medford B. Wilson (president of the Capital national bank), treasurer; John W. Chlpman, manager and secretary. Under the personal control and direction of these gentlemen there can be no question regarding the future of the Eastern traction company, and the people of this state will be fortunate If they prevent the control by capital of this potent factor of state development by eubscrlblng liberally for Its securities. There Is no part of the country where people are more prosperous or where money Is more plentiful than In Indiana, and It Is. to say the least, bad policy to let capitalists of other states reap all the benefits of these Important electric highways within our own borders.