Cuba Patriot, June 8, 1883
Railroads
A town without railroad facilities in this day is looked upon as benighted and unfortunate; and, per contra, a town with many railroads is supposed to be the heir of manifold blessings. This is of course true in a measure.
Railroad facilities are a good thing when they are utilized for the benefit of a community, and the more the better. But there is no especial advantage in having frequent trains run through a place on a dozen roads if they do not bring trade or increase productive activities. The whistles make a welcome noise, the bells sound merrily and the "puff-puff" has an air of business in it, but the road which dispenses nothing but cinders and smoke over a village is not especially valuable.
Railroads are just as handy for people to get out of town on as to get in, and we have known places where the addition of railroad facilities simply led trade away to convenient and larger centers. Still we insist, railroads are a good thing to have, and lots of them.
They furnish a foundation on which a superstructure of increased prosperity may be built, that is, if citizens are inclined to furnish the brick of enterprise and the mortar of money to put up the superstructure. Otherwise - otherwise.
Researched and submitted by Richard Palmer.