Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 32, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 February 1911 — SAYS RIGHT-OF-WAY SHOULD COST NOTHING. [ARTICLE]

SAYS RIGHT-OF-WAY SHOULD COST NOTHING.

William Thom Writes from Marlon to Encourage Rensselaer to Do All It Can for Interarban.

William Thom, who is now in Marion, but who owns a farm ip Jasper county, lives in an interurban district and knows the value of electric roads. He has seen that The Republican favors the proposition of the Commercial Club taking hold of the proposition to build the railroad and writes some encouraging words about that feature of the project. He says: “I am glad to note that your citizens 1 are taking some renewed interest-in the proposed interurban line from Hammond to Lafayette. There is nothing discouraging in the action of the first promoter. The first interurban line in Indiana was projected or brought about by a so-called ‘crank,’ a ‘theorist,’ 'a ‘dreamer,’ and Clodfelter, the first man to conceive the idea and start the work on the idea that resulted in a reality, is given little credit today, but it is nevertheless a fact that Clodfelter was the originator of the now famous interurban system of roads in Indiana, which is not surpassed by any in the world. Your Commercial Club can aid and encourage your proposed road as can your citizens generally. They should see to it that the right-of-way costs nothing, and any farmer thai may attempt to collect fees for right-of-way stands terribly in his own light.”

Mr. Thom has sent to this office a copy of the Marion Chronicle, containing an article treating on the development of electricity as a motive power. It shows that the localities that have built electric lines have grown in importance and in wealth. The Republican believes that the Rensselaer Commercial Club should appoint a committee to get into communication with Eugene Purtelle and ascertain what he expects to undertake and if there is any way that his interests can be secured we believe the club would do a great thing for Rensselaer if it rehabilitate the movement to build this road. It was proposed when the club was started to secure a factory and it was expected to pay from SIO,OOO to $20,000 for one. If this amount could be expended in securing a railroad it would be worth' much more than a factory would. Mr. Thom’s letter should causa our people to give considerable thought to this proposition. The building of the road would mean thousands of dollars to Jasper county and an aid and a convenience to practically every inhabitant.