Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 119, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 May 1911 — PURTELLE RENTS OFFICE; ASKS FOB RIGHT-OF-WAY. [ARTICLE]

PURTELLE RENTS OFFICE; ASKS FOB RIGHT-OF-WAY.

Premotor of Electric Bead Says Be Will Start Construction at Oaee If It is Procured. Eugene Purtelle met a dozen or so people in the east court room Thursday night. Probably a, few more would have been there if it had not been for the school entertainment and one or two other But there was not very much enthusiasm when he made his announcement and there la not apt to be very much enthusiasm following the developments of the meeting. However, you can’t tell. Mr. Purtelle says that if a committee is appointed and the right-of-way procured he will begin construction. lie did not offer to soil any stock and did not say where he intended to get the money. He mad 3 the plain statement that he wants the right-of-way procured through Marion township and that when this is done he will start a gang of workmen on the grade for the road.

Rensselaer does not stand to lose a cent on the Purtelle proposition so far as we are able to figue out. If the right-of-way is procured the transfer of the land will hinge upon the building and operation of the railroad and there is no one here that would be foolish enough to purchase any stock in the road in its present state of promotion and place the money in Mr. Purtelle’s hands. He is not asking this and the proposition is simply one of boosting and he will find that Rensselaer people are ready to do this with a will, just as soon as they are given any assurance that Mr. Purtelle can make good. He proposes to build the road from the south line of Marion township through the city of Rensselaer and west to Mt. Ayr, passing straight through Newton township. He is taking similar steps and making similar promises to start work at Mt Ayr if the right-of-way is procured. He will ask later that it be procured in Newton township and will ask that a subsidy be 'voted there. The tax paid In this township wilt not be available until the road is completed through the township and trains run over It. The subsidy can not be paid in Jackson township until the same conditions are complied with. Mr. Purtelle indicated that he expects to build this much of the road for a starter, and to operate trains over it, between the south end of Marion township and through Rensselaer to Mt. Ayr and to the north part of Jackson township. This would make the subsidy in Marion and Jackson townships available, amounting to approximately $50,000. Sixteen miles of railroad might be built cheaply for $160,000, including a power house and one or two cars. Mr. Purtelle acts as though ha considers it possible to build that much road. Those who have'heard his plan consider it very vague but are Milling to grant him all the hope ha wants experimentally. He claims that he has let a contract for a continuance of the work between Chicago Heights and Dyer and that he will rjm his road northward to Dyer as fast as l\e can. That may be very slow progress but if it ever gets there it will be a good thing for Rensselaer. He also says that he will continue tht work southward as fast as he can, running it to Remington and then to Wolcott and Lafayette. ■ Without any disrespect whatever, we may compare Mr. Purtelto to J. Rufus Wallingford, and some people think he Is just the kind of a man to build a railroad and a lot oi others hope he will be able to do It. He has rented the corner suite of rooms in the Pythian building, over the postofflce and will establish his headquarters there, furnishing the rooms and keeping some one in charge all the time.

President Worland of the Commercial Club stated Friday night that he would appoint a committee to procure a right-of-way provided he could find one that was willing to act. He has talked to a number and most of them are too busy with private business, but Col. Fred Phillips, who is always ready to give of his own time as a booster, has promised to be one member of the committee. President Worland says that be will decide upon the matter within a day’s time. Should iir. Purtelle be ablq to carry out his plans it is probable that a change in the route through Rensselaer would be rendered necessary by the decision to go by thn way of Mt. Ayr, instead of north through Union township. To follow the first rottte would require crossing the Monon twice and it would not need to be crossed at all in order to get to Mt Ayr. There should be no great difficulty

in getting the right-of-way. If the road is constructed it would prove very valuable to the lands adjoining and land owners will be quick to see this advantage. Let us give Purtelle one good, final push and see if he can malm good. It won’t hurt us a particle and might, yes, there is a chance, do us a lot of good.