Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 195, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 August 1911 — Purtelle Still Trying to Build His Interurban Road. [ARTICLE]

Purtelle Still Trying to Build His Interurban Road.

Eugene Purtelle, the Interurban promoter, was in town again Thursday and Friday. He neither admits nor denies that he has abandoned the part of the line through Rensselaer. He states that the part of the line from the Kankakee river to Thayer will be pushed to early completion, and intimates that the route south from Mt. Ayr will depend upon how much help is given him by those along the proposed line. He states that men will be put to work in the vicinity of Thayer as fast as he can secure them and that he will use 500 men if he can hire that many. He says that a small force is now at work, which will be increased daily, and that tents have been erected on the ground to accommodate the laborers.

His engineer, Mr. Slyback, who was here this week, stated that arrangements had been made with the Monon railroad to furnish dirt for the long fill between Thayer and the river, and also that enough second-hand rails had been purchased from the Monon to lay several miles of track. He also stated that a car load of timber had been received over the Monon from Chicago for use on the work near Thayer, and Mr. Purtelle while here exhibited a receipted freight bill for the shipment. It is reported in some quarters that the Monon is backing this road, but this report may be taken for what it is considered worth, as may the other statements.