Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 10, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 January 1912 — COUNCIL DID NOT BLOCK MATCH FACTORY PROGRESS. [ARTICLE]

COUNCIL DID NOT BLOCK MATCH FACTORY PROGRESS.

Contract For Water Drews Up at Suggestion of Factory Promoters ■ But Not Signed by Them. The impression has gone abroad that the city council on advice of City Attorney Leopold was'blocking the match factory progress by refusing to extend the city water mains to the factory. This is not the case, howcver, as explained by Mr, Leopold. Messrs. Sterling and Longachre met with the council several times and the water proposition was discussed. At first the factory people propose 1 giving a bond to indemnify the city against loss in extending its watermains, but later that they found it impossible to supply a bond of this character and that another means would have to be adopted. Mr. Longachre met with the council a”d hiffiself proposed that the following plan be adopted: The factory peopi* to put in the water mains and bardie all rents derived ,by the extension to the factory addition. These rents -and the water Bent for the factory to be charged against the company and retained by them as a reimbursement for the construction expense on the mains. The company was to sell the main at cost to Rensselaer, at any time the city wished to buy, charging 6 per cent interest on their investment. \

Based upon this proposition, Attorney Leopold was instructed to prepare a contraet and the Mayor was authorized to sign it. The contract was prepared and a copy given to Mr. Longachre, who- pronounced it entirely satisfactory. He asked that he might Make it to his attorney-for' his approval and said that if found all right would be signed and returned. That was almost three months ago and since then nothing has been heard by the council from the company on the subject and the contract was never returned. The council has done nothing to stand in the way of the factory completion and deserve credit for having properly safeguarded the interests of the city.

Mr. Longachre, who was expected here Monday to take active control of the situation, was prevented from coining by the ser'bnp sickttesS of his father. He will probably come before long and the adjustment of the water matter will be ‘feasy if the factory is completed according to the contract the promoters have with the commercial club.