Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 48, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 February 1914 — I. R. R. MEANS MANY GOOD THINGS FOR US [ARTICLE]

I. R. R. MEANS MANY GOOD THINGS FOR US

J. L. Brady Says Electric Roads Work Marvels in California — Rates Are Compared.

An interesting letter was received by The Republican from J. L. Brady, now engaged in the motwcycle and bicycle business in Stockton, Cal., and from it tile following interesting features are taken: “Enclosed please find $1.50 for year’s subscription to The SemiWeekly Republican. We appreciate the paper very much as it keeps us in touch with home folks, and, after all, while California is now our home, yet we shall always think of Rensselaer as ‘home.’ “Glad W hear the goocbnews ttiat Marion township has again rolled up a big vote in favor of a subsidy ifox the interurban. None of your citizens realize the many conveniences and enormous savings which will come to Jasper county with a new railroad. I always favored another road but I now see its needs and advantages as never before. “Stockton is further from San Francisco by 10 miles than Rensselaer from Chicago. It is also much more expensive to build railroads here and to maintain them as well. Between here and San Francisco expensive bridges and several tunnels had to be constructed with deep cuts and heavy Alls. Materials are much higher and wages too as compared to the east, and yet our freight and express rates are ridiculouslylow as compared to the rate Rensselaer is compelled to pay. Just received 8 crated bicycles from San Francisco with freight of 48 cents. Received 3 a few days ago with freight of 25 cents. And yet the haul is 10 miles further and the railroads at double the expense to build and maintain. “It is the smallest kind of business sense for anybody to register his vote against this subsidy whether he lives in Marion, Jordan or Carpenter. The, s only fellow it might hurt is the businessman in Remington, and, if those who have gathered statistics on the effect of interurbans on the business of small towns are correct,' even the volume of business of the small towns will be Increased by the in- - terurbans. Well, inasmuch asT&rpenter township has missed her opportunity, let the citizens of Wolcott sieze theirs and land this road. “Glad to see The Republican’s stand in the telephone matter. The present rate may be too low to Justify an up-todaite plant, but the patrons are entitled to and should - demand better service A few years ago the rate was raised on business phones where the new Instruments were installed and we were promised a lot of things which we never got Rensselaer’s long distance rate, however, seems pretty stiff in

comparison to ours. From here to San Francisco is 25 cents and the same low rate prevails to other poins up to 50 miles. “We are quite well and enjoying the finest weather in the world. Had a little .thunderstorm last night, very unusual here. OUR BABY, -well, what’s the use, she : is the only baby. “P. S. Arthur Branch is recovering.” (