Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 130, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 June 1914 — TERMS OF FRANCHISE WERE AGREED UPON [ARTICLE]

TERMS OF FRANCHISE WERE AGREED UPON

Council and Interurban Promoters In Special Session Prepare Franchise Ordinance.

The city council in special session worked until a late hour Monday night in finally agreeing upon the terms of the franchise ordinance for the Indiana Northwestern Traction Co. The terms of the franchise had been practically agreed upon a week before, but on Monday night City attorney Leopold offered a franchise that embodied a number of additions and changes. The council and the prOmotart* went carefully over the document and •when it was finally completed there had not been many changes of importance. Members of the council had talked with constituents during the week and found that the public favors the granting of a franchise without delay and it was clearly in evidence that they proposed to brook no further delays that were net Justified by important new conditions. ' .

The franchise will be published in The Republican within the next few days and every person in Rensselaer should read it and thus become familiar with the terms. The council has set Monclay evening, June 22nd, as the time for listening to. objections by taxpayers. • The streets Which the railroad company has asked the right to use are College avenue to Vine street and thence north to the city limits, also another route which would cut across from the college to the south side of the city, cross the river near the B. D. MeColly property, and thence over Cullen and Forest streets to the north side of the city, passing through town on the east side of the court house. • Mr. Roberts, president of the road, stated to a representative of The Republican today that he 'had decided to postpone actual work for a short time. Some elections are pending in Benton county and this will require some attention from himself and the others Who are associated with him in the .project.

It will be three weeks before the public hearing is given and it fa not improbable that construction will be postponed until after that time. Mr. Roberts, Mr. Zimmerman and Mr. Wilson believe that there has been some hostility to their proposition that fa not prompted altogether by unselfish motives, and they say that construction would have already been in progress had there been no opposition to .the granting of the franchise. It fa hoped that those who have this matter in charge may have the interest of the city and the desire of the people as their sole guides and that needless obstacles will not be placed in the way of the franchise, and this seems the course of the council.