Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 137, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 June 1914 — Says Interurban On Street Is Valuable to Property. [ARTICLE]

Says Interurban On Street Is Valuable to Property.

These has been some objection to granting a franchise to the interurban for the use of Cullen street, on the theory that it Win be a detriment to property. Several who held this view in the first place have changed their minds and instead of opposing it are now directfavor of ft and will be disappointed if the interutban is not run on that street, crossing Washington street at the Makeever hotel. The writer has 'lost no opportunity to talk with people about the effect street cars and interurbans have cor property and experience seems to be that the property in front of which the oars pass is greatly -benefited instead of damaged. Delphi forced the Wabash Valley Traction company to skirt the edge of the town and this fact has proven a great disadvantage to business interests as well as to inconvenience to the public. Delphi people today wish that the interurban ran right through the heart of the town. Mr. L, J. Burdge, of Logansport, who is connected with the credit department of the International Harvester Co., comes to Rensselaer several times a year. He stated today that (he owns property in .Loganspoert right on the street car end interurban road and that his prop erty is valued ait SSOO more than property a block off the line and Otherwise of equal value. He-says that bis experience every place is the same. He stated that the hauling of freight cars through the streets off Logansport by the interurban is in no manner objectionable and that he likes to see it. He says that the advantage to Loganspotrt business interests in having the interurban run through the business district is inestimable. Business comes in abundance that would not eome if the cars simply skirted the outskirts and left the passengers from three to a dozen blocks to walk before they reached the stores.

The Republican believes that every residence property on Cullen street will be enhanced In value if the interurban is constructed over that street, and that Rensselaer should desire to make this road so attractive to (the people who will live along the route that they will want to come (here frequently. We may be a big city some day. We are located (right This railroad will help us and we want to have this road traverse the part of the town where the passengers will want to alight We can’t afford to be small or reactionary. Sixsevenths of the people of Marion township voted a subsidy tax for the road and we believe ninetynine hundredths of them want the road built and want the city council to grant a franchise that will bring the greatest advantage to our business interests. Cullen street is the logical route and is the very one the council should exact that the road be constructed on.