Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 151, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 June 1914 — GIFFORD BRANCH HAS ITS FIRST WRECK [ARTICLE]

GIFFORD BRANCH HAS ITS FIRST WRECK

Chicago Parties Enroute to Springer Ranch Delayed by Engine Going Into Ditch. NO ONE WAS INJURED. Accident Occurred at Lewistown— Heavy Engine Was Too Much for Track—Prospectors to the Springer Ranch on the V. J. Crisler & Co. Excursion Had an Experience Long to Be Remembered—Went 1 Balance of the Trip in Automobiles—Reporter Visited Springer Ranch Friday. The first wreck which. has occurred on the Gifford branch of the Momon since the latter company took charge of it, occurred at 12:45 o’clock today, Saturday, whet. the V. J. Crisitr & Co. special train from Chicago to the Springer ranch met with trouble at Lewiston. The Mo non road had sent a special coach and a heavy engine to 'MeCoydbuig to transport the excursionists /from Chicago to the scene oif the Springer ranch, north of Laura. The prospectors in charge of Attorney John S. Dunlap and the Chicago agent® for the Southern Investment and Sales Co,, went through Rensselaer on the 11:05 train. They transferred to the Gifford road at The train proceeded safely as far as Lewiston, when the rails spread and the big engine went into the ditch. The passengers were ia.ll shaken up some but none were injured to amount to anything. The coach was well filled.

It had been planned to stop for an hour at Newfltand to Show the prospective buyers the onions and other truck fields, now in a fine growth, and than to Show them that the land on the Springer ranch was the Same kind and could also raise onions, potatoes, pickles, cabbage, totaatoes and other vegetable crops' It was impossible for the train to proceed and arrangements were at once made to get automobiles to carry the prospectors on to the Springer ranch, Wfibre the sale was to take place. Whether the engine can be placed back on the track in time to make the return trip is vary doubtful and it is not improbable that the regular engine will have to be run down from Kersey and the excursionists Sent home toy thialt route A reporter for The Republican visited the Springer ranch Friday land found that the arrangements ifor the Sale otf the 10-acre plats ihad been nicely made. With the exception otf the headquarters farm, which is occupied iby R. E. Ramsey, and one or two Other improved partis, the land has been cut up initio 10 acre tracts in such manner that every tract facets a road. This was accomplished by dividing each section into quarters, with a road cult ithrough in each direction. There are then flotir tracts otf 10 acres eaclh on each side of the quarter, whale the inner tracts each have a frontage otf 330 feet on a road and extend back to the center of the quarter section or 1,320 feat. The descriptions Of the tracts are tacked up plainly and the price is marked on each description. The tracts of 10 acres each are offered at prices ranging (from SIOO to S2OO per acre The cheaper iland is partly sand and not so well located. It is recommended for chicken raising, aJso for potatoes, pickles, etc. The muck land is the highest priced, while some excellent black soil with some fine com growing on it, is priced at $l5O and $175. Experts Who have examined the soil say there is every reason that it will 'be worth SSOO per acre within a few years. Expert gardeners or men who have some ingenuity and a lot of industry can buy these lOaere tracts and do far batter on them than they can in Chicago. It is not expected to sell many otf the tracts the first day, but to create an interest and then to sell rapidly during the next few weeks. It Will prove very valuable to Rensselaer and to all otf Jasper county to have this land truckfarmled and aH should be boosters in the project. If the land finds a good sale it is probable that a small town will be started on the Gifford branch and given the name of Springer.