Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 115, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 May 1915 — HIGHWAY BOOSTERS DINED AT LAFAYETTE [ARTICLE]

HIGHWAY BOOSTERS DINED AT LAFAYETTE

__ _ _ eon by Chamber of CommerceDelegates Elected.

- •••_ _ . The Lafayette Chamber of Comwent from Rensselaer to that city Friday to a splendid luncheon at the Lahr house. It was unexpected by the men who went there to participate in a meeting to plan for the campaign for securing the selection of the Lebanon, Frankfort, Lafayette, Rensselaer, Crown Point and Hammond route as the Dixie Highway. They expected to attend a meeting but did not expect such splendid hospitality as the Chamber of Commerce - had provided. Following the luncheon Thomas Follen, acting as toastmaster, spoke of the necessity for outlining the plan of action that is to be followed at the meeting to be held at Chattanooga, Term., Thursday, May 20th, when the commissioners from the different states are to decide on the route to be officially made the Dixie Highway. He introduced several speakers, including Henry W. Marshall and Mayor Thomas Bauer, of and Mayor Spitler, Delos Thompson and E. P. Honan, of Rensselaer. Also the representatives from Crown Point, Frankfort, Lebanon, Wolcott and all along the line. The impression prevailed that the commissioners from this state, Thos. Taggart and Carl Fisher, might make a divided report at Chattanooga, one favoring the route through this city and the other the South Bend route. It was planned to leave no stone unturned in an effort to have the route through Rensselaer adopted and plans were made to put the most effective argument possible before the beard.

It was shown that the route for which this association is formed is from 40 to 60 miles shorter than the other route, that the roads are In better condition, that it is bound to be the main traveled route between Chicago and Indianapolis and that there was need of a permanent organization to work'for the improvement of the road whether it was the one to Tie adopted by the commissioners from the seven counties or not. The talks were practical and to the point and many ideas for the campaign at Chattanooga were suggested and Congressman Will R. Wood, of the tenth district and Congressman Morrison, of the ninth district, were chosen as the spokesmen for the association. Each county is also to select two delegates to Chattanooga, who are to act with the two congressmen in formulating the campaign. Rensselaer will select its delegates at a meeting to be held at the court house Monday afternoon at 2 o’clock.

The trip is to be made over the Momon railroad to Louisville. The delegates are to go on passenger train No. 5 over the Monon on Tuesday, May 18th. The train leaves this city at 10:55, and leave Lafayette at They will go by way of Louisville. The delegates will arrive in Chattanooga Wednesday morning and thus have a day for their political ‘ work before the date of holding the highway meeting. All three commissioners from Jasper county were present at the meeting in Lafayette ami Charles A. Welch, as chairman of the board, pledged that all that is possible for the board to do would be done to make the route through Jasper county acceptable. He suggested that the south road out of Wolcott should be taken so that the travel would be foivMTgfo the town of Remington, but as the other road as routed in the blue book the north route out of Wolcott was decided on. D. S. Makeevos-made an enthusiastic speech, and said the board would co-operate with the scheme for making a good road over which travelers between Chicago and Indianapolis will run. Mayor Spitler, Delos Thompson and Attorney Honan told of the trip piloting Messrs: Taggart and Fisher from Water Valley to Rensselaer. They wanted to bring them over a road that was better and shorter by almost three miles, but they insisted on coming over the blue book route. It was later learned that the commissioners objected to a so-called “cutoff” that increases the distance. The Rensselaer men agreed to route the highway to avoid this back tracking and to save the three miles mentioned. The value of the Dixie Highway to the communities through which it is routed is hard to estimate. A Hamsjt will result in a demand for a modern lintel with baths and other convenaences. While the conviction exists among the boosters that will be able to route 75 per cent of the travel I over thite route even if the other is

y p . '■ r ’ : >■ - \ -r;,. . , mg at Chattanooga next Thursday promises to jbe a^ lively one < witf^two