Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 135, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 June 1915 — MARION TOWNSHIP TO VOTE ON SUBSIDY [ARTICLE]

MARION TOWNSHIP TO VOTE ON SUBSIDY

Petition Signed by 86 Resident Freeholders Filed and Commissionefw Set July 14th as Date of Election. BABCOCK FILES OBJECTION. Bases It Upon Fact That Other Election Was Within Limit Set By Law, Notwithstanding the Fact That the Charter of the Other Company Was Annulled—Promoter Brown Makes Statement—Profile of Road Filed Last Saturday—Action Taken in White County Also. Attorneys John A. Dunlap and William H. Parkinson, on behalf of O. L. Brown, promoter of the Lafayette A Northwestern Railroad Co., filed a petition signed by 86 resident freeholders with the county commissioners today, asking that a subsidy election ibe called in Marion township to vote a tax of 2 per cent in favor of the proposed railroad. The commissioners set the date for holding the election on Wednesday, July 14th. Editor Frank E. Babcock, through his attorney, filed an objection, based upon the contention that an election could not legally be held in this township, as another election had voted a subsidy in favor of the Indiana Northwestern Traction Co. within the time that would bar another election. Since that time, however, and with a view to asking this subsidy, the other election was nullified by the annulling of the charter of the Indiana Northwestern Traction Co. The Republican as heretofore will support the proposition of the subsidy and the 86 men who signed the petition did so believing that the Subsidy support will make the financing of the road possible and if the road is constructed that it will be a great factor in the upbuilding of Rensselaer and the surrounding country. That some will conscientiously object to it, there is no doubt, but there is every probability that it will again carry by an overwhelming vote. Last Saturday a profile of the road through this county was filed with the county clerk. It shown the route to be taken. The names of four of the stockholders are signed to the profile, namely, E. G. Collins, E. G. Perrigo, R. H. Brainard and O. A. Rogers. The road will be bound by this action and the route can not be changed after the election is held. In Monticello Monday M. B. Beard, of Wolcott, attorney for the road in White county, appeared before the county commissioners at Monticello and asked that an order be passed to put onjthe tax duplicate the tax voted in Round Grove and Princeton townships. Mr. Brown, the promoter, has assurances that the money can be secured to build the road if the subsidy is voted in Marion township. It has previously been voted in Princeton and Round Grove townships, White county, and Jackson and Beaver townships, Newton county. Mr. Brown makes the following very fair statement at this time: “In a matter of this magnitude it is impossible to lay out iron-clad plans in advance and strictly adhere to them. However, we have purposely left Rensselaer and Marion township until we could ascertain what the other townships would do toward supporting the proposition and have carried al but two, in one of which we have received sufficient assurances to justify calling another election. We have the positive assurance from the financiers that if these elections carry we will be financed and can therefore build, but we nor any other company could possibly finance this line, excellent as the proposition is, without local support. We have secured the necessary state and county franchises, run complete surveys, filed our maps of the route with the proper state and county officials and will, when financed, at once begin acquiring right-of-way and hope to begin actual costruction withi sixty day*, which will afford the people along the route interurban connections Chicago and all Indiana lines.’’