Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 166, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 July 1915 — SUBSIDY WAS BEATEN BY MAJORITY OF 69 [ARTICLE]

SUBSIDY WAS BEATEN BY MAJORITY OF 69

Lafayette & Northwestern Failed to Get Support Here—Many Causes For Defeat. The interurban subsidy for the proposed Lafayette & Northwestern Railroad Co. was defeated at the polls in Marion township Wednesday. The majority against the proposition was 69, the proposition failing in three precincts and carrying in one. In No. 1 the negative majority was 19, in No. 2 it was 14, in No. 3 it was 55 and in No. 4 it carried by 19. (Several things operated to defeat the proposition at this time. The fact that the survey made by the em gineer took the proposed railroad over to the west side of town and that later effort was made to change the route and a contract given to do this, left it open to attack on the ground that the change could not legally be made. The fact that the interurban, if constructed, woudl reduce the business of the livery autos caused the auto drivers to quite unanimously oppose the subsidy. The fact that the rains of the past week had done extensive damage to the crops, threatening a trade shortage in this city, caused many to oppose the inirease of taxes, the fact that an organized opposition was made without an organized support placed its friends at a great disadvantage. Mr. Brown, W. L. Moyer, Charles W. Stockton, Wilbur Stockton and Perry O’Connor, the three last named being all of Round Grove township, White county, worked all day for the subsidy, but there were none here even to advise with them and many men went to the polls prejudiced against the proposition who did not thoroughly understand it. Mr. Brown talked some about trying another election, but decided not to do it unless there are people in Rensselaer who want to take the matter up themselves. He will not again undertake to fight it through as a promoter, but says that if the live citizens of Rensselaer, those interested in its growth and development, are not sufficiently interested, he will drop it permanently and follow other proposed routes. Mr. Brown makes the following statement: “In view of the past elections in Marion township our surprise exceeds disappointment at yesterday’s result. After proving to the people we had arranged for financing and building the line, actually publishing private letters received from banks, trust companies and bonding houses as to the reliability and responsibility of the firm we contracted with to finance and build the line, the progressive people of Rensselaer have seen fit to refuse the assistance asked and there is but one course left open to us—build over another route. We will not pause in our work but will go straight forward and build the line. The route ran be materially shortened between the terminals and even reach populou sterritory, but the proposed route appealed to us because of the immense opportunities for immediate development and its utter lack of railroad facilities. With the other counties having already given their support we feel Rensselaer has lost a rare opportunity.”