Evening Republican, Volume 19, Number 269, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 November 1915 — THINKS OPPORTUNITIES BETTER IN RENSSELAER [ARTICLE]

THINKS OPPORTUNITIES BETTER IN RENSSELAER

Man Who Came From Indianapolis Don’t See Anything Good In Buying Lots There.

Rensselaer, Ind., Nov. 11, 1915. Editors Republican: In a recent issue you gave warning to the prospective buyer of real estate in Indianapolis. I heartily commend what you say and will supplement it with a few words that may do some good. It is said experience is the best teacher. If so, listen to one who has seen the city grow from 65,000 to 300,000 population. There are good opportunities there to make money when finances are normal but since the European war began there have been in the vicinity of 4,000 rentals vacant. Immense industries have gone to the wall ,taxation and improvement have become a burden. Down town property cannot be bought by ordinary investors; intermediate property is not up to date and requires much remodeling before it can be disposed of, but the suburban plats which the general promotor would have you believe are so valuable, are a dangerous proposition for a stranger to handle. The promotors will all tell you they have the best thing on the market, and you are bled until there is naught but your buttons left. You have opportunities just as good here at home if you will but seek them. Indianapolis suburban property and the city in general has been built up by interurban railroads. Those of you who have ever seen the terminal station and watched the vast throngs that hourly pass through it, and watch them flocking to the department stores and other places of business, can partly attest to what I say. Were it not for these interurbans those outlying plats would not be made. Were it not for them the suburbanite must of necessity own a buggy or an automobile.’ But a few years ago when our rural friends wanted to go to the city on business he would have to get a start at 3:00 in the morning and perhaps stay all night. Today John or Mary take father and mother to the nearest stop anthey travel anywhere from 50 to 100 miles, do their shopping and return home in time for supper. This brings you to the point in question, opportunities at home. If you wish td be an investor, foster an interurban proposition and when it comes this way buy an outlying plat along the proposed route and subdivide it into large city lots. Build some modem homes, organize a building association, give the ever increasing younger population something to do to make for themselves a home in Rensselaer instead of going abroad; remove some of the antidated down town buildings and replace with modern fire-proof structures and lessen insurance rates.

When I removed to this city in April it was up to me to take anything I could get to live in until I cotild find something suitable. That became a hard task for there were no desirable rentals vacant and those that were to become so were engaged months ahead and so I had to buy a piece of property to get located I wished. I have been informed by others that they have had the same experience. Why not then, if you wish to invest your money, put it where you can see it grow, where you can do yourself and the city some good. Buy up some of this rundown property and replace or remodel with modem seructures and you will have no trouble getting a customer. Rensselaer is a thriving city. There are none of its size that have a more stable foundation. Just give it a little boost to push it along and you will find ample use for your money at home. Yours respectfully, H. O. JOHNSON.