Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 160, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 July 1917 — AN EXPLANATION. [ARTICLE]

AN EXPLANATION.

To the Editor: In order to straighten out certain stories, or in other words, corrept them, in reference to my buying the property of the Farmers Grain Company at Kniman and Virgie, I wish to say in the first place that I had made up my mind some time ago to move back to Kniman, not for any reason of dislike for Rensselaer, but to satisfy my best friend, my wife, and we leave our ‘location in this beautiful city with regret. Hei/ing that the Farmers Grain Company would sell the above property, I asked Fred Waymire, a director of the company, and also a good friend of mine, if that was true. He told me it was and I asked him to find out the price. He told me the price. The reason I was so to secure the property was that I wanted something to do to keep me busy, especially in the grain season. After consulitng with Mr. Waymire, I asked if the company could wait and give me the time required to see certain parties. I was told to .g0..-ahead. I got busy and first went to Babcock and Hopkins. Mr. Babcock told me that They could not and would not handle grain on the C. & E. I. under any consideration, and told me the reason, which was news to me. I next took the matter up with Mr. Barnard, of Fowler, Indiana, informing him of all the facts. I did not hear from Mr. Barnard for a long time; therefore, I went to see a Chicago firm and got them interested enough that they sent a man down to view the property and surroundings and report. After looking things over, he said it looked good to him. However, when I went to the office of the company three days later I found that there was an adverse report, so you can imagine my feelings I had walked only a short distance from the office of the company when I met Mr. Babcock on the streets of Chicago, tol<\ him my troubles and asked him to reconsider the matter. We talked it over and he told me that if certain arrangements could be made with the C. & E. I. people, they would consider the matter seriously, but under no other circumstances could they take care of the matter. Knowing that the price of the property was reasonable, I lost no time in securing it; so that I could make my part good to whoever wanted to back me in business. After Mr. Babcock had satisfied himself and his partner, Mr. Hopkins, about the railroad arrangements, they told me that they would back me. We are making arrangements to put in new Fairbanks scales at Kniman, and other improvements later, and endeavor to take care of the grain crops brought to us for sale to the satisfaction of all who might see fit to deal with us.

JOHN O’CONNOR.