Jasper County Democrat, Volume 2, Number 51, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 31 March 1900 — Gifford's Railroad Again. [ARTICLE]

Gifford's Railroad Again.

New interest has been aroused in the matter of securing the Gifford railroad, possibly because Mr. Gifford now wants $30,000 bonus and free right of way from near McCoysburg to and through Rensselaer and Remington, instead of $12,000 asked for some months ago. The reason given for the increased demand in cash is that steel has advanced 125 per cent, (by reason of the McKinleyHanna prosperity) and it will now cost much more to build the road than it would have cost some time ago. A meeting was held at the court house Monday night and committees again appointed to look after the matter. It is proposed, we believe, to raise the S3O, 000 bonus by voting a tax, probably $20,000 on Rensselaer and Marion tp., and SIO,OOO on Remington and Carpenter tp., which it is our private opinion never will be done, for the reason that the people will not go down into their pockets for any such sum for any such railroad as would probably be built. To voice our own individual opinion, we are not very favorably impressed with Mr. Gifford’s railroad schemes. From what we can gather he is willing to run the road almost anywhere for a goodsized cash bonus, and other towns have been solicited in bidding for the road. While it is true that the road if constructed would in a few years pay back in taxes all the cash aid given it, yet the benefits are semewhat visionary. We favor a north and south road through Rensselaer, bnt we very much doubt if the ram’s horn route proposed by the Gifford line would be of any material benefit, while it might deter some more worthy project from building through this section. Another eneeting will be held Tuesday evening, at which time the committees are expected to report.