Jasper County Democrat, Volume 3, Number 14, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 July 1900 — Now Wants Us To Pay for It. [ARTICLE]

Now Wants Us To Pay for It.

Editor Democrat:— Wbon Mr. Gifford was making gold standard speeches to bis tenants in Barkley tp., he stated that if Bryan was elected he would have to have every dollaf due him from his tenants at once, but if McKinley was elected everything would be rosy and we would soon see a new railroad running right down through our township, and we would be prosperous beyond conception. Well, McKinley was elected and we have got a sort of a railroad through our township. We have not seen any great amount of the prosperity promised us by Mr. Gifford, in fact few of us are any better off than we were when listening to his talk four years ago. But to get back to the railroad. The ties are of the home-spun variety, culled from the “stately” forests of the Gifford district. They are laid about 8 feet apart and support second-hand rails from the big railroad junk-shops. This road was built for Mr. Gifford’s own personal benefit, is operated for his personal gain and belongs to him, yet he now wants us to pay him for it and still let it remain the property of B. J. Gifford. No, we don’t believe the people of Barkley will do any such thing, and, aside from those who are bound up by mortgages held by Mr. Gifford, the entire vote of the township will be recorded against any such proposition. Barkley Tp.