Jasper County Democrat, Volume 8, Number 20, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 August 1905 — ONLY $450 AT FRANCESVILLE, [ARTICLE]

ONLY $450 AT FRANCESVILLE,

Did Promotor Knowlton Carry Away, Saya the Tribune. The man C. F. Knowlton, who came to Crown Point recently as the promoter of an electric line from Indianapolis to Chicago, set up his pins well to get SI,OOO from citizens of this place as he Gid all along the line, but our people didn't take the bait. The SI,OOO was raised and he came after it but when informed that we must hear something more substantial than his story before turning the money over to him he took down his tent and stole away.—Crown Point Star. And commenting on the article reproduced from the Crown Point Star, the Rensselaer Republican says: “Stole away” is evidently a siting expression. But it seems he didn’t “steal away” Crown Point’s little old SI,OOO whatever he did to more confiding villages like Flora and Francesville. At Flora no secret was made of the fact that he got SSOO donation, and probably he got as much more there for stock in his company." “At Francesville a citizen who usually knows what he is talking about says Knowlton “stole away” with a good $1,400. Part of this was a donation to pay the cost of the so-called survey, and the rest was for shares of stock in the company. Thus every man who paid $25 was to get one share of stock for each $25, and the stock was “guaranteed” to some day be worth SIOO a share. The $1,4000 raised at Francesville was no doubt more than twice enough to pay for the entire survey, as it was made, while the balance and all obtained from other towns, was clear steal away for “Stole Away” Knowlton," For some time the Rensselaer Republican has taken great pleasure in casting insinuating remarks about the proposed electric line to pass through this place, and more especially about Charles F. Knowlton, the field manager. Now the facts are that the electric line secured just $450 from this place for sale of stock, equivelent to 18 shares at $25 per share. When the people accepted the stock they did so merely to help assist the enterprise, as promoters are not moneyed men by any means and they did not purchase with any intention of ever cashing in at par value. The laugh comes on the Republican editor. For years he “toadied” after the McCoy gang who eventually “stole away” with almost $375,000, being over 833 times more than the electric line got here. Then it must not be forgotten that in the McCoy daylight robbery the Republican editor lost S4OO, or in other words almost 18 times more than any one Francesville individual lost in. the interurban project. The Republican has for a quarter of a century been aware that a gang of thieves have constantly pilfered the county treasury of Jasper county and among these were the McCoys, who got the biggest sum. But the Republican has always been condoned to inactivity in the matter of exposing affairs at home, but is ever ready to make special note of the short — comings of it neighboring town. — Francesville Tribune. Gilbraltar flour, $1.35; XXXX Minnesota $1.40; the same as others ask $1.50 and $1.60 for. John Eger’s. For sale. miles west, S3O. J. M. Helmick & Son. (Aug. 12.) Wheatfield, Ind. Come to The Democrat office for all kinds of job printing.