Jasper County Democrat, Volume 11, Number 75, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 February 1909 — RECONSTRUCTION WORK HAS BEGUN. [ARTICLE]

RECONSTRUCTION WORK HAS BEGUN.

Superintendent J. J. Montgomery of the telephone company and Superintendent Chamberlain of the light and water plant have a large force of men clearing the wreck of wires and poles that Saturday night’s storm left in its wake. The damage will touch close to the five thousand dollar mark for the telephone people, they claim, and at least fifteen men will be employed for the next three months rebuilding the lines. The entire system has been badly strained and this means the re-stretching of every wire. The directors of the telephone company have ordered several hundred poles and as fast as they arrive they will be placed. Some question arose with the stockholders regarding the advisability of rebuilding the country lines. These lines are claimed to be a losing proposition at the present rates, and it is possible that the farmers will be compelled to pay $1.50 per month rental for their phones. The damage to the Wolcott exchange will not exceed $2,500. The principal damage done there is the destruction of the Main street cable, which is broken entirely down.

It is reported that the owners of the Morocco exchange have turned over their entire plant to the holder of a mortgage on the same. The wrecked of telegraph, telephone and > light wires is general throughout the middle west. Reports from North Judson say that the Pennsylvania railroad has for nineteen miles between that place and Logansport not a single pole Traffic on the Monon has practically been at a standstill, and It was not until Wednesday that the dispatcher at Lafayette could do any telegraphing. The Western Union, too, has suffered a heavy loss. Wednesday afternoon’s thaw cleared the wires and poles of sleet and affords the linemen an opportunity to wo'rk.