Jasper County Democrat, Volume 12, Number 70, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 December 1909 — PROMOTOR FAILS TO APPEAR. [ARTICLE]

PROMOTOR FAILS TO APPEAR.

Purtelle’s Electric Road Franchise Held Up In Lake County. Saturday’s Hammond Times had the following mention of the Northwestern Indiana Traction Co., which is asking various towns and counties in this section of the state for franchises to build electric lines, and which was recently granted franchises at Remington and Rensselaer and only last week was granted a franchise for 75 years by the commissioners of Jasper county: Crown Point, Ind., Dec. 11.—One adventuresome traction promotor has been rudely awakened from his fond dream of securing a franchise from the Lake county commissioners while they were not looking and then disposing of it to some one who might possibly build the line. That awakening was experienced by a Chicago broker by the name of Purtell, who presented an abomination of a franchise to the county commissioners and asked that it be passed. After the commissioners had pared the franchise down until it looked like a respectable document, they informed Mr. Purtell that they would award it to him only providing he was able to show them that he had the proper financial backing. Purtell said that he could furnish the references and that he would return to Crown Point if they would hold an adjourned meeting with the proofs of his ability to construct the line. The adjourned meeting was held and the sauve Mr. Purtell did not show up with his references. The result was that the commissioners after waiting around Crown Point all day Went home in disgust and the county was saved from another interurban promotor. Everything nobby for the men and boys for Xmas. C. EARL DUVALL.