Jasper County Democrat, Volume 14, Number 14, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 May 1911 — HEADQUARTERS HERE. [ARTICLE]

HEADQUARTERS HERE.

Eugene Purtelle, the Railroad Promotor, Rents Rooms In K. of P. Block. Eugene Purtelle, erstwhile “board of trade” manager and electric railroad promotor, "has rented rooms in the K. of P. building and ’ seems to be trying to make his bluff good for a starter, at least, regarding the pushing of operations on the proposed road down here. He says that the line will be built to Mt. Ayr as soon as the right-of-way is secured and Newton tp., opens up with a subsidy. He asserts that the money is in. sight to build this part of the road and that work will be resumed at once on the Chicago Heights-Dyer line. He 'was at Mt. Ayr Friday night and had quite an epthusiastic meeting, we are told. He doesn’t state where the funds are coming from to build these sections of road, and the public can not be blaimed for looking askance at all his windy propositions. They know that talk is cheap, but it takes money to build and equip railroads, and this Purtelle admits he has not got himself. President Worland of the Commercial Club was willing to

appoint a committee to endeavor to secure *right-of-way through Marion tp., if he could find anyone to accept, but thus far he has only been able to find Fred Phillips who would accept, mosts everybody having lost what little faith they ever had in Purtelie and his railroad projects. It is likely that she matter will be left with Fred and Purtelle to look after the right-of-way matter. Some think his present activity here is to stave off any further action of the countv commissioners on the $5,000 bond 'he put up guaranteeing to begin work in Marion tp. last December if a subsidy was voted here, but The Democrat thinks, to use a slang expression, that Purtelle is simply "bughouse."