Jasper County Democrat, Volume 14, Number 55, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 October 1911 — CONDEMNATION SUITS [ARTICLE]

CONDEMNATION SUITS

Brought by Purtelle Against St. Joseph’s College People. ’Gene Purtelle, the electric railroad magnate, filed two suits in the circuit court Wednesday to -condemn a right-of-way through the section of land owned by the St. Joseph’s College people, south of town. The right-of-way asked for is 50 feet wide and a trifle over a mile long, and is immediately east of the Range Line road, known as the Remington road. This land is valuable, worth S2OO per acre at least, and the ground asked for is a little over six acres. In the event of the court deciding the matter in his favor, as we understand, Purtelle will have to pay the amount of the appraised value of the land as fixed by- three disinterested parties to be appointed by the court to appraise it, into court, which it is generally believed he cannot do, as no checks go in such an action. The hearing of the case, the complaint says, will come up at 3 o’clock a. m., today, Oct. 14. Perhaps, however, 3 o’clock p. m., is meant, as Judge Hanley is hardly likely- to get up at that time to hear the case, and everybody who knows the clerk. Charlie Warner’s propensity for pounding the pillow is convinced that he’ll never get out at any such unreasonable hour. In view of the fact that the College people are anxious for a real railroad past their school and have said repeatedly to Purtelle and others that they would gladly give the right-of-way free gratis and do still more w-hen the proper rime came if there w’as any prospect of getting a road, the bringing of condemnation proceedings is a surprise. The College people have had no faith whatever in Purtelle or his promises, but have said and now say- that if he can build the road he will have no trouble when he gets up to their line in getting a right-of-way through their land. It is probable that the hearing of the action may bring out some things regarding the ability- of Purtelle’s company to make good. Most people seem to think the action is merely another bluff to influence the subsidy elections held today in Newton and Carpenter townships.