Jasper County Democrat, Volume 15, Number 47, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 September 1912 — Watch Out for the Toot! Toots!— Maybe. [ARTICLE]

Watch Out for the Toot! Toots!— Maybe.

Once more Rensselaer is to enjoy the conveniences of an electric railroad. That is, Purtelle, whom we have been told several times in the past year had disposed of his Interests in the proposed—on paper—» Northwestern Indiana Traction Co., says we are. But Gene’s promises, like his checks, don’t bring any returns. However, Gene is on deck once more and with H. J. Wilson of Chicago, reputed to be chief engineer KXf the “road,” has rented office rooms over Roth Bros, market and is reported to have paid a full month’s rent in advance, actual coin of the realm —what do you think of that? i According to the stories told others—Gene don’t confide in the newspapers any more since The Democrat exposed his duplicity to the public—work is actually to begin in a few days, as soon as he can let the contract, and the road is to be built to St. Joseph’s College and a car put on and operated. In fact, the road is to be built across Marion tp., this fall, it is said, and cars operated. The subsidy voted in Marion tp., some |40,000, Dec. 20, 1910, lapses if he does not make good within two years, and the bluff that he put up once before out by the Hoover < pgh, on the Range Line road, was was evidently for the purpose of inducing people to buy stock and hold this subsidy. The present “activity” is no doubt for the same purpose, or to secure more right-of-way and be able to block any other company from coming through here and building a REAL railroad. There is a likelihood that an electric road will be built through Rensselaer one of these days and as Purtelle has a franchise through the main street of Rensselaer and the right-of-way in front of St. Joseph’s college, on the real logical route for a road, and by holding thia long enough he perhaps can either force the REAL railroad

people to buy him out or knock us out of the road. Under the terms of the franchise granted Purtelle Nov. 22, 1909, he must have cars in operation in Rensselaer within three years from that date or the franchise is forfeited. The three years will be up on the 22'Ed of Nov. 1912, and it is a safe bet that no cars ■will be running through our streets by that time, by Purtelle or anyone else. But we’ll soon see what Gene s present scheme is. In th meantime, keep your hand on your pocketbook and be very cautious about signing up ary right-of-way papers.