Jasper County Democrat, Volume 16, Number 93, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 February 1914 — Another Chance to Sell the Gifford Holdings. [ARTICLE]

Another Chance to Sell the Gifford Holdings.

A gentleman was here from Chicago during the fore part of the week trying to buy the remainder of the B. J. Gifford lands and the Gifford railroad, but his offer was declined. The Democrat is informed that he offered SIOO,OOO for the railroad and S4O per acre for the remainder of the land, some 7.300 acres, which would have brought the total to $392,000. The party is said to have command of the necessary money to make the purchase, and it is barely possible, it is said, that the court may order something done in the matter next week. I

The railroad is in very bad shape and is practically so much junk, but this would-be-purchaser expected, it is said, to get some other railroad company to take hold of the line and fix it up and operate it, and make his money out of the I sale of the land. The railroad is necessary to sell the land, and the prospective purchaser did not care to take the land without it. It is probable that something will have to be done very soon in the matter. If the property is sold to a speculator, he will, of course, advertise and boom that section of the coun-l ty and will no doubt benefit it very much, enchancing the value of all the adjacent lands by reason of getting in settlers who will occupy and till the ground. For the good of all concerned and for the general welfare of that section of the county, it is hoped that the property will soon be disposed of.