Jasper County Democrat, Volume 16, Number 94, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 25 February 1914 — 30 DAY OPTION GIVEN MONON [ARTICLE]

30 DAY OPTION GIVEN MONON

Oo the Gifford Railroad SI,OOO is Put Op. WILL EXPEND SI,OOOOOO, Im Putting Road in Shape, If Deal Goes Through, It Asserts—Some Think, However, It will Abandon the Road. The Monon railroad company has been given a 30 day option on the purchase of the Gifford railroad, the price agreed upon with George H. Gifford, executor of the B. J. Gifford estate, and Judge Hanley of tlie circuit court, being SIOO,OOO. The Monon has put up a forfeit of SI,OOO, and in the event that it backs down this SI,OOQ is forfeited. The 30 days time is desired by the officials of the Monon to look into the title and secure the approval of the taking over of the road, if necessary, of the public service commission of Indiana.

In the event of securing the road, the Monon officials assert, they expect to spend $1,000,000 in putting it in first class shape, extending it on to Lafayette and connecting on the main line of the Monon up north of Cedar Lake. They will make it, they assert, a freight line, but will xuraish some passenger service also. While this sounds good to many people, the doubt is expressed by some as to what particular advantage such a line would be to the Monon, except to cut off competition, and some of the larger land owners of Barkley tp.„ near the line of road fear that it is the inention of the Monon to junk the entire road. It is estimated tZ?t upwards of $30,000 could be secured for the right-of-way, by selling it back to adjoining land owners, »nd the old rails and equipment would bring several thousand dollars more. It is hoped, however, that this is not the intention, as the road is of a great deal of benefit to the section of country through which it traverses for shipping purposes. But should it be abandoned altogether, it is argued, the Monon would secure practically all of the freight now handled over the southern half of the Gifford road, and it would not be a bad business proposition for them to buy it up and then junk it. In this event it is probable that it would be quite a number of years at least before any other road is put through that section to afford convenient shipping facilities.