Jasper County Democrat, Volume 18, Number 12, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 May 1915 — Off for the Dixie Highway Location Meeting. [ARTICLE]

Off for the Dixie Highway Location Meeting.

At the Dixie highway meeting at the court house Monday afternoon. C. G. Spitler was made chairman of the meeting and F. E. Babcock, secretary. Mr. Spitler stated that the object of the meeting was to select three delegates from Jasper county to attend the Dixie hignway location meeting at Chattanooga, Tenn., tomorrow, also to select a committee to raise the necessary funds to pay Jasper county’s share of the expenses of sending delegates to this meeting and the expenses already incurred or to be incurred by the Chicago-Indianapolis Dixie Association, as a result of this meeting. He stated that the above association had been formed and that .Jasper county is a member thereof. This association will soon be incorporated. On motion of Rex Warner, C. G. Spitler, E. P. Honan and D. S. Makeever were named as delegates. After the meeting had adjourned Mr. Makeever resigned and W. L. Wood of Parr, was selected in his stead. The committee left yesterday over the Monon for Louisville, being joined at Lafayette by the committee from Tippecanoe and other counties along the line. From Louisville they go over the L. & N. to Chattanooga. They hope to get home this Saturday or Sunday, but may not be able to return until next week. Congressmen Wood and Morrison will be the official spokesmen for the "Air Line” before the commission. Later—The Democrat was informed yesterday forenoon that Mr. Mafkeever had again been prevailed

upon to go and that Mr. Wood would also go on his own account and that of ' the Parr people. The committee appointed to solicit funds were Rex Warner and Ray Wood of Rensselaer, C. H. Peck of Remington, and W. L. Wood of Parr. D. M. Worland was elected treasurer, to whom the funds will be turned over. It was thought that Jasper county’s share of the expenses would be about S3OO. W. L. Wood stated to the meeting that Union tp., had got busy and mapped out a route which they thought was preferable to any that had yet been mentioned through northern Jasper and Newton, and

they had made a blue-print of the route. This route turns off to the west four miles north of Rensselaer and runs 3% miles west through Surrey; thence north five miles through Parr; thence west three miles fhrough Fair Oaks; thence north one mile; thence west two miles; thence north four miles by Roselawn; thence west one mile; thence north two miles to Thayer. It is said to have the same number of turns as the present Bluebook route, is two miles shorter than the latter, and has the advantage of passing through all the towns between Rensselaer and Shelby, making it convenient for telephone or railway service and also for repairs. This route follows the Bell telephone line practically all the way, we understand. Mr. Wood said that he had written assurances from Trustee Hammerton of Union tp., Jasper county, and Trustee Rice of Lincoln tp., Newton county, and also County Commissioner Hillis of that district of Newton county, that the hjghw-ays on this route would be placed in first-cless condition. In fact, it was stated they were in very good condition now, but would be made better if this route should be selected.

Mr. Makeever stated that as he understood the matter the committee sent to Chattahooga would en deavorto secure, with the aid of the other committees appointed, the adoption of the Air Line route, and that the matter of the location of the route through Jasper county would be taken up later; that the first thing was to secure the adoption of this route, which would pass through Jasper county, and these details would come up later on'.* It was thought proper for the committee to take the blue-print and the written guarantees from township and county officials to Chattanooga with them to show to the local committees if thought best.

The meeting at Lafayette Fri-

day was largely attended, some forty being there from Jasper county alone. All were entertained at luncheon by the Lafayette Chamber of Commerce, and discussion of the ‘ Air Line” route and matters connected therewith occupied the time o f the meeting. All were enthusiastic for the road and believe oUr chances are very favorable for securing it. Saturday an official car was started out from Indianapolis by the Stewart speedometer people, starting from the Monument, on the circle, at 9 a. rm, to secure the exact mileage from point to point over the “Air Line.” The car was met at each county line by representatives of the counties interested, and Congressman Wood of Lafayette, accompanied it through his entire district. E. p. >Honan, as official representative of Jasper county, accompanied the party through Jasper county. They did not follow the Bluebook route all the way through here, turning off west at the congressional township line south of Demotte instead of going north to the DemotteWheatfield gravel road, thus cutting off two miles in distance.