Jasper County Democrat, Volume 18, Number 19, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 June 1915 — CIRCULATING NEW PETITION. [ARTICLE]

CIRCULATING NEW PETITION.

Traction Line Promoter Will Ask for SOO,OOO From Rensselaer amt Marion Tp. O. L. Brown,.promotor of the Lafayette & Northwestern paper railroad, came to Rensselaer Monday and got busy through his attorneys iu drawing up and circulating a petition for a subsidy election in Rensselaer and Marion tp., under the new law, which requires 75 freehold voters and a bond for costs, instead of 25 freeholders. The old petition, filed at the April meeting of the commissioners, is to be dismissed, The Democrat is told. ' v ' ; ' While we have not seen this petition, we understand that it asks for a 2 per cent subsidy, which would mean about $65,000 in Rensselaer and Marion tp. Just why the people here will be foolish enough to sign this petition and to vote a subsidy for this hailroad, which, if built, would be- of no particular benefit whatever to us, is beyond our comprehension. If the people want to give their money away and also the money of their neighbor, who is opposed to Ihe subsidy proposition, why not give it for something that would be of a little real benefit? This proposed railroad runs from Wolcott diagonally abross to a point south of the Indian school, and thence bearing west and northerly through Fred Phillips’ Fair View addition, crossing McCoy avenue at a point between Ray Thompson’s residence and the old A. McCoy homestead, thence north and westerly to a point near the Monon railroad out north of the former Dan Stoner place, and, then runs directly west across Newton tp., through the center of sections 24, 23, 22, 21, 20 and 19. It runs quite a distance east of St. Joseph college. Now, Rensselaer and Marion tp. has nothing in common with Wolcott by which it would be an advantage to us to be connected up with that town by such a line or road. The object of the incorporation of this company, as we understand is stated in its articles of incorporation, was to build a railroad from Lafayette to Kankakee, 111., and through Remington and Rensselaer. Remington is in our own county, and both Remington and Rensselaer people have much business with one another, and a road running to Remington would give connections with the steam road there to Wolcott as well as on west. Such a road would be of considerablj convenience to people not having automobiles and who must now travel by team, but if run through Wolcott, which the blue prints of the surveyed line show that it will—and this line must be followed if the tax is voted —it would be of no convenience whatever to either Rensselaer or Marion tp., while Remington would be cut off all together. Another point to bo taken into consideration is the line of the proposed road along the west side of Rensselaer. This would be most inconvenient, should the road be built, and yet it must be followed if the tax is voted. If nothing will satisfy the people of Rensselaer but to give their money away to a bunch of promotors, let us wait until a road is proposed that gives some indications of being of a little convenience if it is of no financial benefit to us.