Jasper County Democrat, Volume 18, Number 26, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 July 1915 — WANTS $71,000 OF LAFAYETTE. [ARTICLE]

WANTS $71,000 OF LAFAYETTE.

Promoter O. L. Brown's Subsidy Pitcher Has Possibly Gone Once Too Often to the Well. The Lafayette Journal says that O. L. Brown of the proposed Lafayette & Northwestern Railroad, with others connected with him in his railroad promotion scheme, appeared before the Chamber of Commerce in Lafayette Wednesday to secure the

endorsement of that body to his proposal of asking a subsidy of $71,000 from Wabash township, Tippecanoe county. Brown had his endorsement all fixed up for the Chamber of Commerce to pass, but that body proposed to investigate a little before giving their approval to the scheme, and the Journal says: Although the expressed sentiment of those present was very favorable to the construction of any and all interurban railroads that will lead into this city, the resolution presented. bn account of carrying an endorsement of the financial proposition and tlte management of the road failed to meet with the approval of the members. The resolution was, therefore, referred td) the executive and prodiiction committees, \vith ’ instructions to make the proper investigation of the organization and financial scheme of the company and to report their finding at a special meeting to he held later. Before adjournment the following motion was made and carried: “That it is the sense of the board of directors of the Lafayette Chamber of Commerce that the people of Lafayette would welcome the conistruction of another interurban line to Lafayette, and uiat the Chambe« of Commerce express its appreciation of the efforts of those who propose to build the road.” After the meeting adjpurned, one of those present said: “It’s a good thing that there are several members of the Chamber of Commerce who have had much experience with promoters and who are able to separate the wheat from the chaff.” Continuing, he said: "When promoters are asking the people of this county to give up their hard earned cash in the way of voting subsidies and purchasing stock, much of which is absolutely worthless, it behooves the Chamber of Commerce to make most thorough and searching investigations of not only the scheme for financing propositions, but the honesty, ability and financial responsibility of those in control.” Brown stated that the laws of illinois did not permit the voting of such subsidies, but smooth, bright college graduate stock salesmen would bo put to work in that state along where the line runs to dispose or stock in the corporation. He said, that with the subsidies already vot e'l, Hie $0 1,000 in Rensselaer and Marion which he considers already as good as carried, such easy marks are we—and tho $71,000 he wants out of Lafayette, would give his company $250,000 in subsidies, How, Brown recently stated in W bite county, so the Monticello Herald says, that lie would ask for no more subsidy elections there, and that the subsidy asked for here and on which we are to vote Wednesday, July 14, would be the last subsidy election held. He tyas also made the same statement heVe, we are told, and yet he now comes forward with the nervy proposition of wanting $71,000 out of the people of Lafayette. . , It is probable that this is a case of going once too often to the easy mark well, and Promotor Brown’s pitcher will be badly broken by the time the Chamber of Commerce of that city makes its report, for The Democrat believes there is nothing whatever behind this proposition but hot air.