Jasper County Democrat, Volume 19, Number 9, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 April 1916 — ANOTHER CHAPTER WRITTEN [ARTICLE]

ANOTHER CHAPTER WRITTEN

In the Old Match Factory Fiasco, When Buildings Are Given Away. An echo of the “match factory” fiasco, by which SIO,OOO in cash and some 70 acres of good land lying adjacent to the city of Rensselaer, was handed over to a bunch of irresponsible promoters, was heard here this week, when the Commercial club agreed to give the “factory" buildings and the block of ground upon which the buildings are located to Dr. Besser of Remington, Dr. E. N. Loy of Rensselaer and brother, J. W. Loy, of Piqua, Ohio, who expect to utilize the smaller building —the storage room—for a fertilizer factory, a reduction plant for reducing the bodies of dead animals to fertilizer, and expect ultimately to utilize the main building for something else, it is understood. The Commercial club has for quite a while held the offer open of giving the buildings and the block of ground on which they are located, together with side track right, as we understand, to anyone that would pay oft the mechanics’ liens and install some industry therein, and these men have paid off same, amounting to about $1,500, held by J. C. Gwin & Co., Rensselaer Lumber Co., Central Rubber & Supply Co., and Vincent Eisle, and expect to put in a plant as above stated. The buildings have long been the rendezvoux for tramps, local poker players, boozers and occasionally for women of loose morals, and all the window glass had been broken out, most of the sash and some of the window frames, stairway, floors, etc., broken up and used for fuel in making fires for the transient “guests,” nobody taking any interest whatever in looking after the property to preserve it from destruction, and about all that is left is the bare walls and damaged roofs. A fertilizer factory is not a very desirable acquisition to the city, and it is sincerely hoped if such a plant is put in there that the wind will remain stationary in th<j south and southwest 24 hours each day.