People's Pilot, Volume 5, Number 27-25, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 January 1896 — JASPER COUNT. [ARTICLE]

JASPER COUNT.

CONTRIBUTED BY JUDSON H. PERKINS. This county is in the northwestern part of Indiana, its western boundary line being about thirteen miles from Illinois; north-west corner about fifty miles south-east from Chicago. It is twenty-one miles wide by forty-five miles long. The surface is level, consisting of prairie in the south, timber and prairie interspersed. Jasper county was once the home of the bull-frog and the muskrat, but like worn out politicians, “they have had their day.” The county is drained by the Iroquois and Kankakee rivers; the different systems of ditches on a large scale have maae a radical change in its appearance and productiveness. Thousands of acres of land which a few years since were worthless are now productive, and the “frog-pond” has become a “potato patch.” Another article in this issue shows more completely the farming industries of the county, suffice consequently to say, that, for general agricultural purposes Jasper county need not take “the lower seat in the synagogue,” It has undoubtedly rich mineral productions waiting to be developed. The writer of this article is reliably informed that bituminous coal has been recently discovered in different parts of the county, one find being in the north end and the other in the south end.

Of the quality of the coal and extent of the veins nothing is known; but if these veins should prove to be of good quality and of considerable extent our citizens can afford to rejoice in the possession of this valuable mineral. Petroleum is found in many parts of the county but not in sufficient quantities to justify any large outlay is machinery to develop the oil industry at the present time. What future developments will show time alone can tell. The county is well supplied with railroads, four lines running through it, furnishing ample means for shipping products in any direction. Besides the railroads, the people are coming to the front in regard to. wagon roads. Last year one township alone made seventeen and a half miles of graveled roads, and the good wprk is being carried on in different parts of the county, and it is safe to say that in a few years the towns will all be connected by these roads. The people of Jasper county take a just pride in their towns. And well they may for they are all alive and thrifty ones. Rensselaer, on the Monon railroad, the county seat in the center of the county, is one of the thriftiest towns for its size in the state. It has about 2,300 population; contains eight churches, which are alive to the moral and spir-

itual welfare of the community. Our schools are intended to be second to none in the slate. Graduates from our high school can enter without further exarnination any of the colleges in Indiana. We have two fine large brick school houses well equipped with a library and ap paratus to assist the students in prosecuting their work. Rensselaer has four banks, none of which are in the least shaky. Panics don’t count with Rensselaer banks. Our creamery has been and still is a blessing to the farming community. It turns out a first grade of butter and cheese which bring the best prices. Two grain elevators take care of +he grain and hay. Our one planing mill can furnish anything in* the building line, while our foundry can fix you out with any casting needed. Our merchants are all gentlemen of character and genial good fellows. Not many towns can show so many fine residence properties as Rensselaer, The town is lighted with electricity. Telephone lines connect the business houses and residences; and also connects other towns wRh Rensselaer. Remington, on the Pan Han-

die railroad, in the south end of the county, is a town of about 1,100 inhabitants, and is a wide awake town. It is a grain and hay depot, aud its elevators and ware-on.-es do a nourishing business hour churches look after the welfare of the moral pait of this own and vi< inity. The schoolmuse is one of which every citin of Remirglon may feel proud, and the schools are an honor to the town Two banks furnish ample facilities for cari g for the depositors 6f money. A first class tile manufactory Furnishes an excellent grade of tile for the fanners of that vicinity. v - In the north end of the county are a number of lively small t iwns o.i the I. t. &I. railroad and the C. & G. S. railroad. Politically Jasper county is republican but a man “can pay his money and take his choice.” as all tiie parties are pretty well represented; and when the campaign opens there will be lots of eloquence found lying around loose.