Rensselaer Republican, Volume 13, Number 42, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 July 1881 — Central New ton County. [ARTICLE]

Central New ton County.

Eds. Republican: —The growing trade of central Newton county with Rensselaer will be largely increased in the near future. In view of this fact I wish, in a friendly manner, to call the attention of tihe Commissioners of Jasper county, and the business men of Rensselaer in particular, to the necessity of improving their highways leading to this portion of this county. The bridge across the big slough, on thejroad to Pilot Grove, is permanently down, and should bo replaced at olice by & substantial structure. The Price bridge, lower down, over the same slough, is in a rickety condition and barely passable. The road leading to this bridge from the east is new, and through woodland. Tho timber was cut off a few inches above the ground and the stumps remain in the road bed nuisances to the traveler and a disgrace to civilization. Parties who own tiie land have joined their fencing to the bridge so as to debar the traveling public from tjie privilege of the water in the stream, which, to a drover on a hot day, is of no minor importance. Our stock, which is marketed in Chicago, will soon all be shipped from Rensselaer. To-day Rensselaer is our lumber and grain market, and the competition of her railroad to Chicago, will give anew impetus to trade. Shall we have the needed repairs on the highways to meet this new order of things? J. D. Spohr.