Rensselaer Republican, Volume 27, Number 33, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 April 1895 — AND STILL ANOTHER BIG DEAL. [ARTICLE]

AND STILL ANOTHER BIG DEAL.

It is sftdull week, indeed, these days, that does not see from one to three or four big sales in Rensselaer business property, and this week more than keeps up the record. This week’s big deal 'is nothing less than the sale of the Trade Palace, or as a more appropriate name would be, the Opera House block, by John Eger to James H. S. Ellis, of the firm of Ellis <k Murray. The price paid was an even SIO,OOO. Concurrently with this deal, was the re-purchase, by Mr. Eger, of his former store building, lately sold to Geo. E. Murray, and now occupied by Laßue Bros.’ furniture store. Mr. Ellis will get possession of the opera house part of his new purchase the first of May, and be has it in contemplation to make a thorough remodeling and re-modernizing of the opera house. Mr. Eger will continue to occupy the store room until he ctn fget possession of his old place, and make a practically new and much larger building out of it Mr. Ellis has made this purchase as an individual investment, and not for the firm of which he is the head, and there is no present intention, at least, of Ellis <fc Murray moving into the Trade Palace, as their lease on their present location still has four years to run.

When Shall We Haye Water-Works? The town of Delphi has a system of water-works, installed last year, we believe. Judging from what the Delphi papers have said about them, the 1 water-works there have proved a great success. So great that the people would not think of again being without them. The town of Monticello, Delphi’s near neighbor, will vote on the question of water-works at the ensuing town election. These two neighboring instances show that towns of the size of Rensselaer, and a little larger, are beginning to add water-works to their public conveniences.

It is as a most effective means of fire protection, more than on any other account, that water-works are needed in Rensselaer. Although we have an excellent fire company, so far as its personal composition is concerned, yet no town can claim to have adequate fire protection until it has plenty of water to fight the fire with. This is a matter that should receive the most careful consideration from our citizens, especially the business men. It is claimed by other towns which have put in water-works that it can be done without increasing the burdens of tax payers at all. The income from the plant it is stated, Will pay operating expenses, the interest on the bonds and provide a sinking fund to pay off the bonds as they become due. Water-works would save the town a great deal in the cost of fire insurance. Rensselaer is now a town of the fourth class as an insurance risk, and good water-works would put it in the second class, with a large reduction of insurance rates.

A plant could be installed in Rensselaer for from^llß,ooo to 110,000, and we are informed that the bonds can be sold. If as other towns claim such a plant would be self supporting, good business sense would dictate that this would be a good thing to do. , _ Rensselaer has many fine residences and good business blocks and with good water works so that the lawns

and gardens could be kept green and the streets sprinkled, it would be as fine a town to live in as any in the A system of water works is cne of the large factors m building up a city, as most manufacturers require a plentiful supply of water and will always prefer a town with good water works and fire protection to one where the h : gh insurance rates will eat up a large portion of the profits of their business. The question everybody will readily admit, is one that is bound to come up in Rensselaer soon, and as it is now so greatly in need of better fire protection, it should come up at once. Of course if water-works are bound to come soon, all money spent for temporary fire protection is practically thrown away. If water works could be put in now, it would save any further expense for fire protection as it gives the very best of protection. Another present great advantage, and soon to be an indispensible necessity, for water works, is as a means of washing out and purifying our street sewers. Already, during every dry time in summer or protracted freeze in winter, when there has been little or no water running through the sewers, for some time, the escape of offensive and poisonous sewer gas, is very noticeable in the vicinity of every catch basin. This trouble will increase very fast, as the population of the town increases, and will soon become intolerable, unless we have, in water-works, the means for “flushing” or washing out the sewers.