Rensselaer Republican, Volume 27, Number 23, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 February 1896 — BET ACTION AT LAST. [ARTICLE]

BET ACTION AT LAST.

An Architect for the New Court House is Selected. The County Commissioners were in special session Tuesday, and finally reached a decision on the very important matter of selecting an architect for the new coart bouse; the man chosen being Alfred Grindle, of Fort Wayne. The Commissioners have folly appreciated the necessity of great care and baution in this matter of an architect ; and the many points to be taken into consideration in making their choice. Some fourteen or fifteen architects have submitted plans for their Inspection. In choosing among these, they sought, first of all, to secure a man who united competency as an architect, with the highest standing as a’man of.honor and rectitude. Before finally deciding upon Mr. Grindle, they have visited Ft. Wayne and personally examined many of the buildings he has erected, and have fully investigated his standing as a man, in the place where he lives and where he is best known. Both his work as an architect and his reputation as a man were found to be ofAbe highest character; and as above shifted* upon him their choiee has finally united.

The Kokomo Tribune claims that the use of the new remedy, AntitoxIn, has proven a great success in the treatment of diphtheria in that city and county. Out of 150 cases since : last October but five deaths have occurred—a remarkable record. There is really no longer room for doubting but that anti-toxin is a very successful remedy for diphtheria, if used m the early stages of the disease. At a prevention of contagion to those who have been exposed, it is even more successful.

The County Farmers’ Institute which was held Wednesday ind Thursday of last week was all right in every respect, except in the most important one of all that of attend, ance. The badness of the roads was against it in that respect, but still worse is the continued lack of interest among all' glasses of people. These annual farmers’ institutes have come to be great occasions in many counties, and with interest in them so great that halls large enongh to hold the crowds can not be found. Next year, acting on the suggestions, of some of the lecturers here this time, a grand organized effort is to be made to work up an interest in the Institute, among people both of towns and country. The plans by which this result is hoped to be secured are being formulated by the proper committees, already appointed and in due lime will be properly published. The professions 1 telegraph liar located at LaPorte lately stuffed the city dailies with the foHwing dispatch, and which is now going the rounds of our country exchanges: G. H. Gifford, a millionaire land owner, of Chicago, has let the contract for tbe building of 500 cottages in the Kankakee valley. Mr. Gifford believes that the now unproductive Kankakee region is destined to become the garden spot of northern Indiana, and has purchased a tract comprising about 30,000 acres which it is proposed to deveiope by establishing a colony.

There is some truth in this dispatch, which more than can be said of most of the telegraph liars’ productions. Mr. Gifford, who lives in Kankakee, 111., not Chicago, has been buying, draining and developing swamp and other lands in Jasper county, for over five years, and now owns nearly 30,000 acres. But comparatively little of it however, is in the Kankakee region. He has not let any contract for 500 cottages, but he has been building good houses and barns on his lands, for some years, and the number of which now completed is considerably oyer 100. Lastly his name is not G. H., but BenjangJn J. Gifford; and the work he has done and is doing in Jasper county is worthy of all praise, but it ought not to be exaggerated and misstated by the reckless telegraph liars. 4