Rensselaer Republican, Volume 27, Number 30, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 April 1896 — AN INFLUX OF REPUBLICANS. [ARTICLE]

AN INFLUX OF REPUBLICANS.

The United States now has four •very powerfol battleships complet©r nearly so; two others have been oontraeted for, and four more will be authorized by the present Congress. When these are all completed, with the 15 new torpedo bsata, also to be provided for, the country will have quite a powerfn nary. Though the number of battleships will still have to be considerably increased, and the torpedo boatß very much so, before our navy has reached such a standard of efficiency as onr circumstances require. But our greatest national need at present from a military point of view, are better defences for onr sea and lake ports.

There is a curious movement of population reported from the northwestern part of the State, by which, during the last eighteen months, several hundred families have transferred from Illinois to the counties of Jasper, Newton, Benton* White and Potaski. The influx of population is said to be so considerable and the newcomers so largely R publican that in the next election two of the counties will probably be transferred (ran the Democratic to the Republican columns. This in itself would not be remarkable, as many counties ■re likely to undergo that change in ft* next election, hut the movement in popnlation is interesting. In the. absence of any known special cause H must be due to the fact th&t the counties offer superior attractions in the way of good farm lands at reasonable prices. They are among the largest counties in tlie State, Jasper being next to the largest and among j the lowest in point of population,

-with 570 square miles, had by the last census 11,177 inhabitants: Newton, 400 square miles and 8,803 inhabitants; Benton, 503 square miles ski 11,903 inhabitants; White, 500 square miles and 15,671 inhabitants: Pillarin', 430 square miles and 11,233 inhabitants. The five counties together. lying adjacent, have an aggregate area of 2,403 square miles, and an aggregate population of 58, 734. This is bat little more than one third of the population of Marion cownty, which has an area of 400 square miles. The State of Rhode Jriand, with an area of 1,085 square writes, lam than one-half that of the

It* counties named, has a population of 949,606. It is plain, therefoie, that these counties are sparse)/ populated. As they offer first claw agricultural attractions, it is somewhat remarkable that their fine prairie lands sheald have remained for so long a time so thinly populated. There is room there for a great many Republicans, and they will be weioome to the State no matter where they come from. Indiana has sent a great many people to other States, and is entitled to some reciprocity.—lndianapolis Journal.