Rensselaer Union, Volume 1, Number 52, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 September 1869 — Prospects of the Railroad [ARTICLE]

Prospects of the Railroad

Qnr year ago, in ow Initial issue we promised the public that “in >attm of local interest, the Union «ill always advocate such proposi (ton* m encourage enterprise and trnproveiuOMl.” We ha.e kept this promise in view up to the present day taid do not ate the weceaaitr ot departing from it with this last niynbcr of volntne one. |VU*n the project of opening a ynjlrogd communication between and the outside world /•ame up last spring our columns .invited free discussion, and were |he Seat to suggest what has since bcc/>inc Indianapolis, Delphi and Chicago route. Dr. ffiutll. W. Ritchkt, of Jordan township, snggvtged the idea in 4 communiration first published in the Uniox and afterwards copied by various futpers in toans and counties affected by the proposition. Since that time we hare earnest Jy and sincerely advocated the interests of this proposed line of .road believing it to be a practical |dan, offering inducements of .the greatest moment to oar citizens, not.only at Rensselaer alone, but throughout the county. As yet we sac no cause to regret our course in this matter, on the contrary wu believe the construction of this road would prove of incalculable advantage to us as a county, and as individuals. We need thia road to bring immigration to settle upon our vast undeveloped prairies, rich in alluvial and mineral deposits.— We need it to give us an outlet for our grain, our cattle, our swine, our hprscs and our iron ore. We used it to increase the revenues of our county that we may have better schools, better wagon roads, better bridges and better and more public buildings. We need iFto bring us lumber and atone and brick that we may be enabled to erect better and cheaper dwellings, bams and fences. We not'd it to lessen the prices of freights that we may purchase pur groceries and clothing at cheaper rates. We need it to increase the facilities of travel that we may be enabled to go abroad aud mingle with our friends and the world, and learn the manners and customs of civilization. The Indianapolis, Delphi and phicago road is the best proposition yet offered from the fact of its multiplied connections. At Indianapolis there is choice of two Or three eastern and northern routes and as many to pie soqth. AtUhicago w e could connect with the whole of the continent west of us traversed by the iron horse. This one road combines the advantages ot western, northern and southern, together with all necessary local communications. The advantages of thia road to our county can not be overestimated, and the project tkould not be abandoned to long nt there it a thadow of a hope that it cun be made tucctttful.

But can it be made successful? Now it is the part of wise men to look at patters of grave import in all their bearings. Let us free our minds as far as possible from all fancy and examine however unpleasant they may be to us. In jthe first place what is this road project founded upon? A~ meeting of the people along the proposed line was held at Delphi the latter part of May and organized a company with a subscribed capital stock of ♦JO,OOO. They elected officers, appointed aboardofdirectorsandfiled articles of association with the Auditor of State in accordance with law. They then went home and had the commissioners of their several pountirx onler elections for county appropriations. Jasper was the first to vote and carried the proposition for >42,000. Three or tour townships in Carroll county . next voted about 1100,000 and subscribed some |50,000 more. Then Clinton voted (37,000. *Marion defeated a proposition for ? 150,000. — "Boone will be die next to vote npon w tax of one per cent. After which wiH come White and Lake coun*ties. Ax wc said last week, no election ha* yet been 1 ordered in J-aWV but 'few people there have ever beard of it, and the subject ia scarcely mentioned at all. ‘ ‘Dr. fitrcnKv says in his communication that they are so near the bum and bun of Chicago with so little inter* , eat south the Kankakee that they w ill take but little interest in die road. Of White county we have said the opposition strong before, been augmented by the disas-' Cerons vote of Marion. Dr. Ritchey thinks the “strong influence of the 4 wo roa<|a now crossing nearly cen i . .eik - ' *■’

trail) in the county will defeat any appropriation unless the qomjnissi oners again order a "township vote,” while Mr. Reynolds, one of the directors in that county, in n meeting held in the Chamber of Commerce in the city of Indianapolis, Tuesday night, said “thecounty would have voted the appropriation but for this damper from Marion county,” thus virtually giving up the election there. The friends ot the road in Indianapolis have had the commissioners apjioint an election to be held thereon the ot next month to vote upon an appropriation of $75,000 in Centro township. At the county election which defeated the *150,000 proposition this township gave 73 majority in its favor. Then, the Journal, Stntintl aud Mirror were loud in its favor, now they have nothing to say. Then the opposition was dormant or nearly so. Now they denounce the measure not only tliroagh the columns of their papers over their ow n signatures, but get up in public meetings with bitter aud defiant speeches, , Summing up faclt, we find that survey has been made to the vicinity of Monticello, and will be continued through to the State line, or at least to the Kankakee river, because the counties have donated nearly $5,000 for this special purpose, to bs paid whether ths road is made or not; right of way i" partially secured through Marion, Boone r Clinton, Carroll and White counties; and a revenue as follows: Subscribed capital stock' t 50,000 Jasper Co. appropriate 42,000 Carroll Co. do 100,000 Clinton Co. do 37,000 Private subscription in Carroll County 50,000 Total $279,000

We arc not (as has been intimated ) in the interest or pay of any set of men, company or clique opposed to the Indianapolis, Delphi A Chicago road. Our sympathy and interests are with the project and we are ready at any time to subscribe in aid of its construction, an amount equal to one-tenth of our property as estimated for taxation. We simply state facts, as in duty bound to a community affording us a liberal patronage. What we have said need discourage no one. It need not injure the prospects of the road in the least, but may be of benefit to it. When the people know what is expected of them they can be prepared to meet the emergencies of the hour. The proposition was originated by the people for their own advantage; if they wish it to succeed they must make it successful. Sufficient public appropriations can not be obtained to complete the road. The deficiency must be made up by private liber ality. There is about 140 miles of this route to grade, tie and bridge at an estimated cost of $700,000. As bcfore shown, $279,U00, or about onethird of the amount is subscribed. The friends of the enterprise need look for no more public appropriations, but must put their hands into their own pockets for what is lacking. Chicago wont help us, neither is Indianapolis likely to. We must build the road ourselves if it is built at al).