Rensselaer Union, Volume 2, Number 3, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 October 1869 — PROSPECTS OF OUR RAILROAD. [ARTICLE]

PROSPECTS OF OUR RAILROAD.

MEETING AT THE COURT HOUSE LAST THURSDAY EVENING , Bpeech of Judge Schermerhorn, of Delphi. Secretary of the Indianapolis, Delphi A Chicago Railroad Company. Appearances I'aranklr, a«4 the C'ampnuf SaagHiao at Mucccaa. Pursuant (o notice, the citizens of Rensselaer and vicinity, to the number of between two and three hundred, assembled at the Court House, last Thursday evening, for the purpose of hearing concerning the prospects of the projected Indianapolis, Delphi and Chicago railroad. The meeting was called to order by Thos. Boroughs, Esq., who nominated Rev. Father Joseph A. Stephan for Chairman, which was unanimously confirmed by the audience. Horace E. James was elected Secretary. The Chairman introduced Judge Schermerhorn, of Delphi, the Secretary of the Indiaauapolis, Delphi and Chicago Railroad Company, who proceeded to entertain the meeting by a plain straight forward, unpretending address of about fortyjiniuutes duration.

Up to the present time, the speaker, who is the Company’s agent, had?jnet with flattering success iu obtaining the right of way from the owners of lands through which the line is being surveyed. In the first forty miles commencing at the Ma rion county line, there were but three persojis’who refused the grant. Since then,’from Frankfort through Ciinton, Carroll, White, and thus far in Jasper, the right of way has been freely given, though many fine farms are cut to great disadvantage. This showed great una nimity of favor towards the enterprise, and indicates a spirit of cooperation very gratifying to those laboring for its success. In the matter of financial assistance, Jasper county lead out by voting a tax of 142,000 as a donation, Carroll followed with one of 176,000, and Clinton with 137,500. In Carroll county, bona fide subscriptions amounting to SSO,CCO lias been secured and the Common Council of the city of Delphi has voted to issue 125,000 in seven per cent, bonds as a further donatiou, which swells the amount raised in that county to 1150,000. — Clinton county will, by private subscription, increase her donation to $100,000; this is pledged by gentlemen abundantly able to do it. Marion county defeated the proposition of $150,000, but the friends of the enterprise there are sanguine that amount will be raised without difficulty. An election is ordered for Center township on the 18th instant, this will certainly be carried, and the amount thus raised will be $75,000; to this sum it is expected the Marion county Commissioners will add $25,000 and the balance of $50,000 there will be no difficulty in raising by private subscription. The Commissioners of Boone county have ordered an election upon the proposition of a tax of one per cent. This election is to tako placeoß the 28lh. Did not know that it could lie carried, but if it is defeated the election is to be ordered by townships, threo of which will certainly vote in its favor. White county votes next Tuesday upon the proposition of one per cent. This will amount tc about $42,000, to this two townships propose to add SIO,OOO more. as not certain how the result would be in White county, though the friends thought it would be favorable. — Lake county has ordered an election in fwo townships, on the 25th. ,Did not know the amount they propose to raise, but was certain they would carry the election.— Could not say what Chicago would do, there were men in the city who were interested in the scheme, and as her citizens had hitherto shown a willingness to assist in enterprises of pnhlic interest, it is reasonable tu presume they will assist this qiic. A charter can be secured to build from the State line to the Chicago city limits. The company has proposals from two other companies to join and build into the city. Thought there would not he much difficulty iu securing the right of r way through Illinois outside of Chicago. Concerning the route from Indianapolis to Frankfort, the speaker said two lines had been run. One of these passed up the tow-path aloug the cauai, and crossed no lots within the city of Indianapolis; the other one crossed one block ol vacant lots. Outside of the city, the lino passes through valuable culii- | vated lauds, and the owners do r.Ot l like to give Nit? right .of way with-

out remuneration, however he had met with ItiVoo. exceptions to this feeling. Thought the cost of securing the right of way from the Boone county line to the Union depot would not exceed SIO,OOO or $12,000. The company was now making a preliminary survey of the route in order to make nn approximate estimate of the cost, etc. Could not tell where the road bed would be ultimately located, but it would not be lar from the present survey. Did not know where they would cross the Kankakee river. Lowell, in Lake county, will be a point on the road. The company desires, and it is their intention to make this the most direct route between Indianapolis and Chicago. He was not prepared to make an approximate estimate of the cost of building the road, neither could it bo made until the survey was completed, but was satisfied the bulk of tho expense would be between Moilticello and Indianapolis. The company had not made any overtures for building the road and would not until the survey was comploted, estimates of the cost made and it was definitely ascertained what assistance the people along the line were willing to give. Dr. Lalluo asked what do companies taking the contract to build railroads usually expect in the way of material assistance from the people along the line? The Judge replied in substance that they usually required the line to he placed in condition for the iron, but perhaps not so much will be expected of this line all the way through—say from Monticello to Indianapolis, as there arc a number of streams to cross requiring expensive bridges and grading. Jasper county will probably be expected to grade, tic and bridge the line within her borders, which Thw speaker thought might be done at an average cost of §2,500 per mile.

Judge Schermerhorn could see no occasion for other than the most hopeful feelings, as up to the present time everything had progressed very favorably. It is true the Marion county election had resulted adversely, but our friends at Indianapolis were not in the least discouraged. 11l fact the source and nature of the opposition there tended to increase their determination, and they were inspired by it to put forth renewed exertion. The principal opposition there caine from railroads —the Indianapolis & Lafayette, the Terre llaute, the Peru, and the Indiana Central—whose business will be materially affected by the success of this project.— The friends of our railroad at Indianapolis are the wholesale merchants and the more enterprising citizens who desire to build up the trade aud influence of their city.— ‘He had no doubt of their”suceess in carrying their township vote on the 18th instant. These county and township appropriations were not contemplated when the company was organized at Delphi last May. The company was organized by the people with the understanding that they would he obliged to build the road with money from their private purses; the aid of public taxation cauie in as an afterthought—as an incidental circumstance —and if we do not succeed in carrying these elections in all cases, it is no cause of gi cat discouragement. We should bo faint hearted. The construction of railroads is not the work of a day, or of a u/*eek, or a month, but if we work earnestly we will succeed with our enterprise.

When Judge Schermerhorn had concluded, Mr. Alfred Thompson arose and endorsed ins statements go far as they alluded to matters which had como under his observation. v Hon. Ezra Wright thought the prospects exceedingly favorable. — He also congratulated the company upon their President, whom he proceeded tu culogisc in his peculiarly felicitous manner. Thos. J. Spitler, Esq., introduced the following resolution: “ Resolved, That the citizens of Jasper county will donate the right of way and raise money sufficient to grade, bridge and tic the 1., D. <fc C. It. It. througl. the county.” An, elderly gentleman by the name of Fay, ltay, May, Hay, Gay, Lay, Bay, Gray, Bray, or something similar, living somewhere among the northern swamps of Newton county, and whom the Comings employ to watch their marsh lands along the Kankakee, bobbed up and ; hoped the resolution would be amended so as to read “that the reeldent landowner* donate,” «&e. Nobody seconded the “hope” and the question being demanded, the resolution was unanimously• adopted, upup which the meeting adjourned.