Rensselaer Union, Volume 2, Number 26, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 March 1870 — Railroad Matters. [ARTICLE]

Railroad Matters.

v Attheir last session the commissioners of Newton county ordered an election to be held on the 16th of April upon the proposition of a county donation to the amount of It 1,500 in aid of the Fort Wayne A Pacific railroad. Both of the local papers are opposed to the proposition and will use their influence to defeat it. The Democrat because Its chief officers reside at Rensselaer; the Gazelle because "the Kankakee draining business has something to do with this." The true cause of their opposition is because if the road* is built it will settle up the northern part of their county and ultimately remove the county seat to- a more central and convenient locality. A dispatch to the Chicago Triteas says the vote on the appropriation to aid the Plymouth, Kankakee and Pacific railroad, held in Stark county on the 12th instant, was carried by an almost unanimous vote. 2k vote is to be held in Plymouth on the 26th, and the citzens are holding meetings and working vigorously. This road, when built, will cross the northern part of Jasper county, through the entenaive iron fields.— The director for this county is O. B. Rockwell, Esq., Trustee nf Kankakee township, who is enthusiasticallyxanfidentofsuccesg. The Indianapolis Sentinel of the 16th has the following in- relation to the Indianapolis, Delphi <t Chicago railroad: "This enterprise, it appears, is not dead, but only sleepeth. We are informed that a meeting of the Board of Directors will be held at Delphi, on Thursday, the 24th in--Btant fc to take intoconsideration the situation and see what can be accomplished to secure the construction of the road. On a portion of the line, and through 3 very wealthy section of the country, there is a strong determination manifested to push that enterprise, and with a very little‘aid and comfort’ from the northern and southern portions of the proposed line, we have no doubt the means could be raised to put it through. We understand that negotiations have been pending with the Peninsula road of Michigan which is to be extended from Grand Haven, Michigan, by the way of South Bend and Valparaiso to Chicago, to unite in the construction of a common road from an intersecting point near Dyer in Lake county to Chicago.— Such an arrangement can be perfected and it will materially cheapen the construction of tho Indianapolis, Delphi and Chicago Road.— We should not be surprised if the energy and zeal and determination of the friends of this enterprise should be successful in accomplishing its construction, and the prospect now for such a result seems to be more favorable than it has yet been.” Dr. Samuel Ritchey, the originator of the Indianapolis, Delphi & Chicago road, wrote to the editor of the Delphi Journal, under date ot March 11 th, the following in terrogatory paragraph concerning that enterprise: “Tell me, if you please, what is the matter? Is it settled that the road cannot be built? May we give it up as lost? Frankfort is getting a road east; very well, they need it. Rensselaer seems bent on having a roftd, they need it. Both these places need two roads; you only need one north and south to set you up; I want our people to let the vote on the 1., D. <fc C. road stand, and to build the other road also; with or without an appropriation.l We want both roads; but I would not kill a first choice to get a second. Will you, or some one else, tell us through your paper where we are? J. want to know.” The editor answers: “Our Rensselaer friends will be duly notified of the time and place of meeting, when full particulars of what has been done will be given. Until then we must patiently wait.” “After a long delay, a meeting of the Directors of the Indianapolis, Delphi & Chicago Railroad has been resolved upon. The people along the route of the contemplated road are to be told what has been done with their money, and what progress has been made in the enterprise. “James P. Dugan, Esq., received a very encouraging letter from J. M. Ridenour, President of the road, one day last week. Mr. Ridenour says: ‘I am fully aware of the anxiety of the people in regard to this matter, their nervousness at the seeming delay and the discouragements we have had here; I see no reason yet to doubt the road being built; the opposition we have had only demonstrates its importance and should encourage all to great,er effort’ He says that there are some plans that will be definitely settled by the time the Directors meet, so they can be acted on irtamediately. He thinks good arrangements can be made for getting into Chicago, and out of Marion county. In another place he .says: ‘I have the promise of Mr. Cox. State - Geologist, to go with me over the entire roflte, as soon ae the roads get good, and make * tall report in

regard to the nature of the .soil, timber, stone, lune, iron, water, etc., along the road.’ Further on he, says: ‘The road can be built, if we make the right basis, and next year i will be favorable tor that, financially, I think. Encourage the good people of Carroll to patience and steady work.” / ' “Mr. Ridenour recommends that the meeting be held in this city, on or about the 22d pf the present month. Judge Schermerhorn started to Indianapolis last night for the purpose of making arrangements for the meeting. We had a conversation with him before he left and he thinks the meeting will be held one day next week, and if not, will certainly be held the week after. “It seems there is considerable vitality in the Air Line Road yet. — Personally we cannot judge of its prospects, yet those who nre best posted arc the most sanguine that it will be built. It seems that there is considerable difficulty in making the preliminary arrangements, that’the tightness of the money market, are unfavorable to the undertaking this year.. Perhaps the difficulties may all be remove^and money be more plentiful next year, and when everything is in readiness work may be commenced under more favorable auspices than prevail at present.”— Delphi Journal. A meeting of the directors of the Indianapolis, Delphi aud Chicago Railroad Company is to be held at Delphi to-day. We shall probably know by next weekjif there is any prospect of the road being built. A case has been made up at Lafayette to test the constitutionality of the Railroad Appropriation law.