Rensselaer Union, Volume 2, Number 29, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 April 1870 — Will it Pay? [ARTICLE]

Will it Pay?

The people <of Jasper county are called upon to vote an appropriation of $49,300 next Salurdavto secure the construction of the Fort Wayne and Pacific Railroad across Its borders from east to west, a dis tance of 18 miles. The practical questions to every man are wilt it pay ua to give the price asked? and will the returns warrant the investment? Well, let ns see. The investment is $49,300. Tire returns are Ist. Eighteen miles of railroad valued, for taxation, at $3,54)0 per ifiilc which is in the aggregate 8G3.000. 2d. Tho rond will increase the value of lands an average of $3 per ucre for the distance of not less than, five miles each side-of the track. Here is a scope of country 18 miles ■ long and 10 miles wide containing 115.200 acres of land. Multiply this by the average increase per acre aud we have $345,600. These two items alone bring ns $408,600 of permanent value the first year a,nd before one cent will be paid out by the people. In other words our promise to pay of $49,300 will increase our wealth nearly 830 per cent. Will it pay? There is no use deceiving ourselves with the delusion that this railroad will and musteline through our county whether we do anything or not, because such is not the case. Nowadays railroads are not built through old settled sections without local assistance. If we would have the markets, business and improvements brought by railroads, we must pay something to secure them—we can not steal them and nobody will give them to us—they arc worth too much for this and are too well guarded. It is not a question for us to canvass, whether or not the railroad corporation is receiving big pay for their labor, but it is, will it pay us to give the price asked? There :s no competition and we can’t Jew these corporations down. They set their price; we may give it and have the road, or we can refuse to give it and go without the road.— Which course will pay? £3?' > Remember that every dollar invested by you in tax for railroad purposes is well invested and will return to you a larger percentthan any other investment.