Rensselaer Union, Volume 2, Number 30, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 April 1870 — Indiana North & South Railway. [ARTICLE]

Indiana North & South Railway.

Editors Union: —Of all the projected railroads to Rensselaer, there is one more promising than the rest, which, so far, we have entirely overlooked. This is the Indiana North & South Road; and it behooves our people to see to it that they do not loose a golden opportunity for making sure of tho much needed boon. Commencing at Newburg, on the Ohio river, through the rich coal fields of Southern Indiana, and thence north on nn almost direct lino to Michigan City—passing through Attica, Oxford, Remington, Rensselaer, Valparaiso and other intermediate points. Subscriptions of $5,000 per mile arc al-, ready obtained ns far as Attica and tho citizens of Michigan City and Porter county propose to grade, and tio the line from Michigan City to the Kankakee river. It now remains to be seen whether by our indifference we permit this most desirable route to deviate from its direct course for the local aid promised by our neighboring town of Kent, and thus loose an outlet to our-county seat and the valuable iron deposit north of Rensselaer. — How to reach this ore has been seriously considered by the proprietors of this road and renders decided inducements to the line in nur favor.

This road will give the people of Jasper county six eastern communications, five on the north of Rensselaer and one on the south, to-wit: The Chicago it Great Eastern; Pacific, Fort Wayne it Chicago; Michigan Southern; Michigan Central; Peninsular (now buildiiig from Port Huron to Chicago) and the Logansport, Peoria it Burlington. What more desirable east and west routes can we ask, a great sufficiency of which we already have? The Pennsylvania Central Railroad will never build the American Central, to which we arc now looking, because it is a rival route, as we will soon realize; and we had better unite at once in favor of something tangible. I sincerely believe the Indiana North <t South Road is within our reach, and certain to be built. It would traverse our county centrally, and our people would be benefited. The Michigan City harbor, with its immense lumber trade and rare advantages for shipping produce, is of itself grounds for our hasty co-operation; but numerous other points of importance would be open to us. The price of lumber and coal, the two great items of expense in developing our rich prairies, would bo very materially cheapened, in addition to which we wvmld have a good outlet to the eastern cities. $50,000 will secure it. Will not our public spirited men put their shoulders to the wheel and assure the company by whom tho road is to be built, that we want it and are willing to pay whatever is necessary to get it? You may depend Carpenter township and the fertile regions south in Benton county will pull together with you manfully in this enterprise, James Spencer. , Mr. Spencer, is correct in his argument that the construction of the Indiana North & South railroad would be important to the people of this county,' if built on the line he has mapped out for it. Just present, however, we are not in ppqd|tioi| to take bold of the enter-

prise. After the Fort Wayne and Pacific road is completed or abandoned, and tho Delphi project ocas-* cs to wriggle we’have no doubt Rensselaer, backed bylhe surroundiirgioountry, will assist Carpenter township in voting an appropriation to assist this enterprise. We havn’t the least doubt if tho road is ever built that’ll will make Remington and Rensselaer points on the line. Some of otir leading citizens have both written and lynbal assurances from Mr. Pierce and Mr. Condit thnt,thoy are anxious to put it through over this route because it is the least expensive ono to build on.