Rensselaer Union, Volume 9, Number 39, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 14 June 1877 — THE I., D. & C. RAILROAD AND ITS PROSPECTS. [ARTICLE]

THE I., D. & C. RAILROAD AND ITS PROSPECTS.

Mr. Leo, of Crawford sville, president of the Indianapolis, Delphi & Chicago railroad company, addressed a goodly number of tho citizens of Rensselaer and vicinity at tiie court house last Saturday afternoon, upon the plans of the company and prospects of the proposed road. He gave quite a lengthy review of the railroads of the United States, the costs of construction of both standard and narrow gauge roads, and the immense benefits that have accrued therefrom to the country iu the developement of agricultural and mineral resources. lie said the building of this new and important line would open up a regiou of country which is now lyiug in its naturally wild and uncultivated state, and which would be unsurpassed by any in the west for richness and productiveness of soil. Besides, there are lying along, and contiguous to, the proposed road, immense coal fields and beds of irou ore which would be worked and made to yield millions of wealth now lying in idleness, locked up in the bowels of mother earth. All he asked of the citizens to make this great enterprise a success waa to stand by him and make good the pledges they made to the old president, and he would assure them by so doing that the road would be completed and cars running over it within six mouths from date. The local aid secured by way of private subscriptions and donations of moneys or lands to the old company are now null and void by the provisions therein stated, and the new company asks that these pledges be renewed. Just as soon as this is done and the company is assured of that fact, then will the paddies, teams, scrapers, etc., make their appearance and the work be vigorously prosecuted until the road is completed and in operation. Now all tbatlf left to be done, is for the people along the line to go to work in earnest aud labor in concert to secure the required aid. Concert of action, diligence, perseverance, patience, and the eternal grit, all combined, will make a success of what has heretofore proven a failure. Nothing gained, nothing lost; not a dollar is asked until the road is bompleted' and a train 'of cars comes thuudering into Rensselaer. Then up, boys, and at ’em! One strong pull altogether and success is certain. The following named gentlemen were appointed a kind of executive committee to look after the interests of the road in Jasper county and to solicit subscriptions: Alfred McCoy, Alfred Thompson, JS. P. Thompson, Dr. b. W. Ritchey, R. S. Dwiggius, a. Leopold, Jared Benjamin, John Mnkeever and James T. Randall. It is earnestly hoped that ail who are interested in this matter will respond promptly when called upon and subscribe willingly what they are able to give. Mr. Lee went from this place over the line to Lowell, Lake county, where he expects to meet the citizens of that town and vicinity and urge them to the work. A few particulars of the recent earthquake and tidal wave on the western coast of South America hwfe been received. The destruction’oflife and property was enormous, much ’.irger than was first supposed. Al out a dozen towns and cities in ! eru and Bolivia were destroyed by .e combined effects o£she earthq ; >ke, tidal wav** and fire, killing t: isands of persons and entailing a loss upon property amounting in the aggregate t0820,000,000. In one mine alone 2,000 workmen were completely swallowed up. Ariua, a port of considerable inportance and formerly a city of 30,000 inhabitants, wis reduced to ruins and only aoout 3,0*0 souls left. There have been no important changes along the Danube since the last issue of this paper. Anoth*. er overflow has made the crossing of that river impracticable at pres- j ent and a general advance of the Russian forces will not be made until the high waters subside. 1 Rumors .of a Russian repulse at Rust oil uk are afloat bqt lack confirmation. ‘