Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 31, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 December 1897 — They Want The Road in Benton County. [ARTICLE]

They Want The Road in Benton County.

Over in Benton County the people are enthusiastic for the electric railroad, and are working for it with an energy and an intelligent public spirit which puts to shame the slow and reluctant work of the people in Rensselaer and vicinity. They have held several meetings, the latest on Dec. 11th. Managing committees were appointed for each township, to raise funds, look after the right of way &c. The vote in favor of the Winamac, Rensselaer and Remington route was unanimous. The route which the Benton Copeople have selected passes through an excellent and rich country, easy to build a railroad through, and one that will give it lots of business. It would be far away from other railroads. The biggest bridge from Winamac to Danville, on this route, would be here at Rensselaer.

Mr. J. H, Biddle, who is one of the most active in the movement, has written an extended letter here, of which the following is an extract: “I challenge the State to find a tract of country contiguous, that will export more freight than the territory through which our line passes, or one where a road can be made so cheaply. No deep cuts or steep grades, or large bridges, the one at your place will be the largest; we will give right of way and pay for survey. The surveyors are now about to Monticello on that line, then they will run our line, also Monon line; don’t you think it would be a good idea for some of your men to confer with Pulaski Co. people and have a steering, committee to guide the surveyors on right line; we have a committee of like kind to visit Warren Co. The officers are friendly to our route and if we all pull together we are going to get that road and if wo fail I fear we will never get a line from Remington to Rensselaer which will connect us with Chicago also connect Carpenter Tp. people with their county seat and us in Gilboa with our county seat. So you people take new courage and wax strong for Benton is unanimous for the line I mapped out, and we will stand by you in your efforts to procure same route. Leroy Templeton told us at Saturday’s meeting at Fowler if the road was built on this line he would give right of way through his lands and one thousand dollars besides. I would be glad to hear from you and learn what you are doing and what you think of the suggestion I made.

We are preparing a statistical report of the exports a.id imports of the territory adjacent to the proposed route in Renton county and hope you will do same in your county as I think you have a good country to support a road from Rensselaer to Francesville.. Hoping this will be satisfactory to your people I remain yours J. H. Biddle. P. S. We have prepared a map beginning at Remington and extending through Benton county will take this with statistical report to Monticello convention.”