Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 33, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 December 1897 — Still A Possible Chance [ARTICLE]

Still A Possible Chance

To Secure For Rensselaer The Great East And West Railroad. The reports that have gene ou in the newspapers that the exact, route of the Findlay, Fort Wayne & Western, now surveyed through this county, some eight miles north of Rensselaer, has been definitely located beyond a shadow of a doubt or hope °of turning seems not to have been based on exact information. The exact line of the road is not definitely decided upon, and there would seem to be at least a possibility of its being brought to Rensselaer. The following correspondence will need no further explanation. Rensselaer, Ind. Dec. 18, 1897. Gen. Mgr. Findlay, Ft. Wayne & Western R. R. Chicago, 111. Dear Sir:—

It is now reported that your road will will make an extension from Ft. Wayne to Kankakee, 111, and that the . line will be an air line in which case it will pass through Jasper county, only about 8 miles north of this place, the survey, as we understand has already been made. Now we feel that it will be to your advantage in several respects to vary from this line enough to make this point. Rensselaer is on the Monon road (Chicago branch) and as the General Manager, Mr. McDoel has stated is the eighth station on their road from Hammond to Louisville in point of business, both passenger and freight traffic. During the past, year and for several previous years the Monon has handled over three thousand cars of freight at this point, its income exceeding $75,000. The grain and hay shipped from this place amounts to about 1500 ears, and our dealers say that with an eastern out-let all of this would go east, besides a large number of cars of live stock, probably 300 cars, much of which would go to the Sea board with an eastern out-let. There is a road bed already built, by the old Continental road, from Francesville to Rensselaer which would be available in case you should find it to your interest to come tothjs place, and we have no doubt, but that the right of way over this road bed could be secured without difficulty, and this would make quite a saving in construction account. We also feel that it would be to your interest to come by this place because the country over which the road would be built will be much better and the construction mqjh cheaper than over the line surveyed through this county, (Jasper) as very few, if any marshes would be encountered, and the country is generally level, most of the ridges of sand being on the line surveyed.

Trusting that this letter will receive the attention to which we believe it entitled, we remain, Very truly yours. . . Business Mens Association. Per C. E. Mills. ». ~~ ~ Findlay. Ohio. Dee., 21st, 1897. Charles E. Mills. Esq., Attorney at Law, Rensselaer, Ind. Dear . Your letter to General Maanger of this road, relative to our proposed western extension, has been referred to me, and I have to say that we are riot quite ready to take up definitely the question of location of line, but when the time comes I will be very glad to consider your suggestion and for that purpose to m?at you or some of your a«soci-

ates. Meantime believe me, Very truly yours, Geog. Chapman. Assistant to President.