Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 37, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 January 1898 — The Bourbon News Says Its a Sure Go Now. [ARTICLE]

The Bourbon News Says Its a Sure Go Now.

The Bourbon News, published at the home of Dr. Matchette, secretary and principal Indiana promoter of the Michigan, Indiana and St. Louis Electric Railway, in its of Jan 7th, says that the road is “a sure go.” The following are extracts from its principal railroad article. Treasurer Matchette of the New Electric railway tells us 60 miles of right of way for the road has been secured. Things are being moved along nicely and Col". Sears will be here today with something up his sleeve for our people. Hourly inquiries are being made as to the prospects for the early construction of the Mich., Ind., & St. Louis R. R. by our wide awake fellow citizens and we are glad to be able to say to all, the prospects for the immediate building of the road are most excellent. It is reported on good authority that over 60 miles of the right of way has been guaranteed on different portions of the line; in many townships that miles and miles together of the right of way had been freely donated and that only in the most exceptional cases imaginable do the land owners demand pay for the lands, and in those cases the most moderate and reasonable prices only, are asked for the right of way. All along the line of the road are the people so earnest in their wishes for the road, that the} 7 will deal most liberally with the Company and aid in every way possible, this great, public enterprise that is to be such a benefit to all along the route of the road. Almost all the towns and cities have promptly granted franchises for the road that are most liberal, thus showing their full appreciation of the great advantages of an electric rail road through their midst'. Some cities also granting the road free use of public bridges, that have cost scores of thousands of dollars to construct. The north east section of the line has not been definitely determined upon as yet, but that portion of the road will soon be located and the right-of way secured when work of building the road bed will begin as soon as spring opens, is assured. In only two townships of the line will a subsidy be voted, although in several others prefers of such subsidies have been freely made and declined by the Company, and only in the instances above mentioned because the citizens insisted strongly on such being allowed. They asserted that in each township were wealthy residents who had amassed their wealth by the improvements forced upon them by the great liberality of their neighbors in public and private improvements, brought about by the donations and labors of the public spirited citizens of these townships, unaided in every instance, by these men of wealth.

Now these liberal hearted ones, of these townships, have grown tired of constant contributions, that profit their non-contributing neighbors, and they have determined to this time force them to contribute some of the funds needed to secure an institution that shall surely benefit all alike £nd not be a burthen to any by voting a small subsidy for the road. These townships, we are glad to say, are not on pur portion of the line, as our people are all equally interested in securing the road and will all join together and work in being equally liberal all in their efforts that has secured this important electric road, without public tax. The question has been asked repeatedly, who ia to furnish the capital to build this road. By close inquiring we have ascertained that

a heavy financial company in New York City, one in Boston and one Philadelphi stand ready to not only construct the road, when the right-of-way is all provided, but will equip the road with tjie usual approved rollingstock, and to build all the station houses and elevators along the line to the entire satisfaction of all interested in this enterprise. There is no better investment fbr capital, it is declared, than in electric railroads and capitalists are anxious to secure such promising investments in all parts of the Union. This all renders the factor of capital back of this important road a most satisfactory one indeed, and settles beyond dispute, the problem of its sure construction.