Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 65, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 April 1898 — More About the Trolley Line. [ARTICLE]

More About the Trolley Line.

We republish' from the Monticello Herald the following from the Bourbon Mirror, published in Dr. Matchette’s town, and the headquarters of the movement for the proposed electric railroad, regarding the recent railroad meeting at Plymouth: ‘•'The meeting—was attended by a large number of stockholders and others interested in the enterprise, and the reports of the committees appointed to secure the right of way were of the most encouraging nature. But very few cases were reported where property owners refused to donate the right of way * * .* That the road will be built this season is a foregone conclusion, and the work of construction will be begun within thirty days. Just on what line it is to be built must be decided at once, and if the people on the proposed line don’t produce the free right of way immediately, there are other localities more than anxious to accept the proffered opportunity thus heedlessly rejected. “The company are in receipt of two offers for the purchase of the bonds while construction companies without number are willing to take the bonds of the road and furnish material for its construction and equipment. “The line was definitely decided upon at this meeting, save in one or two quarters where citizens had not manifested a sufficient interest to warrant the company in so doing, in which case it may become necessary for the board of directors to locate the road elsewhere. “The electrical engineer, Mr. Gilmore of Chicago was present, and read his report, covering the entire line to Danville, Illinois. Mr. Gilmore is a man of much experience in railroad building, and unhesitatingly pronounces this line one of the most promising he has ever been connected with. He is much enthused over the prospects of this road and gave the meeting much valuable advice regrffding its construction.” In regard to the above, we would simply remark, that there is nothing in it inconsistent with Dr. Matchette’s statement to us that the line of the road has not been definitely located. Nor is there anything to show that Mr. Gilmore’s report was specially more favorable to the Monticello than to the Rensselaer route. The one fact that Monticello was well represented at the Plymouth meeting while Rensselaer was not, unquestionably gave Monticello a great advantage, as it is shown by the fact that Monticello has two representatives on the directory, and one of these Mr. Sellers, is Ist vice-president and another, Mr. Spencer, is on the executive committee. Thus by being on hand at the proper time Monticello has secured a great advantage and which, if properly pushed, will secure them the final location of the road.