Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 67, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 April 1898 — Once More the Electric Road. [ARTICLE]

Once More the Electric Road.

The First itoute Offering Full Right of Way Gets It. Our venerable but enterprising townsman, more alive to the true interests of our town than many of our younger and much wealthier citizens, Jared Benjamin being nuwilling to see that rich prize, the electric railroad, slip entirely from our gratp, has written to Dr. Matchette, treasurer and acting secretary of the oompany, and from his reply we muke some extracts, Dr. Matchette says: The road has not yet been located, as the full right of way has not yet been deeded to our company. Nor will it be located until all the right, of way has been seoured. We had waited some time on your people, to hear that you had secured the right of way, and not hearing of any right of way being deeded either east or south from Rensselaer, and being creditably informed that the people of the other route had gone to work to get deeds, we could but think that you could not or would not secure the deeds, and as the other i folks have gone to work, to secure ihe deeds, we gave their line our attention, so far as to consider them in the enterprise, that at one time were nearly out of it. Now this is the entire situation. They have not secured the road any more than your people; your folks have had an equal chance, and now have, provided you comply exactly and speedily with your promise, not otherwise. * * * Now time is passing and the necessities of the enterprise compel the company to act promptly as possible, so the work of construction can begin at once the right of way is secured. If the right of way is secured on one entire line the work begins at once. If the deeds on any’ line are only partly secured, no loss to anyone will be suffered.

A. C. Matchette. The above seems to be an entirely plain and unequivocal offer to locate the road on which ever route will first secure the entire right of way. That Dr. Matohett’s statement that the road is not yet definitely located, is the truth, does not admit of question, and even the people along the alleged located route do not any longer claim to be sure of it. That the company is trying to play off one route against the other, is also evidently true, but that is no more than is to be expected. They have a route for a valuable railroad to dispose of, and it is only a matter of common business sense for them to try to dispose of it to the best advantage they can. Tho question as to whether the people of the Francesville, Rensselaer and Remington route think the prospect of being able to secure the right of way in time to get the road is for them to determine. The road would be a great thing, but it can not be had without immediate, vigorous and united action —and possibly the “other fellows, will get ahead of Os, even then.