Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 19, Number 100, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 August 1898 — Gifford Rushing His Road [ARTICLE]

Gifford Rushing His Road

Quite a number of men and teams are now working on the grade of B. J. Gifford’s railroad. He is letting the grading contracts in short sections of 600 feet. He pays five cents a yard we believe, (or perhaps it is six cents) for the grading. The price looks rather small, but it is said that the nature of the land makes the grading easy, and that no trouble is being experienced in letting the contracts at the price offered. The reports that the road was to be an electric line seems to have been without foundation. We have information which we deem reliable, that it will be a steam road, of standard guage. ■ The road this fall will be built ten or twelve miles, if present intentions can be carried out, that depending probably very much on the weather. This will give a convenient outlet to nearly all of Mr. Gifford's land and much other land now rather remote from a railroad. As to the final scope of the road,

definite information is still lacking. Yet it is known that Mr. Gifford thinks strongly of carrying his road on the southeast a considerable distance, probably until he strikes the Pan Handle at or near Wolcott. This, if done, will carry it through a country which will give the road a good deal of business. As to the northeastward extension, some authorities state that it will be only far enough to connect with the other ‘‘Pan Handle” at Hebron; while others say the banks of the Calumet, near Hammond, is to be the ultimate terminus, The logic of the Calumet terminus is that the onions, potatoes, green corn and other garden truck, which the exhaustlessly rich muck in the Gifford district is yet to produce in measureless quantities, will be run up Gifford’s railroad to the Calumet and be there transferred to fast boats, and run quickly and cheaply around into the Chicago river, and right into the heart of South Water Street produce market. This looks like an eminently feasible scheme, and that, before many years, Jasper county would be Chicago’s greatest source of supply for garden products.