Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 20, Number 98, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 August 1899 — Clamoring For It. [ARTICLE]

Clamoring For It.

The Railroad Project Makes a Decided Hit. Do we want the Gifford railroad through Rensselaer? Well I guess we do. You would certainly think so if you had been at the meeting Friday night. It was abeaut. Everybody was there, a whole court room full of humanity just overflowing with enthusiasm. Every mother’s son of ’em ready to grab a spade and turn the first soil on the grade of the Chicago & Wabash Valley R. R. Its coming, right through Rensselaer, just as certainly as anything that is a certain faot. The poor overburdened taxpayers were present and the way they enthused and patted that railroad scheme on the back would do your heart good. It resembled a real hearty Methodist revival meeting when they got to giving in their testimony. There were the McCoys and Parkison and Austin and Hollingsworths and Eger and Leopold and Babcock and any number of others on whom the burden would fall heaviest, all olamoring for a railroad, offering right of ways and all kinds of moral support. It was a beautiful demonstration of the interest these men take in their home city. Word was received from Remington that the project would receive hearty support from that quarter. Committees were appointed to look after right of ways, draft petitions, etc., and the whole thing resolved itselfjinto a tangible shape. The benefits of the enterprise have been exploited sufficiently. They are appreciated by all. Now just a word in regard to the cost, $12,000 and right of way, approximately SIB,OOO, a matter of about nine. mills on the dollar. The Monon is assessed at SIB,OOO per mile, the Pan Handle at $14,000 per'mile, so, while the Gifford road assessment will not be so high as these it is easy to see that the entire amonnt will be refunded in taxes in a very short time. We might say more on the subject but will postpone it to another time as we have a very nice ietter from Mr. Gifford that interest you. Kankakee, 111., Aug. 10, ’O9. Rensselaer Republican, Rensselaer, Ind. Dear Sirs:— '

I write to thank you for the kind notioes in the late issue of your paper touohing my railroad project, and to thank the people of Jasper county for the interest taken therein. And I think it proper under the oircumstances to give a little public information touohing the real purpose of my enterprise. First: I have a firm belief that ovary railroad ever built in the United States has worked an enhancement in the value of property along the line of such road, more than the cost of construction. Second: I believe that the marsh lands of northern Indiana when drained will make the finest lands for horticultural purposes in the world. And that the drainage of such land is only a question of time.

Third: That at no distant day there will be an aggregate population in north-west corner of the state of Indiana and Chicago adjacent, equal in numbers to the largest city in the world. My line ot road selected was intended to traverse as muoh as possible of these marsh lands, towit: Starting out from South Chicago we first traverse the Calumet marsh which praotioally extends to Cedar Lake, thence but a few miles brings us to the Kankakee marsh. And this marsh on my line of road is practically connected with the Copperas Cheek

marsh, which in turn connects with the Haddock or Pinkimink Marsh. And passing Marlborough we soon drop into the marshes south of that, commonly known as Wakausha and Blue Sea, and thence south after passing the Pan Handle road we traverse a considerable section of oountry of fine quality, poorly supplied with railroad facilities. And continuing this line farther south the coal fields of Indiana would be pierced, wherefore I organized the Chicago & Wabash Valley K. R. Co. and started my railroad which I contemplated building in seotions as large as I might be able to, but which might serve some local purpose as soon as built. I did not contemplate asking other assistance than that of right of way. And it is hardly necessary to add that after I had spent so much money in the purchase and improvement of the Pinkimink marsh that I was not in a position any too strong for such an undertaking, and would be compelled to go very slow, and proceed with the greatest degree of economy. Had I been aware of the existence of the public spirit recently manifested at Rensselaer I might have located my line somewhat more favorable with a view of making Rensselaer a point. My main purpose in pushing south is to reach the coal fields of Indiana, together with other railway connections, and I shall feel inclined to favor any line that may enable me to realize this object, which will require the smallest amount of capital to be furnished by myself. While my purpose in pushing north wfil be to secure a quick and cheap means of reaching the Chicago market with train loads of vegetables fresh from the marsh gardens of Indiana and coal from the mines. And whether Rensselaer may be made a point on this line or not, I feel like thanking the people for the kind spirit manifested and their kind remarks touching myself; and complimenting them upon the spirit of enterprise displayed, which I have long since, recognized as the true standard of value of any class of people considered as a factor in this worlds great progress. Yours Very Truly, Benj. J. Gifpobd.