Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 21, Number 55, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 April 1900 — Another Big Railroad Meeting. [ARTICLE]

Another Big Railroad Meeting.

There was another big railroad meeting at the court house, Tuesday evening. There was a very large attendance, and everyone seemed enthusiastically in favor of securing the road. W. H. Coover was made chairman of the meeting, and later was elected permanent chairman of the whole movement, with power to call committees together, to call public meetings and generally to direct the progress bf the whole movement. Levi Hawkins, of Remington was present by appointment to represent the Carpenter people, and Geo. Besse to speak for both Carpenter and Jordan. Assurances, were given by Mr. Hawkins of the complete readiness of Carpenter and Remington to do their full share; and Mr. Besse reported that he had journeyed over Jordan considerably, and almost every man he talked with thought Jordan would be right in line also. W. B. Austin, on the behalf of the committee appointed to confer with Carpenter, also gave most incouraging reports of the feeling! there, and of the big meeting at Remington, Monday night. Lucius Strong, on behalf of the committee on right of way, report-j ed that he had investigated thel subject, of the route as proposed by Mr. Gifford. Namely a direct line from the Elsworth farm, to the southernmost bend of the river, south of town. He finds most serious objections on the part of the land owners, to that route, from the manner in which it cuts their farms in diagonal directions. He mentioned specially Delos Thompson, J. W. Cowden, Gee. B. Parkison and Mrs. M. B. Alter. All of whom he had talked with, and all of whom are very averse to the route mentioned. Mr Strong pointed out that the river southeast of town curved much farther south than Mr. Gifford evidently was aware, and thus made the south route still mbre objectionable, He also pointed out that, misled by inaccurate maps, Mr. Gifford thinks the Pinkam ink bends much farther to the south in section 23 than is actually the case. The route along that half section line would not touch the Pinkamink at all, instead of crossing it twice as Mr. Gifford supposed. Mr. Strong is much in favor of the northern route, as vastly easier and cheaper for the right of way, and a much better road for the town, wh£n we get it. W. B. Austin of the committee on holding an election to vote a subsidy, reported having drawn up a petition asking the connty commissioners to order an election in Marion township, to vote the sum of $25,000, This sum, as he explained, would only be a little more than one per cent, of the taxable value of the township. A number of namse were attached to the petition. On motion the chair appointed a committee to confer with Mr. Gifford regarding a moie feasible route than the south one, and the right of way generally as follows: L. Strong G. E. Marshall, A. Leopold, W. B. Austin and U. W. Coen. Executive Committees to act vi th Carpenter and Jordan, regardin {the route, right of way, amount otijaid etc. were appointed: For Marion, W. H. Coover, C. G. Spitler, G. E. Murray, J. W. Pierce, Warren Robinson. For Jordan: George Besse, Frank Duvall, Lewis Welsh, and Charles Hensler. As committees from the other townships, to' confer with Mr. Gifford on the route the following were appointed: Jordan, Geo. Besse, W. V. Porter, Wm. Wash-

burn. From Carpenter: Robert Parker, C. T. Denham, Chris. Hensler, and Andrew Hicks. The meeting adjourned to meet on call of the permanent president.