Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 36, Number 59, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 March 1904 — Sound Argument For County Annexation [ARTICLE]

Sound Argument For County Annexation

Brook Reporter: One of the most prominent and influential oit zens of the end of the oounty drifted into this office one day last week and as a matter of course the talk drifted on the vexed oounty seat question. Oui friend made the statement that over ninety seven and six-tenths of the north end people were in favor of annexation to Jasper oounty, and that fully the above Darned number would sign a petition to that end. He bronght the matter oat in each a favorable light that we were compelled to acknowledge that he was right in his deductions. ‘‘Now,” said he, “I will give you a slight idea of the advantages the north half of tbe oonnty weald secure by beiDg annexed to Jasper oounty. Distance, of course, is tbe greatest drawback and a comparison along that line will be first in order. From the corner stone in the town of Rose Lawn to tbe Jasper county oonrt house steps, it is just fifteen miles, sixteen'rods, four feet and five and one-tenth nearer than Kentiand, with good roads and still better building. From Granger’s saloon bar in Lake Village to the jail door iu Rensselaer it is fourteen miles, forty rods, six obains, two links and three inobes nearer than the same place in Kentland. This will give a fair idea of wbat advantages the extreme north end would reap by the change. From a central point directly under the solitary aro tight on Morcooo’s main street to a point six feet aud seven three-tenth inches west and north of the south east corner of the Rensselaer court house square it is three miles,

ehven inches farther than the same point at Kentland, but this discrepenoy is folly overbalanced by the fact! that the average citizen of Moroooo Bleeps with his feet to the east so as to secure the first rays of the rising son on bis oorn crop. For the citizens of Brook the advantages wonld not be so great, bat still they would be goed. From a point two inches west of Ed. Wilson’s back saloon door to a point

eleven inohes east of where judge Hanley bdidsoonrt, it ie five miles twenty-two inches further than from tb6 seme point to a point nine inohes west of the office obair of the Newton oonnty auditor. This distauoe will be out in less {ban two by Rensselaer bnilding an eleotrio line to Brook to seoure the butter, eggs arid bide trade, "I tell yon” continned the nortbender, “there is great possibilities in store for tba north half of the county by the annexation to Jasper. The smut on (he corn would be a thing of the past; potato bugs would not dare to show their faces; sand bnrs and oanada thistles wonld move dfct; our hens would lay six eggs ajdeoe per day, our girls wouhL-but at this point a friend called hint away.- •