Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 39, Number 96, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 August 1907 — INTERURBAN RAILROAD ELECTION ORDERED [ARTICLE]

INTERURBAN RAILROAD ELECTION ORDERED

Tuesday, September 10th, the Day, and One and One-Half Per Cent the Amount—A New Era of Prosperity in Sight for Rensselaer and Surrounding Country.

The petition asking for an election in Marion township in aid 01 tje proposed electric railroad was filed at three o'clock Tuesday afternoon before the County Commissioners, and the petition was granted and an order entered for the election to be held on Tuesday, Sep'. 10, 1907. There were 62 names appended to the petition, and the solicitors coaid easily have secured three times that number had they had time to canvass for them, as practically ever person to

whom the petition was presented readily signed it. An appropriation equal to one and a half per cent, of all the taxable property in thetownsbip is asked for. This will produce a bonus of $37,500 iu round numbers, and this will be pretty nearly divided between city and township. That the people may known just what is specified in the petition, The Republican has been requested to publish it in full, and is therefore here given:

STATE OF INDIA A, ) County of Jasper, } Iu Commissioners’ Court, to Regular August Term, 1907. _ In the matter ol the appropriation of money to aid iu the construction of the Lafayette & Chicago Railway.

To the Honorable, the Board of Commissioners of Jasper County, Indiana: We, the undersigned, twenty-five of whom are resident free holders of Marion Township, Jasper Conn ty, Indiana, respectfully petition your Honorable body and hereby ask the Civil township of Marion, Jasper County, Indiana, including the CSty of Rensselaer, Indiana, to make an appropriation of money to aid the said Lafayette & Chicago Railway, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Indiana, in the constru tion of its proposed line of railway in and thru the said Township of Marion, Jasper County, Indiana, thru the said city of Rensselaer in said township. We further represent that this railway is to be a standard guage electric railway, with all the modern equipments and cars. We specifically ask that the said township of Marion, including the City of Rensselaer do make an appropriation of money equal to one and one half per cent of all the taxable property of said tow iship of Marion, including the said City of Rensselaer »s shown by the tax duplicates of said County ot Jasper delivered to the Treasurer thereof for the year 1907. In consideration of the said appropriation, if made, the said La layette & Chicago Railway agrees to mairtain a depot within the corporate limits of the said City of Rensselaer and as near the court house within said City as may be reasonably had. Also to use its best efforts and influence with the Chicago, Indianapolis & Louisville Railway Company to secure transfer tracks at the point where the tracks of the two roads may cross and upon such terms as can be agreed upon. It is furt_er agreed by the said railway corporation and its expressed desire is, should said ap propriation be made, to issue to each tax payer the amount of whose tax in said shall equal the par value of

one or more shares of the capital stoc of said corporation certifica es for such share or shares if desired by said tax payer as may be evidenced by the tax receipt from the Treasurer of Jasper County, Indi ana and verified by the record of his office and in all things to carry out the evident intent andj purpose of sections 537 D to 5375 inclusive, of Burns’ Revised Statutes, 1901. We also represent it as the desire of said railway corporation in case the amount of aid paid by an individual js less than a full share to issue to said individual the certificate for such share provided he will pay to the corporation an amount sufficient to make the total equal to the value ol a share ot its capital stock. We, your petitioners, further represent that the said corporation desires that its repair shops be locat ed within or near the corporation limits of said city of Rensselaer and will, if tne appropriation is made, so locate them, provided the city furnish the ground upon which said shoj e shall be built. We further represent that it is now the plan and purpose of the said corporation to locate one Of its power plants within or near the corporate limits of said City of Rensselaer. Wherefore, your petitioners pray your Honorat le Board to order an election to be held at the earliest date at which the same can be held under the statutes at the usual polling places in the several pre cincts ol said township of Marion and city ol Rensselaer to take vote ot the legal voters thereof upon the subject of said township and city appropriating a sum of money based upon one and one half per cent of the taxable property of said Township of Marion and of the said City of Rensselaer Indiana, as above set fortL and all in ac cordance with the statutes governing and controlling public aid to railway corpoiations and we will ever pray.