Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 40, Number 2, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 13 September 1907 — TWO TO ONE AND SOME TO SPARE [ARTICLE]

TWO TO ONE AND SOME TO SPARE

One and One-Half Percent Railroad Subsidy Voted In Marion Tp. Only about one-half the voters of Marion tp. turned out Tuesday to register their will in the matter of ‘ the proposed li percent tax to subsidize the proposed Lafayette & Chicago Electric railroad. What the stayaways might have done is of course problematical, bat that they were very indifferent about the project is evident by the fact that they did not vote. The total vote cast was 580, of which 392 were for the subsidy 186 against it and two spoiled ballots, one having voted both for and against and one having marked his ballot “yes” instead of with the cross. By precints the vote was as follows: No. 1 For 108 Against 67 Majority for 51 No. 2 F0r.... 149 Against 60 Majority for 89 No. 3 For 53 Against 46 Majority f0r.... 7 No. 4 For. 74 Against 28 Majority for 46 The tax subsidy assistance will be asked in Carpenter tp. and probably in so me townships in Benton county.

The li percent in this township means about $40,000 toward influencing the construction of the road, and will be available to the road promoters provided the road is built, but construction must be begun within two years. The tax will be paid in two annual installments each 3 4 of one per cent. If it is responsible for the building of the road it is our earnest conviction that it will be worth to all property in the township many .imes the cost of the tax, and it will open up to Rensselaer a possibility that it cannot have until another r ailread is built. It is a step toward a greater Rensselaer and if it accomplishes the purpose aimed —the construclion of the road—it will be a good investment.