Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 40, Number 4, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 September 1907 — HADDOCK MARSH TRANSFORMATION [ARTICLE]

HADDOCK MARSH TRANSFORMATION

Kankakee, 111., Sept. 16, 1907. Dear Sir: Enclosed find a letter from your townsman, Mr/ James F. Traun. Mr. Irwin was the cause of my buying the Haddock marsh. He was the firpt man to call my attention to it. It has only been a little over two years since I made tl e first sale of Indiana land, I have now soldi 7,414 acres, at a price aggregating 1418,568.44. I have yet for sale 24,695 acres, but I have negotiations pending for over 3,000 acres, at a price aggregating *210,000. Doubtless onehalf of these sales will be closed up this week or next. The whole country seems to be full of land buyers, and I may befall sold out between now and Christmas. These sales, when consummated, will give me ample funds to extend my’railroad up to Gary, ;and if desired, to carry the south end of it beyond the Wabash river. I have already resumed construction fwork under the superintendency of C. J. Hobbs, engineer. B. J. Gifford, mr. Irwins letter. Mr. B. J. Gifford, Kankakee, 111. * Dear Sir: I had occasion to drive over the country in the vicity of Newland, a few days ago, seeing a large portion of the Haddock marsh and to say that I was surprised is putting it mild; it is wonderful to see the improvement you have made in that country since that dsy about sixteen years ago when v e drove around this marsh and could see nothing but cat-tail flags and tall grass; when I told you that the land in this marsh had no value to parties who never seen it. T thought th at I was telling the truth, but now you need not be afraid to tase your customers on the land and let them see for themselves. There is nothing better in Northern Indiana, and I think that it would be hari to find its equal anywhere, you have the soil, with its fertility; the outlets for drainage are provided, and all that is lacking to make this a garden which will supply the Chicago markets with vegetables is to tile the land and complete your railroad to Chicago. When you have direct railway to the city all of this land will be worth SIOO per acre for general farming and much more for trucking. The thousands of acres of corn which I saw roundabout Newland will make an average of sixty bushels of corn to the acre. You have reason to be encouraged and I congratulate you on your success in making this large marsh a fertile soil susceptible of cultivation. If myself or family had money to invest we would not hesitate to buy this land at the price you are holding it at. Hoping that your health will permit you to carry this vast enterprise to completion, I am yours trulyl

JAMES F. IRWIN.