Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 40, Number 20, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 15 November 1907 — NO SUBSIDY IN CARPENTER [ARTICLE]

NO SUBSIDY IN CARPENTER

Proposition to Subsidize Electric Read Defeated By Majority of 26 In Tuesday Election. Carpenter township has set down on the proposition to vote a one per cent subsidy for the projected Lafayette and Chicago Electric railway. . .JAt the election in that township Tuesday there was a majority of 26 against the tax,the vote -by -precincts being as follows: For Against East 79 66 SAnth 72 66 _ West 43 89 Total 195 221 The greater part of the town is in the east and south precincts, and in tfiese two it carried by a majority of 20, but in the west precinct, which includes much terri tory adjacent to Goodland the majority was 46 against it. The majority of Remington merchants opposed the proposition, presumably on the basis of the road carrying trade away from town, and, while this cannot be ta«ien as an indication that they are opposed to rail connection with Rensselaer, it does mean that they have looked into the effect electric railroads be tween larger places have had on the trade of the smaller towns passed thru. On this basis it seems thfit the merchants acted conscientiously in their opposition. They were, of course, assisted by farmers who could see no advantage to them in the building of the road, especially to those farmers living in the extreme east and west ends of the township who trade at either Wolcott or Goodland. # President Infield was in Remington and was considerably disappointed at the outcome of the election, and it is stated went at once to Wolcott to take up the matter with business men of running the road in that direction. It is also stated that he has had proposals from that direc tion for several months, and that they guarantee a subsidy tax or its equivalent if the road is brought to that place. It is thought the result at Remington will have the effect of injuring the prospect in Gil boa township, Benton county, where the election is to be held on Dec. 3rd. Should it be defeated there it is practically certain that Mr. Infield will look for assistance from Wolcott. He contends that the failure to vote the subsidy will not defeat tbe road’s construction but may retard it by causing a change in route and the delay in holding other elections.

Without any criticism of the action of any voters who opposed the tax in Carpenter, believing that every one undertook to protect his own interests as he understood them, we believe a mistake has been made in their advene action. ThebuildiDg of the road would have accomplished a great thing in giving rail connection between Bemington and the county seat and would have given to Bemington what it badly needs, a north and south road with valuable opportunities that can not oome to a town with a single railroad. It would have given them a direct route to Chicago, would have given Bemington much transfer business now going to Montloello and Reynolds and would also have opened up 'to them a field of trade from the south that should have proven equal* to any trade loss sustained from the north or from the town. Above all these reasons is the probability that the building of the road so as to miss Bemington, will shut off all possibility of that town ever getting another road, while the extension of the Gifford road to Wolcott and the building of the electric line there will create a city on the east that will prove a greater injury to Bem-

ington trade than could possibly have been sustained by tbe building of the electric road as proposed. Rensselaer will not be materially offected by a change of route more than the disappointment at not securing the long-needed rail connection with Remington. President Infield will probably be in Rensselaer within a lew days and may briDg some deficit© statement 6f his future plans.