Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 40, Number 29, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 December 1907 — Discussion of an Important Matter. [ARTICLE]

Discussion of an Important Matter.

Bound Grove township, White county, will vote on a oue and onehalf per cent tax subsidy for the proposed Lafayette and Chicago Electric Railroad (the Infield line) on January 11th. It is understood that the people of that rich farming section are enthusiastic for the road and there is uo doubt that the proposition will pass.

The defeat ol the subsidy propo sition in Carpenter tp., this county, and Gilboa tp., Benton county, has probaoly effected a change in the route of the road, but Mr. Infield says it will have no effect on the ultimate building of the road. A recent proposition from the company that is to finance the roftfi is to the effect that it will supply 85 per cent 6T tfib needed capital as soon as the Infield company can guarantee either by subsidy or stock subscription, the remaining 15 per cent. Rensselaer needs this railroad worse than it needs anything else. It will make a 5,000 city of Rensselaer in less than five years. Instead of leaving the work to be done by Mr. Infield and his co-workers, an active local commercial club should aid in the movement. The voting of a subsidy is one thing only, the work of the public should be to help get the subsidies voted at other places.

Some times it looks like Rensselaer was taking things too easy. There is plenty of Individual push but no organized effort for business. We are the center of a monstrous agricultural section and we acknowledge no trade competitor nearer than Chicago, and we need this electric railroad to bring the people here to trade. A live commercial organization could induce more trade for this city, and it could help us get this railroad.