Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 41, Number 39, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 January 1909 — The Time Is Ripe Now [ARTICLE]

The Time Is Ripe Now

Let All Show Whether They Want The City To Progress. Is Rensselaer to fail? Is the pride of every inhabitant of the best and most beautiful city on earth to be smothered in the dust because of a lack of enthusiasm on the part cf the very people who should help boost? Are men who are amply able to buy lots in an endeavor to boom the town going to shift the burden to others and then lay back and reap the benefits derived from a larger and better town? What does It all mean? Can’t the citizens of the town get an idea of what it would mean to us to have at least three hundred new families come in, and still give work to every man that wants work in the city of Rensselaer? For the past two years the e has been no building in this city; carpenters and brick and stone masons have sought work in other towns; the town has been at a standstill; we can’t expect to grow larger without getting factories, and" substantial factories. The Commercial Club of this city is doing all it knows how to give the property owners a better chance to rent his home, or the owner of a vacant lot a chance to improve it and make it a money getter. They are doing all they know how to make the town larger and better. Every day men are traversing the streets from morning until night in an endeavor to Interest the citizens. They are accomplishng much good, but thing are moving too slow when the great benefit to be derived is taken intot consideration. But we can’t fail. It isn’t the nature of things for the best town on earth to fail. But help must come faster and in larger chunks. We are going to do this thing anyway. Why not do it quick? What is the use of making the business men or the boosters run the streets four or five weeks doing what should and ought to be done in a few days. Put YOUR shoulder to the wheel to the extent of one lot at least and see how quick th’s buein ss will be settled and the factories will begin to sign up, mechanics will get busy, the old town will sml’e all over and we’ll all be happy. DO IT NOW.