Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 41, Number 43, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 February 1909 — FIFTY YEARS IN RENSSELAER ITS PRESENT OUTLOOK [ARTICLE]

FIFTY YEARS IN RENSSELAER ITS PRESENT OUTLOOK

(By Mrs. J. W. Medicus.) When I first opened my eyes to view the beauties of the world, it was in the little town of Rensreiaer over 50 years ago. It was a small place then and it haß held its own remarkably- well —for it is a small one and, is likely to be for many years to come unless the spirit of progress takes hold of our people. I am sure that some of the best people on earth live in Rensselaer, but I am quite sure that we have lived too near the grass roots all these years and that we have lacked the spirit of enterprise. We have courted selfishness and have grown, as it were, like one large family, and the same spirit permeates our entire population. Several years ago. when one of our leading citizens (now gone to his reward) was asked to contribute to an enterprise that was then on foot—which would have teen a great benefit to us all and a larger growth to this place—he replied that what we needed was “more schools.” I agree with him in that in one respect, we neeii a school that will educate the non-progressive citizen and one that will put new life into the timeworn knockers of this community. Our public schools are amply able to take care of and educate our young, and, as fast as they get through school they seek employment elsewhere, for there is very little to do for our youg men and women in this Sleepy Hollow. Rensselaer has been in existence for over 60 years and what is it today but a quiet little burg, a lovely place to live if you have the wherewith to subsist upon, but what advantages does it offer to our people starting out in life? Very little at best It has never been enterprising enough to furnish the facilities by which its entire population can he sustained. Our mechanics are compelled to go to other places to seek employment in order to keep their families from actual want. , Today there is a brighter outlook * for *Rensselaer tnan we have ever had and now is the time to take advantage of this golden opportunity and ; help to bring employment and prosperity to this people. Help with. your this community. Remember that the older

inhabitants are fast passing away, and w&at we want to do is to look forward to the welfare of our children and our grandchildren in the generations to come. Forget your selfishness and work for the common good of our people. There are many mechanics in this town who are willing and Would gladly buy a let to help this enterprise along, but they simply are not able to do it. They are out of employment half of Uptime, and how some of them live and support their families is a problem. You can hear many objections offered In regard to this factory movement. Some object to the people that will be brought into our midst, others object to the method in which the money Is being raised, and there are other flimsy objections. You can’t please everybody and if you <eap.’t please yourself, why just buy a lot or two and please somebody That is the spirit to cultivate. Skilled mechanics are demanding wages on which their families can share in the fats of the land, and many of them earn more money in a year than many one-horse lawyers and other professional men. There should be no objection to bringing in the families of skilled mechanics; w$ should gladly receive them. If this movement should fail th s town will be deader than ever, but if .it wins out we can’t help but have prosperity and a building boom, and the business men will reap a ri"h reward for their untiring efforts in this matter. Getting a railroad here was a bard proposition, but finally it became a reality and this movement is a a.;re thing if the people can be made to see it. It will help the rich man as well as the poor man, and let us all join hands in this great movement and help to make a Gi eater Re sselaer. Bringing one good en’e - prise wi l hejp to bring others. We will ha - e an' faster urban along with all of our factories, and prosperity will be saen on every hand. Instead of our young people being compelled to leave ! home to gain a livelihood they can J remain among us for there will be many TEVenues opened. for them and their welfare.