Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 41, Number 49, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 March 1909 — A LETTER FROM WARREN ROBINSON [ARTICLE]

A LETTER FROM WARREN ROBINSON

Commercial Club President Writes Open Letter Relating to the Lot Sale and Factory Prospect.

L D. Price, of Chicago, who came before the people of Rensselaer soma time ago, represented to us that there were no reasons why we should not have a number of prosperous manfacturing industries located in our city, if the citizens would get together and raise a fund of $25,000 or $30,000. We shook our head “no”, and remarked “impossible**, it could not be dona Mr. Deam, a co-worker with L. D. Price, smiled and assured us it would be an easy matter to raise such a fund and suggested a plan of raising it by the sale of lots. A number of citizens took the matter under advisement and decided to irst Investigate who L. D. Price was, and what he had been doing in other places, and what his reputation was in localities’ where he had carried on similar undertakings. We received, I think, three letters in answer to inquiries sent out, one from Clinton, Ind., and one from Attica, Ind., I do not recall the place the other came from. In one case the reply came from a banker and ti e other from the secretary of a commercial club where a factory had been located by L. D. Price. The termb of praise and commendation for L. D. Price and the good results of his efforts in the various communit es could not have been couched in much stronger language than were the letters received, and we learned further that L. D. Price had devoted for the last nine years all of bis time and energy to the locating of factories in rural districts, and the raising of subsidies tteiefcr, and that be his never failed either in his lot sales on afterwards in locating to© fictory. After learning these facts we at once decided to organize a commercial club, which was done, and a charter procured from the State of Indiana, and we now have a legal standing with a membership of 60 which should be increased as speedily as possible to 500. At a meeting and by a majority vote of the stockholders present the directors we.© authorized to select a piece of land, take on option on it with right to purchase, and enter into a contract with L. D. Price for the sale of the lots. AU of which the said directors have done to the best of their ability and on the best terms obtainable. We have been criticised by some good people and some bad people; it is a hard task to please all. The sale of

the lots proved a complete success to the surprise of almost everyone, alike to the friends and those opposed to the movement After the sale the board of directors clcstd their option to purchase which was taken on my land, and have purchased the same under proposed contract Now, let me assure everyone who purchased a lot and those who did not that this entire work will be carried on honestly, that each one will be treated alike as nearly as is possible, that we will use our best endeavor to secure a good substantial' industry as quickly as can be done under the circumstances, and further, thatno charge for labor or time consumed in this work will be made except a reasonable and a modest compensation which will, be allowed and passed upon by the directors for the services of the secretary or his assistant That as er every effort has been put forth to secure a good industry or industries, one that is now operating and has been tried and tested and known to be successful and prospeious wi l be secured;*! -do not mean blue sky stock, jobbing schemes or the promotion of some new and untiled hobby that some one wants developed. We have had a half dozen sucn propositions as these already, and are likely to have more. We will not consider any such , for a sing © mment, but if unsuccessful in getting w.at we believe we want, and waut we think the peop.e want we wili so report to the tor purchasers, tell tnem all our woes and troubles and they shall determine by a vote on an I equitable basis just what tney think [is the next wisest step to take and your most humle cervanto w.ll cheerfully comply witn wnateer that decision may be. I will say that my faith is just as strong as it ever was, and I firmly’ bel.e.e ti.at we have started a wise movement and one whose far reacning and beneficial results will be far mure surprising to our citizens tnat was the successful result of the lot sale. So let all friends of a greater Rensselaer, a co-operative and broader minded citizenship, stind tuget er, work together, In harmony ana unceasingly and complete success must of necessity Respectfully,

WARREN ROBINSON,

President R. C. C.