Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 41, Number 124, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 November 1909 — CONTRACT LET FOR CONSTRUCTION OF INTERURBAN. [ARTICLE]

CONTRACT LET FOR CONSTRUCTION OF INTERURBAN.

Work to Begin at Battle Ground and Continue Towards Rensselaer — Other Line to Be Built Later. At a meeting last week the contract for the construction of the interurban road which is to run through Rensselaer was let by the Northwestern Indiana Traction Co. to the LaSalle Construction Co., of Chicago. This is a firm of big railroad contractors. The contract with them provides for a complete system, the power houses and all equipment being provided for in the contract, so that when the contractors complete theirwork the company will be ready to befein running trains. The company is busy now securing the right-of-way, and as soon as this work is completed the work of construction will begin. It is the intention to begin work at Battle Ground apd work nQFth_Qji_tlils.. line, building to Reynolds, Wolcott, Remington, Rensselaer, and on north. The Monticello-Logansport branch will be constructed later. The contract with the construction cpmpany provides that the road must be completed through the different towns and cities in the time provided for in the different franchises. So far franchises have been secured at Logansport, Monticello, Burnettsville, Reynolds, Brookston, Chalmers, Remington, Rensselaer, Lowell and other points north of hefe. The Tippecanoe and Newton county commissioners have granted the company franchises for those counties. At Wolcott the franchise has. not

yet been passed, as the council there is holding up the matter in order to . give the citizens an opportunity to secure a more favorable route through the town than asked for by the company. This route is now obstructed by an elevator company, and it is hoped to induce the elevator people, to vacate this right-of-way in favor of the interurban. t The company has decided on the Washington street route through Rensselaer, and unless plans are changed the road will cross the river at the Washington street bridge and pass tire full length of that street . The company has not yet decided whether there will tye two power houses or one. If two are usod they ' will be located at Reynolds and St, Johns. Ilj only one is used it will be located at Rensselaer. 4fc-is probable, however, that two power stations will be used. It looks as if this company means business and that the road" will be in operation before many years.