Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 41, Number 125, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 November 1909 — GRADE WORK STOPPED ON GIFFORD ROAD CROSSING. [ARTICLE]

GRADE WORK STOPPED ON GIFFORD ROAD CROSSING.

Private Railroad Builder Lost Golden Opportunity When He Did Not Build Road to Rensselaer. . H. G. Swisher. foreman for B. J. Gifford on the track elevation work at McCoysburg, was in Rensselaer this Friday morning and reports that the work has been suspended and he does not know for how long. The work‘ z was begun last July, it being Mr. Gifford’s intention to build a grade by which his trains could pass over the Monon tracks. This would have required an elevation at the track of 23 feet, and although the work has gone on steadily for four months the grade is now only 10% feet high, which is a long ways from the desired height Five men at first constituted the working force but lately six have been employed. They are Romanians and are now camping temporarily at McCoysburg, but will, leave shortly, as the work will probably not be resumed this winter and it is quite probable that it will not again be undertaken. Mr. Gifford at first thought that he could elevate his track at a cost much less than that |Of installing an interlocking system, but from present indications it would cost more than $lO,000 to elevate the tracks. A representative of the C. & E. L railroad was over the route Wednesday, presumably figuring on the purchase of the road. What a grand thing it would have been for Mr. Gifford if he had accepted the subsidy once voted him in Marion township and built his railroad to. Rensselaer. It would have meant the extension of the road to Remington and 100 passengers to where |ie has one now. It would have meant that half or more of the coal used in Rensselaer would have been brought in over the Gifford lines and that much of the grain would have been shipped out over that line. And it would have meant a lot for Rensselaer, for it would have opened up the north and south county trade to this city. Mr. Gifford’s failure to bring his road here has doubtless cost him more than SIOO,OOO, for it would have made him a good railroad with good towns and good connections. Experience is a dear teacher.