The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1902-08-08
Hunlingburg Citizens Oppose Election 10
Aij Proposed Jasper X.
Election Ordered in Bainbridge and Mad
ison townships for Sept oh.

A petition, signed by over fifty
freeholders OF cambridge township
was presented to the County BOARD
Monday praying for an election n
this township to aid the Nincennes
and Jasper Traction company by a
two per cent. tax on the property OF
the township, and a number of JAS
per citizens were surprised to see
Messrs. Oily and A. ii. Koerner,
representing citizens of Hunting.
burg, oppose the granting OF an
election or any aid 10 any Jasper
road, that didn't propose to make
the town across the creek a point on
its line. Neither Of these gentle
men have any t~axables in Balm
bridge township, so that the moving
cause OF their opposition Is plain
ly apparent, viz; to prevent any en-.
terprise that would aid Jasper.
They claimed they wanted to pre-.
sent a petition on Tuesday to aid
the Jasper and French Lick electric
railway company talked about,
but not yet incorporated. Why
this meddling Of citizens Of Hunt
ingburg with the affairs Of Balm
bridge township? 1t was indeed
bfazen and surprising, but in this
instance awaited nothing. W. 4.
Cox, Esq, was employed by the
Southern r. II. company to oppose
it, and as that company's special
attorney, claimed that the
Southern desired to extend its pres
ent road (now owned by the ia
nous j. p. Morgan & Co.'S New
Yolk banking and railroad trust, }
to a connection with one Of the
Trusts other lines, (the Monon,)
at French Lick. This joint opposi
ton made it very evident that
neither French Lick proposition
was put forward in good faith-but
were both moves of the Southern to
prevent any railroad competition
with its service at Jasper. Vice
President Of the Traction company
rraylor showed the Board the law
intended to govern the Boards ac-
ltion in snch cases, and the Board
ordered an election to be held on
Sept. 6, 1902, to ascer-
tain the will Of the people upon
granting the aid asked for.
An election for the same purpose
was also ordered to be held on the
same day in Madison township.
Under present conditions there
should practically be no opposition
in either township TO voting the aid
asked. The Traction Co. is The
only one Offering a bona fide propo
sition-the Others are mer moon
shine, and each township will b
more than doubly benefited BY
having the additional railroad. Thu
tax amounts really to only a loan t
the company for a term of years, a
when it is completed its taxes vii
add largely to the tax duplicates 0
each township, and help bear, ant
thereby lessen, the burdens Of tax
alton now borne by citizens. Tn
assessment of the Southern railwa,
in Dubois county is now larger thai
any township in the county, and |
constantly increasing in value, an
that company has long since pai'
back to the county treasurer mo
than the aid voted it before its con
struction. This is a feature an
taxpayer will understand and ar
preciate-and the Traction Co. wi
eventually be on the same basi
with its property, to say nothing {
many other improvements whic
will follow, and add to generi
wealth.
i The man who is dependent on h
: daily labor for a living, will fin
: abundant opportunities for wor
during the construction OF the raj
: road, and will thus realize mar
4. times more than he must pay.
VI A little 3 year old miss, viii