HISTORY OF CLAY COUNTY                      63

would be built, and on this condition only. The distance from Greencastle
to Vincennes is 75 miles. The surveying corps started out from Green-
castle on the 18th day of May to locate the line. The route surveyed was
practically an air—line, with Howesville as the half—way point between
terminals. Elections were called in Cass, Washington and Harrison town-
ships, and held, respectively, on the 25th, 27th and 29th days of July,
1881. The tax was voted in Cass by a majority of 44, in Washington by
a majority of 132, but defeated in Harrison by a majority of 134. As the
result of elections along the line further south did not come up to the
anticipations of the company there succeeded a perceptible decline in the
interest and activity of the promoters of the enterprise. A year later, the
Green Castle, Eel River & Vincennes was succeeded by the Indianapolis,
Eel River & Southwestern, of which P. D. Smith was president, and
Robert Smith, of Poland, at one time vice president. The distance from
Indianapolis to Vincennes is 114 miles, of which Bowling Green is the
half-way point. A proposition was then submitted to receive donations
at the hands of Harrison township people in lieu of the tax, the amount
of which was fixed at $12,000, one-half payable on completion of the
grade and the other half when the road should be completed and in opera-
tion. Interest and agitation on the part of the home promoters and friends
of this projected line of railroad, who were persistent, contributing their
time and means, confident of assured ultimate success, were not relin-
quished until confronted by the inevitable.
    The Columbus, Bloomington & Terre Haute Railroad was profiled in
1899, to afford a direct line of transportation between the “University
City” and the “Prairie City.” To provide, at least in part, the capital
for building it, subsidy elections were ordered along the route, some of
the townships on the east end of the line voting the tax. The survey
located the road by way of Patricksburg and Clay City. An election was
held in Harrison township on the 16th day of January, 1900, to vote on
the proposition to donate $38,000 in aid of its construction, the company
to complete the road within three years. At this election 740 votes were
cast—207 for the tax and 533 against it, a majority of 326 in opposition
to the appropriation.
    The projector and promoter of the Columbus, Bloomington & Terre
Haute Railroad was not a capitalist nor man of experience in advancing
either private or public enterprises, but a humble huckster, who had
driven over and was familiar with much of the territory sought to be
traversed and benefited thereby.
    In the latter part of the year 1902 was incorporated the “Black Dia-
mond Electric Railroad Company,” to build an electric road from the
Ohio river north to Brazil. As the name would imply, the object intended
was that of building into the block coal field, not as an air-line, but to
follow the trend of population, touching the cities, towns and other im-
portant points between terminals, including Clay City. Among the
incorporators, all of whom were Indiana people, were Charles White, of
Worthington, formerly of Coal City, and F. J. S. Robinson, of Cloverland.
    Elections were held on the 12th day of April, 1906, in Brazil, Cass,
Jackson and Washington townships, to vote on the proposition to aid
in the construction of an electric road proposed by the Indianapolis &
Ohio Valley Traction Company, to pass through these townships. The
vote cast was as follows:.