Jasper County Democrat, Volume 11, Number 33, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 September 1908 — “INDIANA HARBOR.” [ARTICLE]

“INDIANA HARBOR.”

In a labored editorial the Newton County Enterprise, under the caption, “Indiana Harbor’’ assumes to give the views of Congressman Crumpacker relating to present and needed public improvements in what we usually call the “Calumet Region” in Lake county and very properly suggests that my views should be understood relating to the same subject. My record on the subject of public improvements generally is so well known to the editor of the “Enterprise" that on any other than an election or political occasion the Enterprise would have promptly volunteered, from that knowledge alone, t 6 give a positive assurance of what might fairly be expected from me. if the exercise of Judgment and the performance of duty were required of me in some other field of labor. Will the Enterprise kindly say that the article in its last issue was authorized by Mr, Crumpacker and that it fully reflects his views. The Inference is fair that it does so reflect fully his views on the subject suggested, in as much as it assumes to review all the acts done by him while in congress relating thereto, and speaks with positive assurance touching his position. His efforts, in so far as they may be judged from the article in the Enterprise, are limited to a consideration of the commercial advantages only that will likely flow to this locality generally by reason of certain public improvements. It does not seem to have occurred to the Enterprise, or to the writer of the article which appeared in it, that there are interests other than commercial interests in the locality named that are worth considering in connection with public improvements. The tendency of republican thought has run to commercialism so persistently and so long that any proposition not capable of being measured with a dollar may not always be fully comprehended and fairly presented.

In contemplating a proposition with so many possibilities and responsibilities as an improvement in the Calument District suggests we ought to try to comprehend more than the mere sordid side of the 'proposition, and any person or persons on whom the responsibility of that general improvement is cast who confines his efforts to commercial advantages alone will have done but a small share of his duty in the premises. Without minimizing in the least the splendid importance of the commercial advantages . that will result from a general improvement of the ■grand Calument and the connecting harbors on Lake Michigan, let me suggest that in any such general improvement the chief aim should be for better drainage and better sanitation. The greatest need of the district and that which appeals to me as the most important, is a lower water level, a better flow, if it can be secured, in the interest of Hite general health as well as commerce. If any public harbor is needed on the shores of Lake Mlehiigan for general commerce, so far as it is custormary for the Government to supply such improvements, I will favor the construction of such harbor. If a harbor on the shore of Lake Michigan is needed by some private undertaking, for private use, then, under proper limitations and restrictions, 1 would favor granting permission to construct and main tain such harbor. I should favor all public improvements that were necessary and required to keep pace with the industrial development o!' the Calumet District and any local interest that would find fault on that account would probably be hop ing for or expecting something which it was not entitled to receive and did not deserve. There are many questions to be considered in the general improvement of the Calumet; some of them are Federal; some State and some County, and, some local and private. With a proper regard for the interests, liabilities and responsibilities ~of each L shall hope that all needed public improvements will be promptly made and carefully maintained. The views here expressed may be of interest to some of the people of the district, and possibly be of interest to the Enterprise, though I have known the Enterprise in the past to favor for the election to congress a candidate whose ideas of public improvements permitted him to grumble because he was required to contribute toward the cost of the imporvement of the street in front of his premises. WILLIAM DARR.OCH.