Hammond Times, Volume 6, Number 255, Hammond, Lake County, 17 April 1912 — Page 28

THE TIMES.

RED

ES HELP DEDE

HiiOBD, IUHI1IB6 8 IAST CHICAGO RMLWAY

Has Done Much to Bring the Three Cities Closer Together Commercially

It was a fortunate thing $r the Calumet region -when the lines of the Hammond, Whiting & East Chicago Railway company were taken over by Chicago capitalists and made an intrrgral part of the vast system of surface lines of thatflty. It was fortunate for the reason that the street railway lines operated .in North township at that time had such limited financial resources that it was

almost impossible for its management to carry on the work of rehabilitation that was needed at that time to give adequate service. But with the ownership or these lines vested in men who, not only expert in their line, but who have millions of capital to draw upon the situation was improved from a theoretical point of view at least. x And the Inclination of the new owners to develop the lines of

One of Whiting's Pretty Stieets

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the company was manifested from the very start. . Project EtleniUai. Almost immediately the project to connect Hammond with Indiana Harbor by a, six-mile extension was announced. - So confident were th officials of the road that the people of these cities would grant the necessary fran

chises in order to take advantage of

the expenditure of an enormous amount of money and the development that would ensue that they appropriated $500,000 for the work. Instead of rising to its opportunity, the cities of the region let politics and personal animosities block the project so that after the money had remained idle for six months it was finally turned back into the treasury. About the same time a project was evolved by which it was proposed to connect the lines of the company at Hammond with Harvey, Blue Island, Hegewisch, Burnham and a number of other cities in the region.

This time the necessary franchises were secured, but the company met with difficulties , in its effort to get across the Pennsylvania and Illinois Central railroads. Delays the Game. It thought it had rights which the warehouse commission of Illinois did not concede it had, and as a result the project was delayed. It will now be

necessary for the company to build a subway under the tracks of these railroads at a cost that will make it one of the most expensive works of street railway construction In this part of the country. These unfortunate occurrences have given the public an impression that the company is not sincere in its announced intention to make this Indiana and eastern Illinois system of street railways the most comprehensive in the entire region.

It is believed, however, that the demand for street car extensions will result In these lines being built in the near future and when they are completed the cities of the region will have the finest system of local and interurban railroads In the vicinity of Chicago. The building of extensions will ne

cessitate and warrant the installation of Improved service on all f the. city lines in Hammond and East Chicago, and as a matter of business policy a ten or fifteen-minute service will eventually prevail. '" ' , Te Develop Region. It is almost inconceivable what a

tremendous effect the construction of i

iwvmy lu miny miies or. extensions will have on the commerce, of the cities which are served by these lines. It will Increase the scope of the 6-cent fare territory, it will make Intercommunication between the cities easy and quick, it will pave the way for interurban development and will do more to encourage the development of uuburbs than any one other factor.

The citlea of the region9have reached a point in their development where it is no longer possible to live within walking distance of the places of employment. When a city grows to the point where a considerable portion of Its population lives more than a mile from the business center of the city or from the factories then they become dally patrons of its street car lines. And when a man has to pay a S-cent fare he does not care much whether he

rides fifteen minutes or twenty-five. Then he would just as soon get out into the suburbs where living conditions are

better and where his children can be reared in healthy and ' sanitary surroundings. Short Line Important. Probably the most important of the exetnsions that are contemplated by this company is the "short line" between Hammond and Chicago. This line will take the most direct route. It will make the running time between Hammond and the loop district of Chicago an hour and twenty minutes. This is to be done for several purposes. It will open a new territory. It will enable the line to compete with the railroads for the Calumet region to Chicago business and it will become the Interurban gateway into Chicago. That was the statement that one of the officials of this road made at the time it was purchased. It is proposed

to make track leasing offers so attrac

tive to the Interurban lines that they will prefer to run over the track that is built than to build their own. Public Will Co-Ope rate. If the people of the Calumet district will only'have faith In the sincerity of purpose of the local company. If they will grant the franchises that are now sought. If they will encourage

the company In its proposed development - it will soon be possible to go frov Indiana Iiarbof to Joliet and from

Ha'wimond to Chicago on a single line at ' a fare that will be attractively low. j

aiisyuriai ion prooiem in .tne Calumet region is one that deserves the careful -attention of its commercial organizations. It is a problem, the solution of which will go farther .towards making possible a rapid development of the territory along the proper lines than anything that is now contemplated.

PAY ROT MONEY AND

OW A HOME

r. While not. claiming to be actuated wholly by philanthropic sentiments, the sub-dividers who are celling lots on easy payments and. building cottages and houses, also sold on easy pay

ments, are doing a service to the men

and women who want homes but have

not the means to buy for cash, that cannot be over-estimated. They are extending the helping hand, and thousands have accepted the opportunity to secure homes they could acquire in no other way. Many of these have bought lots without buildings and after hav

ing paid for the ground have been able to make s loan and build themselves; others have bought buildings ready for occupancy. It ls;safe to say that practically all have bettered their condition in life. Evidences accumulates showing the home-owning idea Is growing and that the present season will prove a good one for the seller of residence property of every class.

THE TIMES IS TRYIXO BARD TO MERIT THE SUCCESS IT HAS ACHIEVED.

Northern Indiana Gas and Electric Co's Plant

Someone has said that every man with red blood in his veins hopes and expects at some time, some place, to own the spot he makes his home. This commendable ambition or trait in human nature is the counterpart of that instinct Is bids and beasts which teaches them to have some place where they belong and which belongs to them exclusively. It is this trait in human nature that is the hope and dependence of the sub

division man. If all the people in the Calumet region who would like to own homes could gratify that ambition there would not be land enough In Lake county to go around! It is a pity that all cannot do as they would like, but it is equally a fact that thousands could own homes if thny only only would. But how? By making a little sacrifice at the beginning, denying themselves some of the pleasures of life until the start is made. Then by putting in each month a sum no greater than they are now paying in rent for some four or five room fiat.

The writer would like to drive home to the many who could be home owners the Incontrovertible fact that were they to take upon themselves the responsibilities that are Inseparable from ownership in anything, they would find something new and worth while in life, and incidentally make better citizens of the state.

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The Hainnimoinid9 WMttag aiedl East CMcago

'Railway Compamy

Plans Extension that will Cost 0500,000, and which will place the 69,000 People of ( . - - - . .-. - ?.; : Hammond, Whiting, East Chicago and Indiana Harbor

WitMi th mm Mf FAME OMIT

This vast expenditure of Money, this Tremendous Development awaits only the word of the people. They may have it for the asking. Ninety days after the passage of Certain Franchises, six months after the passage of others and these Extensions will be a fact. ........ , (Statwlldl Orar BDddJansaafl HBeueUdLSduddQUdil Se flops UimuDdDPHsnwH? The Company now operates between Hammond, Whiting, and East Chicago for Five Cent Fare. ,It proposes to include Indiana Harbor and build extensions to populate the undeveloped territory between the cities mentioned above.