Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-09-24
MAKINC A TOWN TO ORDER
Steel Trust Draws the Plans and Puts
Up the wherewith.
GREAT FUTURE FOR CORP GRAFTON Town
A Rival TO Pittsburg Under Way at
Foot of Lake Michigan. Twenty
SIX Miles from ChicssO-
Details of Project.

IuOsN OTebfnS Wnen tested IN tine CTOttbto
Of experience Pullman was designed as-
an ideal city. II was built according to -
ideals Of the sleeping car magnate. VT
was laid out on precise lines. rows tof
dwellings lined the streets. libraries. meet
ing halls and churches were provided,
streets paved. and all conveniences pro-
vided. All the jewellers had to do was TO
work. for Pullman and live in one of his
cottages. A family did not have to bother
about going to the landlord TO pay the
rent. Mr.. Pullman arranged to have IL
deducted from the pay roll. Somehow the
benefcaries of Pullman's paterlanism did
not appreciate IL. They preferred to jolly
the landlord without endsngering the Jobs.
While willing to exchange their skill and
muscle for Pullman coin they rebellod
against corporate supervision over their
families and their conduct. The sprouting
of that idea marked the beginning Of the
end of Pullman. Long ago decay marked
It for its own, and what is left Of Puliman's
dream has been swallowed by Chicago.
The United States Steel corporation is
about to duplicate PuIlman's dream on the
shore OF Lake, Michigan, twenty-six miles
south of Chicago. The TOWNSHIP bears the
name Of Gary and the prospectus calls IL
the Pittsburg OF the west" year ago
there was an immense tract OF land, stud
ded with a few sparse trees and some rank
underground, in the northwest OF Indiana.
just where Lake Michigan touches the
Hoosler state. At present 1900 men are
working over this desert, and In three
years IL will be a town OF 100000. according
to the promoters.
As il is the United States Steel corpora
ton which IL performing this wonderful
feat OF raising a city from a prairie. and
as II stands ready TO devote sIb,o00,0O0 to
the work, IL Is no mere gossip to say Gary
will be n model municipality and a beehive
Of industry. As the steel company IL not
permitted by it's charter to engage In the
real estate business. a separate company
has been formed for the purpose OF build
ing the town, laying It out. and disposing
of real estate. Merely as venture in
real estate, Gary will be a profitable In.
vestment.
City of Ten Thousand Acres.
About 5000 acres have already been ao-
quired by the corporation at cost Of about
$S.oOo.o00 Large tracts OF land are being
added to this nucleus, and IL is expected
that eventually 10000 acres will pass into
the hands of these new city builders. The
land lies along the shore of the lake from
Clark junction on the west, almost to the
mouth OF Grand Calumet river on the east,
The depth OF the tract averages about two,
and half miles. the southern limits skirt
ing the town Of TolIeston, Ind.
The Grand Calumet river, running east
and west will be the natural dividing lifss-
between the factory and the residential
parts OF the city. Three thousand acres.
or nearly ive square miles Of land, will
be set apart for the steel mills, furnaces,
docks and railway terminals, the mills oc-
cupying the northeast corner of the tract
on the lake and the railroad center the
northwest division. All the land south OF,
the river is to be reserved for mercantiie y
and municipal buildings and for the homes
Of the employees. Within ten years It is
expected the entire tract will be built up
solidy till it connects with the present
town OF Tolleston.
In the elaborate plans for the creation Of
>ary for which the initial appropriation
I Is s10.000000, there is contemplated the
deepening and Strengthening Of the Grand
Calumet river. the removal OF the town
of Clark Junction to make way for rail-
road yards, the k,,S Eng OF a great harbor
and docks the connection of the lake with
the Grand Calumet by means of canal
the leveling OF wide expanse of sand
dunes. the establishment OF a comprehen-
sive sewerage system, rerouting the river
50 that II may be navigabe for barges
far west as Hammond Ind. The town Of
Clark Junction is TO be lifted bodily and
carried a mile and half TO the other side
Of the river.
Greatest I'm the world.
Gary, which Is designed to be the greatest
steel plant In the world. Is about twenty
six miles from Chicago. why the particu-
lar site on Lake Michigan should have
been chosen for the establishment that is
to help meet the demands for iron apd steel
is rather obvious TO a person acquainted
with the steel industry in the United States.
The least important consideration of ALL
perhaps. Is that II will be close TO the
second largest city In the country Chi
cago is a center of skilled and unskilled
labor. Upon II the Steel corporation will
be able TO draw for men In emergencies
Gary will have the benefit Of the superior
railroad connection of the wetsern me-
tropolis. That is a vital consideration in Q
business age that makes every minute,
every inch and every cent count.
Gary evidently will be no contemplate
rival to Pittsburg within a few years.
| Once the giant plant is installed the rapid
building OF the west and northwest will
keep II busy, for this IL the age Of stool
construction. The Pennsylvania plants
will continue to supply the east. and as
the demand is already enormous the steel
industry in this state probably will not
suffer.
SIX Railroads Meet.
Six great railroads viii be connected with
Gary. A harbor twenty-five feet deep 10
being constructed. and the four or fivo
miles OF lake front will be provided with
immense ore storage docks. From a resi-
dence and social viewpoint Gary IL 10 be AZ
attractive as its creators can make a.
The streets will run at right angles and
will be 100 feet wide They are 10 be
macadamiEed or paved with brick. The
sidewalks will be OF concrete. twenty feet
! wide. The main thoroughfare. running
north and south, will be called Broadway.
Its mate. running east and west. may be
named Fifth avenue, the two names being
in compliment to New York city. where
the steel kings live.
The new steel city is 10 be a model an
we'll a marvel pleasure park OF gen.
erous area is TO be laid out along the south
bank of the Calumet river, after II shall
have been Strengthened.