The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1906-12-28
FORSYTH AVE.
IS VACATED.
Action Taken Without Word
of Protest From East
Chicago Residents.
NEW 80 FOOT STREET
Crossing to Take Place Of Present
One is Quarter of Mile
West

far-reaching vote was cast this
morning at the session of the board
Of public works when ]. L. Rhode,
John T. Krost and Peter L. Davis. the
three board members voted in favor
of the resolution confirming the vaca-
ting of Forsyth avenue where it is
crossed at the present time by the
Gibson yards.
Not voice was raised in remon-
STRANGE and only a few people were pres
ent to witness the outcome of the
struggle between Hammond and East
Chicago. The vote of the board of pub
lie works had been anticipated
After the vote was cast. vacating
Forsyth avenue. a confrmatory resolu-
tion was read opening an eighty foot
street from the present end of Summer
street to HessvllIe where 1t connects
with the Toleston road. strip of
land dedicated by the Indiana Harbor
Railroad company TO the city gives ac-
cess to this new road from State and
Sibley streets. At this time the new
road has no name. Feb. 1 has been set
on which the board will hear remon-
strances from property holders whose
property is TO be used for the new road
and for which they are to receive dam
ages.
New Crossing West of Present One
The new crossing over the Gibson
railroad yard which will now lead into
East Chicago instead of the former
Gibson crossing. is moved about a
quarter of a mile west of the FORSYTH
crossing, leading towrd the north from
the newly proposed road.
BY the change Hammond for the
present gets a direct wagon road to
Hessville and ultimately to Gary and
a nearer entrance into East Chicago
and possibly some Of East Chicago
farmers trade.
1t is predicted by the opposition to
the vacation that in years to come
Hammond Will regret its generosity.
They say that the time will come when
Hammond will have grown so far east
ward as to want the direct entrance
into East Chicago over Forsyth av-
enue.
As the new crossing over the Glib
son yards has been moved eastward a
quarter of a mile, 1t brings 1t directly
over the hump" in the yards which
is used in assembling trains This
presence of hump" makes the build
ing OF a subway easy and the specif-
cations now are for a thirteen foot
subway which is to be kept clean and
lighted with electricity. Had a viaduct
been built on the Forsyth crossing IT
would have been necessary to have it
so constructed that 1t would clear over
forty-one tracks.
Enst Chicago Not Resigned.
Although there were no East Chi
cagoans present at the meeting this
morning 1T must not be imagined that
they have resigned thems elves to their
fate and 1t is not likely that they
will let the matter rest. E. W. Shoe
smith OF Lena, ILL.,, who is a large real
estate owner in the affected district
viii in all probability be a leader in
. the fight. He was in Hammond this
! morning and attended the meeting Of
the board. Speaking of the vacation he
| said that he would fight 1t to the last
: ditch.
} He said he thought the whole dea
t was an outrage and that he was sur.
prised the people OF Hammond would
allow the idea to be considered for {
! minute.
Mr.. Shoesmith does not think tha
the proposed vacating Of the stree
need interfere at all with the plans O
the railroad company for II II was s.
: disposed 1t could build viaduct owe,
: its yards or put a subway under them
The board OF public works would
give away privileges for nothing tha
; 1t would cost them thousands Of dollar
I to secure later on" said Mr.. Shoesmith
: and you have the Erie yards in Ham
mond as an example"