The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1906-12-12
Forsyth Avenue Vacation
Bone of Contention Be
tween Neighbor Cities.
HAMMOND FAVORS IT.
Residents Of Adjoining Town Bitter
ly demonstrate Before Board
of Public Works.

The vacation of Forsyth avenue is
at present the bone of contention be-
tween Hammond and East Chicago,
not only as represented by the private
citizens. but between the officials of
both cities. In the meantime the Michi-
gan Central railroad and the other
Gould roads that use the Gibson yards,
are lowering around to watch which
way the die will fall. as it means that
Forsyth avenue shall or shall not be
closed through the Gibson yards
To the independent onlookers the
question appears of vital interest to
both cities, probably more so to East
Chicago than to Hammond. To East
Chicago the vacating of Forsyth avenue
in the Gibson yards would mean the
sitting of It's growth in that direction.
At the meeting of the Hammond
board OF public works this morning
remonstrances were heard against the
measure and Mayor De Briae and Dr.
A. G. Schlieker were present to speak
for East Chicago and ]. Floyd Irish
and Attorney William WINERY were
also present to represent demonstrators
who live along the section of the road,
which is to be closed. The Hammond
board decided to set another day next
Monday on whieh to hear further pro-
tests.
Hammond people, with the exception
of few property owners along For
syth avenue, are in favor of giving the
companies their desired right of way
especially since the companies have
- -
syth avenue That East Chicago is on
edge regarding the matter may be
Judged from the following taken from
the East Chicago Globe in It's last
weeks issue:
Hammond just now is on the verge
of taking a step that will stife every
bit of sentiment favoring amalgama-
tion that ever existed in the city of
East Chicago. Her officials in their
barter with railroad officials almost
ruined the main thoroughfare into this
city from the south and now they pro-
pose to forever close the same street
to public use.
The act on the part OF the Ham
mond officials is a rotten deal for which
some day East Chicago will exact a
severe penalty. It Is a plain example
the several cities IN this region came
under one government. East Chicago
people are aware of this and until she
has a sufficient population to make her
neighbor stand by" there is little pos
sibility of her amalgamation scheme
being realized.
1T has been suggested that this city
| send a delegation before the Hammond
board OF public works and endeavor
to secure our right. Failing here we
may go to the courts and there make
the fight before the bar of Justice.
East Chicago has been too lax in
this matter in the past. 1t seems now
that there is a possible chance which
our people cannot afford to let go. The
time is short and to accomplish any
thing means that a united effort must
be made. It is said we have with us
/ in the fight property holders in the
district affected and the people in the
country south OF the railroads. The
audacity of Hammond In trying to close
an old paved street is a matter of dis
cussion throughout Lake county and
when It comes TO the real legal battle
there will be plenty of backing fol
East Chicago"