The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-08-14
Nick Kahl VIII Take Dras-
tic Measures to Force OBJ
servance of Law.
NEXT STEP A HARDOR
When Navigation is Opened Up, Ac-
cording to Present Provisions,
Rest VIII Be Easy.

Rest VIII Be Easy.
Nick Kahl. the guardian of the rights
of navigators on the Calumet river, is
about to take steps to compel the own
ers OF bridges to swing them al times
when he desires to pass through them.
Mr.. Kahl is doing this not only be-
cause his own business interests de-
mand the opening OF the river, but be-
cause he is in a way representing other
property owners who own river 'front.'
age and believe that navigation in
. government stream like the Calumet
should be maintained.
Mr.. Kahl was formerly in the employ
of the government in the capacity OF
captain of the coast survey boat of the
eleventh district, and he knows thing
or two Of the rights OF navigators.
Few of Things He Knows.
lie knows that the refusal or neg
lect to Immediately open drawn bridges
is punishable by a fine of between ST.
600 and $4,000, and he is going after
some of the railroad companies which
have caused him so much delay in the
past.
Mr.. Kahl is going to compel all of
the owners of bridges over the Cal
umet river, between here and South
Chicago, especially In Indiana, to keep
enough men on hand to promptly open
the draws whenever he wants them
opened or have the penalty prescribed
inflicted.
The captain said this morning, "A
great many people who are not ac-
quainted with the regulations for the
opening of bridges will doubtless think
that I am rather arbitrary in Insist
ing that the bridges be opened prompt
ly for such small boats as mine but 1
know as do all rivermen who have had
occasion to investigate the matter, that
there are many other boats besides my
own which like to come up the river
il it was free to navigation know
the traffic to Hammond would be con-
siderable If it were possible to get
through the bridge in the proper
time
Reason Not Purely Selfish.
So Mr.. Kahl is working for the prin-
cipie of the thing we'll as looking
after his own interest and he believes
the whole community will benefit.
Mr.. KahI remembers the time. not so
many years ago, when a great many
Bchooners came up the river with car
goes of various kinds and unloaded them
at Hammond and he believes that they
should have the same privilege today.
The first step towards having the
harbor at Hammond improved is to
have the bridges open to permit the
passage of such boats as can now make
their way this far UP the river.
The next thing will be to compel the
removal of the stationary bridges that
have been built by several railroads
east of Hammond and then secure the
appropriation necessary to dig the har-
bsr to the proper depth.
VIII Cease To De Recognized.
According to Mr.. Kahl If the rail
roads are permitted to block the pas
sage OF boats by unopened draws and
by stationary trestles. the time will not
be far away when the Calumet river
will no longer be recognized as a navi-
gable stream, and the government will
lose all interest in it as it did when
the G. II. Hammond company persisted
in dumping tons OF rottening refuse into
IL in the old days.
For this reason 1t is matter of vital
Importance to every owner Of property
along the banks of the river to see that
the laws are enforced regarding the
bridges, and with the increase in traf-
ac that this will bring it Will be easier
TO secure the necessary appropriations
TO improve the river throughout its
entire length
Following are the government regula-
tions regarding the opening of draw
bridges
The Law.
The river and harbor act of Aug. is.
1894. contains the following section:
Section 3. That it shall be the duty
Of all persons owning operating. and
tending the drawbridges now built.
or which may hereafter he built across
the navigable rivers and other waters
OF the United States. TO open. or cause
to be opened. the draws of such bridges
under such rules and regulations as in
the opinion Of the secretary of war the
public interests require, to govern the
opening of drawbridges for the passage
of vessels and other water crafts and
such rules and regulations. when so
made and published. shall have the
force OF law. Every such person who
shall wiiifuiiy fail or refuse to open, OF
cause to be opened. the draw of any such
bridge for the passage OF a boat or
boats or who shall unreasonablv de-
lay the opening of said draw after
reasonable signal shall have been given
as provided in such regulations, shall be
deemed guilty of a misdemeanor. and
Oh conviction thereof shall be punished
by fine of not more than $4,000. nor
less than $1,000 or by Imprisonment Tin
case OF q natural person. for not ex-
ceeding one year, or by both such fine
and imprisonment, in the discretion of
the court"
The Regulations.
In pursuance of the foregoing law,