The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1907-02-14
INDIANA'S GREAT CITY.
The Calumet Region Near Chicago
the Site.

1t is probable that within the next
decade the lake front of Indiana will
be one vast industrial city The signs
Of the times point that way. For four
miles back from the lake there is a
waste of sand South of that point
there is rich farming region that
will make a splendid residence sec
ton, while the sand dunes will be de-
voted to industries. 1t is the purpose
of the promoters of the great indus
trial city to encourage every new in
dustry attracted to the section to as
sst in the building of harbors, docks
and ship canals.
The Calumet river will ultimately
be ship canal the same as the Chi
cago river is today Miles OF docks
will front on Lake Michigan where
the sand will have been dredged to
1 depth of at least 25 feet so that ves-
sells can land. The lake steamers will
be able to transport ore from the
northern mines to the docks of the
big steel mills at Gary.
The railroads, now lying in a per-
feet network across northern Indiana,
will place coal from the Indiana
mines at the very doors of the mills.
Steamers and trains will exchange
cargoes and millions Of dollars worth
of raw material will be transferred
into billions of dollars worth of pro-
ducts for world consumption. The
industrial scheme of the Calumet re-
gion is almost too great for compre-
hension. But it is not dream. 1t is
already becoming reality.
During the last six years invest
ments aggregating $15,O00,o00 have
been made in the Calumet region.
This does not include Gary or Whit
ing. In East Chicago alone there
are now 10000 people, to whom over
100000 is paid as wages each month.
Five years ago there was not side
track at Indiana Harbor Last month
10000 cars of freight were shipped
out of the lake front city. Estimates
OF the probable investments in the
Calume region during the mex. FIVE
years are from s15O,O0o,0Oo to $780,
100000. The United States Steel cor
poration will spend not less than
SIS 100000 on the city of Gary. Vast
sums will be expended in East Chi
cage, Indiana Harbor Whiting and
Hammond, for there are enough in
dustrial enterprises now being pro-
NOTED in these cities to add a halt
million population to the Calumet
country.
The East Chicago company, which
is promoting the interests Of that
city and Indiana Harbor, now prac-
tically one city, has already begun
the work of harbor building 1t has
built a ship canal at Indiana Harbor
at cost of s2so,OOo and the Inland
Steel company has bought it and the
land adjoining the steel company and
is now engaged in constructing two
gigantic blast furnaces that will cost,
when completed, in excess of $780,
600. Plants now under construction
in the vicinity of Indiana Harbor
alone will add 10000 population to
the city.
The East Chicago company has al
ready paid to the state in excess OF
81 900, 900 in taxes Last year its taxes
amounted to $4,000, which indicates
the magnitude of its interests. The
same company is now building can
al from East Chicago to the Calumet
river, a distance of nearly three
miles. 1t will be lined with new in
dustries during the next FIVE years
as applications for manufacturing
sites have been received for almost
every foot OF space available.