The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-05-18
BRING oN,YoUR BUILDING BOOM.

listening with Unsuitable ear to pre-
dictions Of a building boom when
spring should open up, that threatened
when it got under a full head of steam
to make Chicago look like a way sta
ton on a back number map. There
have been banqulets and mutual adj
miration meetings and gabfests galore
At each prominent citizens have gone
into paroxysms Of eloquence in their
representations about the time when
our neighbor to tine northwest would
pay it's homage to the metropolis of
tho Calumet region, - and indeed of the
middle west.
In fancy we have seen ourselves
wrestling the supremacy from the
usurper, browning ourselves with the
green laurel boughs of victory" talk
ing mighty strides toward the shin
ing goal OF success" and winning the
plaudits of a nation for achievements
that in less progressive communities
would have required generations or
even centuries to have accomplished.
Hammond has been swallowing that
sort OF slush until 1t should have an
oyer-deveioped case of nausea. 1t is
time for Hammond to get next to it
self. and to its actual position with
been made hereabouts. 1t is time it
realized that it's so-called progressive
citizens who have taken so much credit
to themselves for the mighty strides
toward the shining goal" are in real
ity for the most part, but a body of
good, respectable real estate specula-
tors, who are betting in lots with no
intention of taking a chance toward
the accomplishment of anything other
than their own personal enriching,
along the lines of least resistance
What progress Hammond has made
has been orammed down its throat by
outsiders. Outside capital is building
all the new industries now and 1t will
find that it will also have to do the
rest If the native sons do not get a
little more busy. Chicago and it's rail-
roads have made Hammond's strategic
position" with reference to the COM
merce of the country.
Some local business men who con-
stitute the city's representative citi-
zens," have been carried along by the
tide and have accumulated fortunes in
the present boom, but for the most
part through mere speculation. Their
highest aim has been to purchase a lot
for seventy-five dollars, or parcel of
lots for a parcel of seventy five doll
larses and by unloading onto somebody
else. make other seventy-five dollars.
There has been little or no attempt at
improving the property. Some one with
real enterprise may come along and
do that Presumably some outsider.
True. there are some few houses GO
ing up over the city. Some Of them
are being erected on local capital. but
of this city. and the logical expecta-
lions along those lines by reason OF
the tremendous industries which are
springing up in every quarter Ham
mond, from a general building stand
point. is as dead as a door nail.
The real estate men are all appar-
emily waiting for the other fellow Il
take a chance The result has beer
that in Hammond rents are higher
than In almost any city in the United
States, not excluding Goldfelds,
costs more to rent an upper berth il
a tent in Hammond than a suite il
the Auditorium. When a stranger i
fortunate enough 10 set hold of
domicile in this tight little burg. wha
does he get for his money? In min
cases out of ten board shack devoi
of any of the necessities which max
a dwelling habitable TO the man o
woman educated TO the comforts o
life. and unsightly to a degree tina
would be offensive to the asthaeti
eye OF the ordinary person. Thirt
dollars month for four bar
room In a dreary cottage or fran
fat building. without heat, withou
anything but the bare walls, Tha
is the common assessment.
People whose business brings ther
to this region are debarred from resi-
dence here by these physical limita
lions. Hundreds have sought and ar
seeking habitation within the corpor
ate limits of Lake county's principe
city. But after eanvassing the tow
they find it impossible to get plac
to lay their weary heads, or II the
find one. it is not fit for habitation
nine cases out Of ten for persons &C