The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-06-17

one Of the greatest days in LaPorte's
history was celebrated Saturday when
that city was thronged with visitors
from the surrounding country and
neighboring cities to witness the first
trip made over the contemplated por-
tion Of the Chicago New York Air line
The entire city was given over to the
celebration and a general holiday was
declared.
The buildings were gay with bunt-
ing and thousands of enthusiastic
stockholders and upholders of the new
road lined the streets and cheered the
cars as they glided swiftly and easily
down the tracks.
The event was triumph for the Off
cials Of the Air Line and for LaPorte
itself, for so many had looked askance
upon the venture when 1t was first
started and LaPorte as a city was the
first to have faith in the undertaking
That that faith was justified has been
demonstrated and LaPorte and the offi-
cials Of the road feel a just pride in
the first tangible results Of their labor
and their faith.
Three Events Thus Far.
Saturdays celebration is the third
event in the history of the air line.
1t is only nine months since the work
was started and the road bed has been
completed and cars operated from La
Porte to South LaPorte. In another
year it is predicted that the cars will
be running from LaPorte to Chicago
and from LaPorte to Goshen. The first
event celebrated was the turning of the
first spadeful of dirt in the construc-
tion OF the roadbed. The second was
the driving OF the initial spike and
A..
tion Of them all.
The program opened at s a. m. when
the LaPorte city band gave a concert
in front of the Teegarden hotel. pre-
paratory to the departure of the Off
GERS distinguished visitors and news
paper men for South Bend to come in
on the first ears. At o'clock the pro
cession Of carriages started south. In
the meantime a vast crowd had
sembled and when the first car finally
came gliding over the rails. the null
titude set up a hoarse shouting and the
air was white with the flutterings of
many handkerchiefs
In the meantime the city band. which
occupied seats in the foremost car was
playing gay selections with the utmost
enthusiasm
The cars Of which there were two
made the first trip around the loop
and then stopped on the main street in
front Of the offices of the Cooperative
Construction company, where they were
photographed. An opportunity was
given for an inspection Of the cars.
after which they started on their sec
ond trip returning at II o'clock
Hon. S II. Becker. mayor Of Mil
waukee and his party. including his
private secretary. x. c. Ellis and R. r.
Atkinson OF the Free Press. arrived at
9:22 over the Lake Shore and were met
by Mayor Darrow and a committee in
automobiles. Other distinguished Wis
itors included Corporation Counsel
Frank J Hogan OF Chicago Hon. James
c. Haynes. Hon. James c. Dahlman.
omahas cowboy Mayor" Mayor Will
Jams of Valparaiso. Mayor Smith OF
Whiting, Mayor DeBraie of South Chi
cago. Mayor Logan of Plymouth and
Mayor Frank Of Mishawaka. Editor
Rucker II the Elkhart Truth.
The special train Of six coaches from
Chicago arrived shortly before l
o'clock over the Lake shore. bringing
in about 500 people-meu and women.
The greater share Of the men were
stockholders.
BY O'Clock in the afternoon a big
court house for the public exercises.
While the crowd was gathering the
band played several numbers after
which Mayor Darrow presented Rev.
A. j. Loeppert pastor OF the German
Methodist church, who invoked divine
blessing. On the platform were the
officers of the company. many Of the
stockholders, the distinguished visitors
and a large number Of ladies.
In introducing Mayor Becker. Of Mil
waukee. the chief speaker Of the after
noon. Mayor barrow took occasion t
briefly review the work done here
Mayor Becker. who stepped forward. as
he was presented was given an ova
tion.
Mayor Becker'S Remarks.
After a glowing tribute to Indiana
its public men and its authors, Mayor
Becker said in part:
You are met here today. primarily
for the purpose OF appropriately eel
ebrating the turning of the first whee
which viii slide along the shining
bands of steel that enterprise in which
take it, yuo are all interested, the Chi
cago- New York Electric Air Line rail
road.
Most of you. no doubt. are thorough
ly familiar with the objects. aims ant
policy of the officers. directors an,
stockholders Of the Chicago-New Yorl
Air Line railroad.
suffice it for me to say that aver
age intelligence may tell us that thi
is founded on fundamental idea whicl
is far beyond the pale of the mos
Tlausfbla and pOSsi HE th5upS