The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-04-24
Gary's Officers Insist That
Mushroom Towns Future
Citizens be Protected.
NO MESS OF POTTAGE
Thus Far But One Competitive Corpo-
ration Has Outbid Steel Trust
Others Hoped For.

Gary, Indiana, trust-born and trus+
nurtured, is preparing to hack Off tba
tentacles of the octopus which broupb+
II into being. Through the medium of
its Village Board the mushroom town
of 5000 inhabitants is prepared to pro-
tect it's franchise birthright and will
decline to consider the offer Of a mess
OF pottage
strictly speaking, Gary has franchfs-
es to sell and none to give away. Garv
Is willing to waive the monetary con
sideration in its own behalf, but it's offi-
GERS will Insist that the cit.A,..., Of the
future city be protected.
This situation developed YESTERDAY v
Following the discussion on Saturday
py members of the board, and of the
Tour blanket franchises which were
offered for approval by subsidiary COM
panies of the Steel Trust.
Hold Up the Measures.
These measures are now held IN. in
the hands of L. L. Bomberger. CITY at
torney, and in the meantime new and
outside applicants are coming in to
beg of Gary anything that 1t has to
give away, especially in the franchise
line.
So far only one company has an
That
the Lake Shore Gas and Electric com
pany which has made an offer that
puts that of the Steel Trust out OF the
question. Aside from this there is 70
be a bidder for the street railway fran
chise and exceptional inducements will
be held out to the municipality to ao-
cept them.
Cut Price to the Trust.
&c rNot
PROPOSES to do and which the steel
trust representatives do not propose
to do
supply the city with light at an
annual charge of $65 for each lamp
the trust price. quoted yesterday and
at the time the franchise ordinances
were offered for passage was SIS per
lamp.
Supply the private consumer with
light, heat or power at his discretion
and at a rate which is prohibitive.
Install its service within a reasonable
time and keep to the terms of tie
agreement which it has made.
Gary has not yet passed the job lot
of ordinances, and it may not do so at
all. Two of the members of the boaro.
at least, are in favor of getting some
thing in return for the valuable PRIV
leges which are being parceIed out.
They demand that the field be made
open for competitive bidding and that
every person be instructed to be repre-
sented as often as possible. The board
is inviting a general discussion of these
problems and is seeking advice
VIII Fight Long Franchises.
Coming closely upon the heels of the |
proposition for competition in the cleo
trio lighting business, it was mors than +
limited that there would be a fight on |
any attempt to confer a fifty-vear |
franchise on any concern. especially a /
street railway, and that a demand |
would be made for compensation to the
city and a reduction of fares.
Gary is now engaged in planting its
two feet firmly on the ground After
that it viii be prepared to treat with
those who desire franchises.
New franchise propositions are ex-
pected to make an appearance before
the board within a short time. These
will be considered. weighed ana par
celed out TO the best advantage of the
public. 50 ono of the members of The
board declares. The request for a street
railway franchise for Gary by a man
who declines to give his name or sIgn
1t to the application is being consi1er-
ed also.