The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-04-18
Steel Corporation Seeks to
Control Many Public
Utilities.
NOT ADVISED
Exclusive Rights to Furnish Street
Car Service, Gas, Electric
Lights and Water.

Through blanket ordinances, general
in terms and silent on the question OF
rates and charges, the officers of the
United States corporation are seeking
TO control all the public utilities in the
new town OF Gary. Ind. These ordi-
nances. drawn up and presented to the
village board of trustees by the attor-
neys for the steel trust" the to Be
acted upon at a meeting of the board
Saturday
The sole power to grant these fran
chises is vested in the board OF trus-
tees. composed of President T. Z.
Knots. NJ. A. Caldwell and John Sears,
but while both Knots and Caldwell
owe their positions to the corporation
which founded the Gown they hesitate
to tie 1t up in q bad bargain for
long term of years. Sears in no way
is connected with the trust. and on his
shoulders will fall the brunt OF the
fight to prevent the passage of these
ordinances.
What the Franchises Are.
The franchises sought are:
| Street eth service to the Gary and
Hammond Traction company for gfty
years over all the streets and alleys
in the town, work to begin within
three years. and silent as to the fares
to be charged as we'll as the transfer
system.
- Electric light franchise to Gary Heat
Light and Water company for twenty
Ave years, with proviso that the con-
tract then viii be renewed for like
term unless the city elects to buy at q
figure to be fixed by arbitration;
street lamps to cost the city SIS a year
but no charge specified for private
consumers; company given three years
to begin work.
Gas light, either natural or artificial.
to same company for the same period
and like proviso to purchase; street
lights to cost the city from $2s to $21
a year each, according to number Of
hours in use; no rates provided for do
nestle or individual use; right granted
to lay the mains both in the streets
and alleys.
Water sy1em to same company and
for same term of years as in electric
light franchise and with a like pur-
chase provision; rates to city on hy-
drants $50 year each for first seventy
five and $40 for each additional one:
no other rates specified and the COM
pany is allowed three years to lay its
mains.
Voters the Not Informed.
Strangely enough, the citizens of ths
, town know nothing Of these ordinances.
They were first drawn up in the law
, office of Knapp. Haynie & Campbell.
) over two weeks ago, but We're then
{ even more vague as to limitations on
the companies than in their present
shape President Knots Mr.. Caldwell
and the attorneys conferred and sue
ceeded in eliminating several other
: features which they deemed objection
able One Of these was that the COR
porations should elect at the termina-
tion of the ordinance whether or not
the city should purchase, as well as
the price TO be paid.
: Further the attorneys would not 20
until they could talk with their eli
ents, whose names were not given, but
. who are said to be the officials of the
steel corporation. At this same con
. ference it was stated that another
: company, composed of practically the
= = same men, would ask fer a telephone
; franchise.
; Last Saturday a meeting of the board
: was held, at which it was proposed
{ by the attorneys that the ordinances II
their present form be adopted. Mr.
Sears, however, was unable to attenC
this meeting, and this was taken al
an excuse for postponing action for ;
/ week.