The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-05-28
Traction Privileges Will be
in the Hands of Steel
Corporation.
ASSURE GOOD SERVICE
Official of the Gary Company Explains
the Position of the Concern Re-
garding Street Cars.

At the regular meeting Of the board
of trustees at Gary held last Saturday
May 25th, there were submitted three
requests for street railway franchises
one request was presented by the Lake
Shore Traction Co., the promoters of
which are unknown. Another request
was presented by Lemuel barrow. who
is connected in some way with the So
called Air Line, which announces its
intention to construct an elevated cleo
trio railway to connect Chicago and
New York City. The third request was
presented by the Gary & Hammond
Traction company, a company organ
feed by the Steel company for the pur-
pose of taking care of the traction in
terests of Gary.
1t was for the purpose of obtaining
an idea of the attitude of the Steel
corporation towards the franchise
question that a TINES reporter called
upon an officer of the Indiana Steel
company aid Gary Land company in
Chicago and requested interview
concerning the proposed franchises.
Official Talks.
This official who did not care to have
his name mentioned stated that the
Gary & Hammond Traction company is
a subsidiary company of the United
States Steel Corporation, and is seek
ing a traction franchise from the trus-
tees for the purpose of providing, at as
early a date as possible, a street car
system w.lch will meet the needs of
the citizens and business interests of
Gary as they may be developed from
time to time. and to aid in the develop
ment of the town.
The proposed franchise secures to
the traction company the right to con-
struct, maintain and operate within the
limits OF the town an electric railway
system upon and along any and all
streets, alleys and highways. The mo-
tive power is to be electricity.
The street paving between the rails
OF both single and double tracks and
within eighteen inches from each out
side rail to be taken care of at the eX-
pense OF the traction company. All of
the appliances and apparatus are to
be modern in every respect The rate
of fare is limited to five cents for each
passenger. with a provision requiring
the company to give universal transfer
tickets when demanded by the passen-
ger.
. "COps" Carried Free.
Police and fremen of the town to be
carried without charge. No live stock
or any other freight. excepting such as
is usual and customary for electric
street railroads, shall be carried over
the tracks. No freight of any kind
shall be discharged from the cars while
standing in the streets unless permitted
by the town trustees. The company to
save the town free and harmless from
oF
construction. maintenance and opera
tion of the system.
The Traction company agrees to
grant to any interurban electric rail
way company which may desire it. the
right to use within the town any and
all tracks Of the traction company upon
fair and equitable terms. Such inter
urban electric railway to have the same
privilege TO run cars as is granted to
the Traction company, subject to the
conditions, restrictions and terms con-
tanned in the proposed ordinance. The
ordinance TO be in effect for fifty years
To Operate ut Once.
The official stated that the Traction
company purposes to install and oper-
ate at once. or within six months from
this date, that part of the system in
tended to serve Broadway from IT'S
northerly limits to the PENNSYLVANIA
railroad. distance OF about two miles
and will guarantee to have that part
Of the system in operation within the
stated time. provided the trustees sue.
coed in completing the paving OF
Broadway between the Wabash rail
road tracks and the Pennsylvania rail
road tracks within six months time
II was stated further that the com
pany's ordinance did not provide 70
any speed limits for operating cars
the idea being that such matters al
ways remain within the control of tn
town authorities When questioned a
10 the compensation to the city in tn
ordinance proposed by Mr.. barrow, III
official made the following statement
Compensation Folly.
IN regard to that matter. we fee
that the good sense and business judg
nent Of the town trustees viii not b
led astray by an offer made by outsid
parties to incorporate in a franchise
provision holding out the hope for I'm
certain compensation TO the city. base
upon the net earnings of the compan
after deducting fixed charges, operat
ing expenses and expenses incident t
the maintenance and extension Of lines
The accounting or proutS Is sus
ceptible of peculiar treatment which
in the discretion of the officers of
company, may be made to postpone in
definitely any showing OF net earning
beyond the interest required for bond
outstanding. salaries Of executive
cost Of maintenance, etc.
1--WE believe that the people of Gar
will want good. efficient transportatio
service and will be willing to pa