The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-02-08
Tells of Southern Branch of
Chicago, Lake Shore &
South Bend.
MEANS MUCH FOR CITY
VIII Afford Transportation Facilities
to Hegewisch, Gibson, Grasselli,
East Chicago and Gary.

Attorney T. J. Meyer of the Chicago.
Lake Shore & South Bend interurban
railroad was in the city today and en-
tered vigorous denial of the stories
that have been printed to the effect
that the Chicago, Lake Shore & South
Bend interurban and the Chicago &
Northern Indiana interurban had con-
solidated. He also stated that next
week he would appear before the board
of public works with a request for a
franchise through the business por-
tion of Hammond that would enable
his company to give the people of this
city the best of transportation facili-
ties to Hegewisch, the Standard Steel
Car company, Gibson, Grasselli, East
Chicago, Indiana Harbor and Gary.
The denial of the story of the con-
solidation Of the two above mentioned
interurban lines will be received with
considerable surprise here in Ham
mond. where it has come to be gener-
ally believed that the Chicago. Lake
Shore & South Bend interurban was
only able to finance the building of it's
road by making the deal with the Muir
dochs of Lafayette and the McGowans
of Indianapolis. But Mr.. Meyer in
sists that the only deal that has been
made is the one with the Illinois Cen
tral railroad by which the Indiana
railroad is to have terminal facilities
in Chicago.
The declaration that the Chicago,
Lake Shore e. South Bend interurban
viii next week seek franchise.
through the business portion of Ham
mond will be welcome news to the
people of this city, who. for the first
time, feel assured that there is to be
real competition for the local street
railway company and that the new
company will tap territory hereto
fore not reached by any street rail
road.
Mr. Meyer says that the route of the
main line has been definitely decided
upon and that it will be from Kensing-
ton to Hegewiseh to Hammond to East
Chicago to Gary, then on to Mfchi-
gan City and South Bend
The southern branch is, however. the
one in which Hammond is most inter-
secured the road Will leaNe the main
line at a point in East Chicago near
the intersection of Chicago and Ken
nedy avenues and go directly south on
Kennedy avenue through Grassenf to
Gibson. where it will turn in a west
erly direction and follow the new street
that is to be opened up from Gibson.
parallel to the Gibson yards and make
connections with Summer street. Sib-
ley street. State street and Plummer
avenue
An attempt will be made 70 secure
a franchisealong Pummer avenue
throughout its length TO the state line
where some route viii be selected to
Hegewisch and the southern branch
Will join the main line.
Time and again the city Of East
Chicago has made efforts to have the
Hammond. Whiting & East Chicago
street railway company make an ex-
tension to Grasselli to accommodate
the men who work there and live in
that city, but the local company has
maintained an attitude Of independence
in regard to the matter, and Mr. Never
expects to find the East Chicago coun-
ell in mood 10 grant them the de-
sired rights.
In Hammond the situation is about
tho same. One of the local business
men OF prominence said Wednesday that
he regarded the prospect of having
good street car service to Grasseu /
Gibson, the Standard Steel Car com I
pany and Hegewisch as good as the
locating of another big concern. and /
the other business men feel the same
way about the matter.
Mr.. Meyer said the contract for the
overhead work on the whole line would +
be let Thursday at Cleveland and the
cars which have been ordered wou1d I
be the most sumptuous affairs that are
built. As to the Chicago terminal. Mr.
Meyer said that 1t would be built in /
Park Row just opposite the Illinois I
Central depot and would be reached nv
a subway under the Illinois Central /
station. The time required 10 run into
Chicago from Hammond viii be about
forty-five minutes