The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-04-19
More Details Regarding
New Terminal Station
Leak Out.
PROJECT IS LARGE ONE
LaSalle Street Station Would Be
Abandoned and Loop Would
Extend to Polk Street.

According to reports from authorita-
tive sources. there is a new important
feature to the new passenger station
project of the Chicago & Western In
diana road at Polk street
1t is nothing less than an effort to
realize the plan for Frederic A. Delano,
president Of the Wabash road. for a
great new union passenger station ex-
tending from State street west to the
river The present plan differs from
that of Mr.. Delano only in that he pro
posed to locate the station either on
Twelfth or Taylor streets. The pro-
posed new station is also to extend on
the east only. to the present east line
of Plymouth place, but in all practical
essentials it carries out Mr.. Delano s
general plan
The plans also contemplate the exten-
sion of the Union loop to Polk street
and the widening of the latter from
sixty-six feet, it's present width, to 166
feet, making 1t the broadest business
thorOughfare in the city
Many Roads In Plan.
As far as known present plans con-
template the entrance into the pro-
posed station Of the roads now enter
ing the Rock Island and Lake Shore
station at Van Buren, and LaSane
street, those entering the Grand Cen
trail station a Harrison street and
Fifth avenue in addition to the roads
now entering the present Polk street
station. 1t is also intimated that the
Do, 1xror, 10 4
the station, and this is thought to ex-
plain the persistent rumor that this
road was planning for a new passenger
terminal in this district
1t is stated that anything approach
ing a tangible agreement or under
standing among the interested roads
has not yet been reached, but it is
also stated positively that the Rock
Island and Lake Shore roads, which
heretofore have been a pronounced
stumbling block to the project, now
have it under serious consideration
and 1t is thought there is a good
chance of their pronouncing in It's ia
vor.
New Location a Feature.
The general belief has been that they
would be slow to abandon their pres
ent location by reason of the advan-
tage it possesses because OF its near
ness to the bushes center and the fact
of its being on the line Of the Union
loop
1t is known. however. that they,
with the other roads entering there
the Nickel Plate and the Chicago &
Eastern Illinois, have been badly
cramped for room, and by dropping
back to Polk street they could devote
the present station building entirely
to office purposes and would also have
much valuable land at their disposal
for additional Office use or sale. Crowd
ed conditions would be at an end, and
the extension Of the loop TO Polk
street would furnish their patrons
with practically as good transporta-
tion facilities for reaching them as
are now had.
Property Well in Hand.
AS stated before. the plans for the
new Western Indiana station reach the
east to the present eastern line of Ply
mouth place The road now owns all
the Plymouth place frontage on the
east side of the street. Its plan is to
have this used for street purposes and
occupy the present Plymouth place
with its station. II has bought four
lots comprising 100 feet frontage on
the west side of State street opposite
Peck court, and it will use this for
access TO the station at that point.
1t plans to occupy Custom House
place. and the property on the east
side of Clark street now occupied as
a freight warehouse by the Wabash
road will from a part of the site of
the new station.
The plans are said to contemplate
viaducts twenty feet high over Clark
street and Fifth avenue. and to use the
space under the streets in some cases
for railway tracks and in others for
teams to reach the freight houses.