The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-10-26
MUCH SPECULATION AS
TO CAUSE OF TROUBLE
Merchants of Gary Fear the Coming
Winter as There Seems To Be
More Business Houses Than Pres
ent Population Warrants-Con-
struotion Work VIII Cease Soon.
Especial to Lake County Times,


Gary, Ind, Oct. 26.-The Fifth Ave
nue. Mercantile company, which is said
to be owned by Contractor McCray and
the Knots Brothers failed to open its
doors yesterday and the residents in
the neighborhood who have been trad
ing at this store have been compelled
to go elsewhere to buy their provi-
sions.
The information has also gone out
that McCray has withdrawn from the
active management of the Gary Con-
struction company, in which A F.
Knots is interested. The reason for
this withdrawal is not known, but it
has been limited that the trouble
started shortly after the grand jury,
according to report, inquired into the
connection of President Knots of the
Gary board of trustees with the Gary
Construction company, which had the
contract for the paving of some Of the
city streets.
McCray was the practical man of the
firm and was formerly employed by the
United States Steel company. His po-
sition with the Gary Construction
company will be a hard one to fill
Outside indications are that there
has been internal dissentions within
the Gary Construction company of q
| serious nature, and owing to the fact
! that this concern has some of the larg-
est Gary paving contracts and that the
partners in the firm are among the
most prominent men in Gary, the pub
lie, has been sp@cnlating as TO what Il
the real trouble
| Work on some of the construction
jobs has also been delayed for the lacl
of material and the work of construc-
ton on the Knots building at the cor
ner of Seventh avenue and Broadway
has ceased.
Everybody in Gary is of the opinion
that the Knots crowd has plenty o.
assets. but they are not readily con
vertible, and that Is what is causing
all of the trouble.
A great many of the most conserva
tive business men in Gary are Of tn,
opinion that the prevailing condition
Of the money market may cause finan
cial embarrassment to a great man!
other men who have been specializing
in Gary real estate for the past yea
or two
Every DOuy VINO mas DeeH III the gam
has made money. but a great many o
them have all of their profits tied VI
so that it would be hard for them t
realize on them in a hurry.
1t is also feared that there have beer
more business houses started than tn
present population of Gary warrants
This is especially true of the saloon
in the Patch" There are dozens o
them and it would be hard, even at tn
present time, to figure out where the
get enough patronage to warrant ther
continuing in business.
When the cold weather sets in an
the work of construction ceases, tn
population Of Gary is expected to di
minish until spring. when it will in
crease again. The interim is wha
everybody fears. If Gary bushes
houses can get through the winte
safely the boom that viii come to tn
, town in the spring will make up 70
the loss of the previous months.
Then when the mills start there wi
, be such continued prosperity as
J leave no doubt as to the stability {
: investments in the city.