The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-08-27
City to Take Action Toward
Providing Better Local
Street Car Service.
BRIDGE IS THE ISSUE
Holman Street Structure the Rock
on Which Municipality and
Corporation Split.

The city of Hammond will now take
drastic action for the purpose of de-
termining whether or not they hold
any power over the Hammond, Whit
ing and East Chicago Railway COM
pany, operating in this city. The mat
ter Will be taken into court and if
ii is decided that the city has Juris-
dietion. the railroad company will be
compelled TO give this city service as
demanded in the franchise or have it
revoked.
The matter was brought to a climax
by the recent action of the street rail-
way company In the Holman street
bridge affair. They have not only re-
fused TO keep the bridge in repair or
to pay part of the expense OF a new
one, but since It's condemnation have
given Hammond the rankest sort OF
service with the evident purpose of
compelling the city TO allow them TO
again cross the bridge.
Refusal Is Absolute.
This right has been staunchly re-
fused and IL has now evolved itself
into a question OF whether the city has
the power TO compel the company to
give service as provided In the fran
chise, regardless OF the fact that they
are prohibited from crossing the bridge.
In other words they must give good
service with or without the bridge and
If their not being permitted 10 use the
bridge hinders their giving it. then
| they must keep the bridge in repair.
This was the verdict rendered unani-
mously by the city council at their
meeting last night after a lengthy dis
cussion.
M. 1Totd s,,v>a..t-t 1sv,4 - ~. ass,...
pany. fatty refused 20 build new
bridge or to even stand part OF tbs
expense. The three parties whose re-
'sponsibility is in question are the city,
county council and the railway COM
pany. The building and maintainance
4 OF bridges across the Calumet river has
always been In the hands Of the county
council and IL the bridge is not TO be
built by the county it must be built
by the street railway.
County Council Obdurate.
It is understood that the county
council refuses to build new bridge
for the use of the street car company,
as they do not feel in the mood OF
! give them any more privileges than
they have at the present time. the
bridge being satisfactory for all other
| purposes except for the use OF the
street cars. In the meantime the car
company is satisfied with the crippled
service. but the public is not II Is
clamoring for a settlement OF the
question to who should build the
bridge and then have it built at once.
There was no mention OF the bridge
! IN the franchise which was granted
to the street car company three years
ago for a period of fifty years II
was stated. however. that the car COM
pany was to pave and maintain the
street for a certain width the entire
| length through the city. This includes
that part in which the bridge lies and
an attempt may be made to force the
car company to maintain the bridge on
the ground that the bridge is part OF
the street Whatever method is used.
however, the city will attempt to bring
the street railway company to time or
revoke the charter.
Subject Dropped Here.
It was agreed some time ago between
the city and the street car company to
select competent engineer who would
inspect the Holman street bridge and
decide whether or not il was At for
the passage Of cars. The matter was
investigated by the board OF public
works and IT was found that it would
cost IN the neighborhood OF 800 TO
have the work done. The question was
then raised as to who would pay this
amount. All parties interested refused
and with that the matter dropped.
Some time ago the company was
granted a franchise for the construc-
tion OF a line on Hoffman street from
Holman street to Calumet avenue for
the express purpose or being able to
use the Calumet avenue bridge in ease
the Holman street bridge was out OF
commission. With this line in working
order it is maintained there ought to
be no difficulty in getting cars to the
! line opposite the bridge.