The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1908-04-02

dray land to the south. swept around
the southern end of the yards and the
territory in the vicinity of the Conkey
plant has become populated
From the north along State street
the population swept in an easterly di-
rection and then was distributed
around the northern end of these
yards along Oakley avenue, Douglas
street, Sohl street, and Calumet avenue.
The next great movement of popula-
ton is sure to be along South Calu-
met avenue, and it will be only Ques-
uon OF a few years when the yaros
which were once outside OF the built
up portion of the city will be COM
pletely surrounded by it.
In this situation a serious problem
Is presented to the people of Ham,
mond. Here is a municipality COM
pletely cut in two by impossible rail-
road yards, the west side mile and a
half from the east side, although Hob
man street is but half a nile from
Calumet avenue.
A viaduct is the first suggestion and
makeshift solution like that might at
nrst seem to be the best way out of
the difficulty. but Hammond can we'll
AFFORD to take the example of Gary and
solve these problems for all time to
come
Gary's faith has moved mountains.
IT has caused the Baltimore & Ohio TO
move several miles of their trunk line.
the Chicago, Lake Shore & South Bend
electric line was induced to alter a
mile of right of way for the convent
ence of the city Four railroads have
been induced to elevate their tracks
through a wilderness
If Gary can solve her big problems
there is no reason why Hammond can
not do the same in the same masterfuI
manner. 1t is not out of the realm Of
possibilities for the Erie Railroad
company to be induced to locate it's
yards two miles southeast of their
present location. The country land
would be comparatively cheap and the
acres the railroad would vacate in
Hammond would be worth a fortune
to the subdivider.
There is little question that a COM
pany could be organized which would
buy the same amount of acreage two
miles outside the city. reconstruct the
yards, shops and roundhouse in the
new location and then make enough
money from the sale of the lots in the
vacated territory to pay a handsome
profit on the investment.
The eastern and the western parts
of the city could then be united by a
dozen cross street and Hammond would
have at least one section compactly
built up as in other cities.
With men at the head Of the Ham
mond Commercial club who have a ca
pacity for big things, who have the
imagination to see what should be done
and the ability to execute their ideas
this city would prosper as never be-
fore.
Few people realize the fact that
Hammond is the most loosely built up
city in the country. There is Rob-
ertsdale five miles to the north the
north side separated from the south by
the river; the east SIDE south of the
river, cut in two by the Gibson yards;
the south side cut in two by the Erie
yards; the southeast side split in twain
by the Standard Steel Car company's
plant, and Gibson accessible only by
running a gauntlet of railroad tracks.
The most important matter to Ham
mond is that of making its isolated
neighborhoods more homogeneous. The
first and most important step should
be the moving, bridging or tunneling
of the Erie yards. Property values
on the east side would advance rs per
cent with this problem solved. Tho
value of the down town Holman street
and State street business locations
would be increased Is per cent il that
great territory occupied by the Erie
yards were open to settlement
There are other important problems
which will from time to time offer
themselves for solution, but the ques-
ton of what to do with the Erie rail-
road yards is the paramount one now
and must be solved one way or another
in the future