The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1908-11-18
], G. EARLE OF HOBART
HAD FINGER IN PIE
While He Is Boosting the Air Line
He is at the Same Time Opposing
the Burns Ditch-Therefore the
Town Board Takes the Present
Move.

A. far as the new electric line, the
Gary, Hobart & Valparaiso Traction
company, is concerned. 1t may have
to wait a long time before 1t secures
a franchise to enter the town of Gary.
This much was decided at a meeting
of the town board yesterday, when
their petition for a franchise was fatly
turned down by the board and the mat
ter was laid on the table indefinitely.
The action of the board in refusing to
grant the company their franchise ere
ated a surprise for some time, but
when it became known that their real
object was in turning down the COM
pany, the few that were acquainted
with the facts of the case commended
the board for their action.
Promoter Expresses Surprise.
Francis Y Keator of Aurora, ILL.,,
who is the promoter of the new Gary
Hobart and Valparaiso Traction COM
pany, was as much surprised as any OF
those present. Mr.. Keator appeared
at the meeting of the board severa
weeks ago and was told at that time
that if the company would show some
disposition to incorporate and prove
to the board that his company mean
business, that they would look upol
the matter of granting the franchis
in a more favorable light.
Accordingly, Mr.. Keator set out an
had the necessary papers filed with III
secretary of state. The articles of in
corporation were filed last week a
Indianapolis, naming James T. Hop
kins. and A. J. Hopkins Jr., two son
of United States Senator Hopkins; /
Y. Keator, Haskell Davis and w. +
Watkins as the directors Of the neN
company, and placing their capita
stock at $1,000 1t is said that Nj
Keator also went to the town trustee
of Valparaiso and Hobart and secure
an agreement wherein they woul
grant the company a franchise at thei
next regular meeting. He conferre
with the officers of the Gary & Inter
urban company and all difficulties be
tween the two companies were amicabl
settled. All that now remained to b
done was to get the Gary franchis
and work would be started at once o
the new road
Advised to Begin Work.
IF the company Is all right. as
have no doubt 1T is, said Presiddr
Knots, "let the company start the
work and build their line as far {
the Gary corporation line. then "
will be willing to grant the franchise
KeatOr Gives His Reasons.
Mr. Keator said that the men WI
were at the back of the new ros
would not be willing to furnish IL
necessary funds to construct the ros
and that they could not secure a Dor
or sell stock unless they could get {
entry into Gary.
Another objection to the road Wi
raised by the board, in that The
could not construct their road over Il
Calumet marsh, owing to the high w
ter every spring.
This is the only reason said NJ
Knots, that the Gary & Interurbs
is held up on completing their line
far as the Hobart road A warm di
cussion followed in which Mr.. Keat
tried to explain his theory on buildiI
the road over the lowlands, but t
board refused to look upon the ma
ter, and short time after the meetil
adjourned.
The Real Reason.
Inc real IGdSOA AOI tie DOdid IcIu
ing to grant the company their fra
chise was learned by TIMES report
last night.
1t is known that John G. Earle
Hobart is interested and is the ma
figure in the background, who is tt
ing to promote the road. If it is co
structed it will run through his pro
critics and increase them in value
the extent of probably half MILL
dollars
1t is also known that John G. Ea
is strongly opposed to the Burns dit
and has been against it from the sta
The board of trustees of Gary
vitality interested in the south end
Gary and know that the Burns dit
will mean more for Gary. in increasi
the land values and the drainage
thousands of acres of lowlands that
now worthless, than any other pro-
sition. and they do not feel very xii