The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1909-11-20

aboye-named roads could not be learned
today without a lengthy perusal OF the
county commissioners records, but the
contract price OF the road will amount
in round numbers to the amount Of the
bond issue, less the preliminary cost Of
the road. such as the county surveyors
fees, etc.
CROWN POINT BANK AFFECTED.
The heaviest known bondholder of
the Lake county gravel roads Is the
First National bank of Crown Point,
who purchased the complete last issue
of bonds, including the following roads:
Batterman. Gavit, Hoffman. Kreft.
Smith Nos. 1. 2. 5, and Szudizinski
roads In total the amount of bonds
purchased by them in the last bond is
sue is s4o56O. 1t could not be learned
today as to the amount Of bonds pur-
chased in past years.
The State National bank of Lowell
purchased the bonds on the Brakeman
road. amounting to $500.
The bonds for the Morris We'll road,
or broadway fill" as it is more famil-
iarly known, amounting to $50 900,
were purchased by the D. C. Wedding
& Co of Indianapolis. This is the larg-
est sale of bonds for gravel road I'M
provement ever known to have been
| sold in Lake county.
TWELVE CONTRACTORS HURT.
It was impossible to determine at
! this time exactly how far the eonstruc-
/ ton Of some of the roads had gone and
the total amount of estimates paid by
the county treasurer for work com
pleted. The following are the contrac-
-fr-FF1 inc
roads and who will be affected by the
decision: Ahlborn Construction com
many and w. w. Hatch & Co. of Ham
mond; E H. Crowel1. Crown Point; Con
ner & Taber Of Valparaiso; Henry S
Davidson. whiting; Downey Portz
REYNOLDS and Mooney. and P. K. Love
In Gary on the broadway fill' the
amount Of the bond issue was $4,000
OF this amount William Ahlborn of th'
AhIborn Construction company has
been paid $4,000 by the county com
rnissioners. Since the time Of the frs
estimate it Is said that Mr.. Ahlborn ha!
over SIS. 900 more of the work com
pIeted and that amount of money in
vested on the grounds that will be tieC
up indefinitely, the contractor not beins
able to secure the payment OF anothe
i estimate. Crown Point E. Fl. Grow
ell has the Hoffman road nearly com
pleted. The Brakeman and Battermal
roads are ready for accepting. as +
also the Schaefer road. The Smitl
roads are nearly completed.
All roads constructed in 1909 and pai
: for. of course. are not affected by tn
decision only in the case of the bonds
which of course will be held until tn
expiration of the term of years 70
: which they We're sold for.
The legislature might be called t
enact a law covering practically tn
same conditions that was constitution
{ al, but this would in no way affect tn
: present status of affairs which Ia
r caused so much concern ALI over tn
r state. The best legal advice will b
sought and on Monday County Attorne
: J. Frank Meeker of Crown Point wi
journey to Indianapolis. where he wi
e confer with Judge Jordan and Attorne
3 General James Bingham.
In commenting on Judge Jordan's de
t cision Attorney Meeker said as FOL
t lows:
!, THE blow has come so suddenly tha
/ 1 am at loss at this time to kno,
t just how TO act. As the supreme coui
= has ruled that the law is uneonstitu
s tfonal it would be useless for the gov
=; ernor to call a special session of tn
h legislature as what the supreme coul
{; has declared unconstitutional the les
n islature has no power to act. Neitht
!; could they pass another law that woul
= have any bearing on the decision of II
= court. I do not think that the contra,
tors or bondholders viii be at any los
for work already done. or in the en-
: after the case is settled. other than II
t delay caused by the decision"
d John Brown Of Crown Point, pres
S dent Of the First National bank. 81
n pressed the same views as Attorne
e Meeker. and said he was in no wa
Il alarmed over the decision.