The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1909-04-19
ENGINEERS
PREDICTION
Great Project Is to Be
Marked BY East Chicago
With Celebration.

September so, 1909, will go down
as the most important date in the
history of the Calumet region during
the first half century of its growth and
development, as great Industrial
center Its cities will never forget it.
This date will mark the completion
by the East Chicago company, of the
great work of digging the canal four
miles long, 100 feet wide and Is feet
deep, which is to connect Lake Mich
igan with the Grand Calumet river
at Hammond and will eventually pro-
vide the cities of Indiana Harbor,
East Chicago and Hammond. with a
magnificent inland water way 200 feet
wide and 80 feet deep at a cost of
$5.O00.OO0
The establishing Of the date when
navigation between Hammond and In
diana Harbor viii be opened was made
possible when Engineer NJ. G. Hausler.
Jr., in charge Of the work stated that
the hydraulic dredges We're progress
ing at the rate of 400 feet day and
that a dredge is soon to be sent from
South Chicago to Hammond by way Of
the Calumet river to begin the work on
the Hammond end Of the canal
Plan Monster Celebration.
AS the completion Of the Indiana
Harbor canal to Hammond will mean
also the completion OF a waterway from
South Chicago through Illinois and In
diana to the thriving and growing in
dustrial city Of Indiana Harbor, a wat
erway that is destined to be one of the
busiest nautical highways in the world
is has been suggested by Mayor Ed
ward DeBriae of East Chicago that the
event be made the occasion OF a mon
ster celebration. in which all of the
cities along the route Of the cana
from South Chicago to Indiana Harbol
be asked to participate and which vii
attract the eyes of the whole world tC
the possibilities for development in tht
Calumet region in Illinois and Indiana
Mayor DeBriae stated that the cana
is project that has been close to the
hearts of the people of all of the cit
les of the region While Indiana Har-
Dor will be the port of entry from the
great lakes. the canal is no less an Eas1
Chicago and a Hammond canal, and al
of the cities which will benefit by the
completion of the project and the open.
ing Of a navigable waterway should
aid in making the celebration one o.
the magnificent that this region ha.
ever known.
Water Pageant Feature.
1t is expected that the celebration
will take the form of great celebra
ton at Indiana Harbor. which will mari
the beginning or the end. as may b
thought best. Of the cruise of a steam
er from South Chicago to Indiana Har
Dor
Mayor DeBriae is Of the opinion tha
speakers of national and internatione
reputation should be secured and, to
gether with d marine parade of pleas
ure craft. yacht race. some manoeuv
ers on land by company of marine
and then a big banquet a an Indian
Harbor hotel, the event could be fit
tingly celebrated.
The cost might run up to $4,000 G
$4,000, but he argues the advertlsin
the cities along the canal would ge
the fact that the attention of manufac
turers all over the country would b
turned to the desirability OF location
along the river and the canal woul
make the expense a trivial one in com
parison to the benefits to be derived
The matter of holding this great cele
bration will be taken up by the CON
mereial clubs in all of the cities al
feeted and it is expected that in a fer
weeks. If Mayor DeBriae's suggestio
meets with popular approval, the plan
for the big event viii he under way
It might be stated, by the way. tha