The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1909-04-02
FIGHT HOT
TONIGHT
Companies Will Ask for
Favors From East Chi
cago City Council.

region has there been such great ac-
tivity on the part of promoters Of trac-
tion franchises as there is now. Fol-
lowing the announcement of the pro-
moters of the Calumet Traction COM
pany that they would build a loop line
which will bind together all Of the
cities of the region in North township,
there has suddenly been uncovered, or
revived. a half dozen other projectors
who are besieging the councils of the
various cities with the claims of su-
periority for their lines.
The following enumerates the trac-
ton projects In North township which
may be said to be alive at the present
time:
SIX LINES Projected.
4 The Erb Electric Backed by Louis
NJ Erb and W. B. Seeds, his represen-
tative Has franchise in Whiting and
East Chicago. Promoters claim it viii
connect South Chicago with Whiting,
Indiana Harbor and Gary.
2. The Indiana Chicago Traction Co.,
previously known as the Calumet Trac-
tion company Backed by W. p.
Jjmes, the Terre Haute millionaire. and
prominent Chicago capitalists. The
company is represented by Walter ].
Riley, formerly of the East Chicago
company, who is well known in this re-
gion. Has applied for a franchise in
East Chicago and will later ask for one
in Hammond. The new road will run
from Indiana Harbor to East Chicago
to Hammond to the Ridge Road. to
Hessvilie, to Osborn and Gibson and
hack to Indiana HarbOr. In this man
ner It makes an ideal connection be-
tween the residence and manufacturing g
districts of the whole region.
WANTS A FEEDER.
8. The Chicago, Lake shore and
south Bend feeder loop line. Backed BY
the builders OF the South Shore mair
line. Has a franchise in Kensington
Hegewisch, Burnham, Hammond, Eas
Chicago Indiana Harbor and Gary. Pro
moters claim feeder line will be bull
from Tolleston to Gibson, thence along
the extension of State street TO Ham
mond and north to the main line a
Hegewisch. The proposed extension
would give the Hammond business dis
trict connections with East Chicago. In
diana Harbor and Gary, and all point!
east on the South Shore line
HAMMOND LINE EXTENDS.
T. The Hammond, whiting and Eas
Chicago Electric Railway company
Indiana Harbor extension. Backed b.
Mr.. Cameron and the owners of the Re-
Line Has franchises in Hammond
whiting and East Chicago. Has con
nections with the South Chicago Cit.
Railway. Operated by the A. L Drum
company. The proposed new extension
will connect East Chicago with Indian
Harbor.
3. The South Chicago City RaiIyva
company. Backers are well known. Ha
franchises throughout the city of Soutl
Chicago and owns a line extending t
the Indiana-Illinois state line at Roby
Has been franted a franchise from
South Chicago TO Hegewisch fror
where it hopes to make an extension t
Hammond through West Hammond
Must build by 1910 and has asked 70
an extension TO 1912 owing to its in
ability to build now.
THE GARY INTERURBAN.
g. The ChicagO-New York EIectri,
The line which absorbed the Gar
and Interurban line after the Gavi
franchise was secured in Gary. Backe
by LemueI Darrow of Laporte, the Gar
and Interurban crowd and others. Ha
franchises in Gary and Baporte. Seek
a franchise in Tolleston and HammonC
viii ask for a franchise from Gibso
on the new extension of State stree
to Hammond and thence in northerl
direction to Chicago. The line is be
ing promoted by the Gavit brothers an
Lemuel Darrow. and viii be turned owe
to the Air Line. if 1t is not actually Sc
cured in its name.
:. The Crown Point-Gary Lin,
Backed by unlimited Crown Point an
Lake county capital Has right c
way dedicated over most of the distanc
between the two cities. Was formerl
projected by II. F. Seaman. VIII un
doubtedly be built this year. The rout
is over the extension of Broadway.
5. The Gary, Hobart and VaIparais
Line. Backed by local capitalists. Wi
connect Gary and the farming district
in Lake and Porter counties. In a6
dition to these eight projects there al
several others IN various stages of Pre-
motion. For example. the Chicag
Heights Hammond line and the Han
mond- Crown Point line.
A WARM BATTLE.
However. the battle for franchis
rights is now the hottest in East Ch