The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1909-03-03
c. H. GE|ST
ANNOUNCES
BIG MERGER
Gas and Electric Light Mag
nate Brings to Completion
Consolidation of His Ex-
tensive Interests in This
Region.


Just as It has come generally 70 be
considered matter of good public
policy to bring about the consolida-
tion of the cities OF North township.
in Lake county. so that the economy
of having all of the cIoseIy-allied
municipalities under one government
al head might be practiced. Charles
II. Geist has decided that it will be
in the interests of the public and good
business policy to consolidate the va
rious gas and electric companies in
this district. in which he is interest
ed, into one company. to be known
henceforth as the Northern Indiana Gas
and Electric company.
The consolidation is characteristic Of
many others that have taken place in
this region, such as the amalEamation
of the Commercial and the First Ma
tional banks in Hammond. and shows
the increasing tendency to closer busi-
ness organization and the elimination
of waste in maintaining several cor
porate entities when one can accom-
plish all that is required of each of the
smaller ones
Three Companies Included.
The consolidation of the new COM
panies includes the South Shore Gas
and Electric company. Indiana Harbor
and East Chicago Electric COMPANY and
the Michigan City Gas and Electric
company. The new corporation will
take over all of the properties. fran
chises and obligations of the three
companies and will at the same time
be in better position to live up to
the franchise obligations OF the old
companies in the cities in which they
have public grants
II viii be some time before the plans
Of the. consolidated companies win he
fully consummated. but it is conf |
IDENTIFY expected that this is the be-
ginning of a new era in management
of these public utilities which will
result in greatly improved services to !
the public
The waste, which will be eliminated. |
the economy which will be practiced /
under the new organization and the |
projects for the betterment of the serv-
ice which it will now be possible TO |
carry out in large way will all make
the consolidation of interests of great
benefit to the consumer.
Involves Large Amount.
While the value of the consolidated
is not known. it is under
stood that the figure is a large one and
the new company is one which will
measure up to those in the largest cit
es in the middlewest. and the largest
n Indiana. outside of indianapolis.
The consolidation is hailed bv the
business men of the region as the be-
ginning In Hammond of the era of big
-hings in the commercial activity of
he city. In the financial world the
consolidation will attract attention to
he possibilities of the famous Ca1u-
net region in which it has taken place.
The moving spirit in this great en-
erprise, Charles H Geist Is an Indiana
nan. He came to this region from
Aporte county several years ago and
nay be said to be one of the few men
Who realized at once the great possf-
'ilities Of the cities Of Lake county
nd backed up his judgment and abili-
y with his hard cash and an unusual
bility as an organizer.
He took over weak struggling gas
nd electric compadies in such cities
s Hammond and East Chicago and by
areful management and manifest eff
ort to please the public he served. he
as built up valuable properties.
Made Giants of WeakIings.
For the past eight of ten years this {
recess OF acquiring poorly managed 3
oncerns and gradually bringing them
0 a degree of efficiency has gone on =
ntil the time was ripe for their con- :
into unifying organiza- r
on-
The consolidation is the end that 7
'as originally in view and now that 3
has taken place and the possfbilf- q
les for the future are so great that. I
yet. they are immeasurable the
-ork of extending the service over the
sgion will be carried on under much
iore favorable conditions
Mr. Geist's ability as a financier and
rganizer is demonstrated by the con-
of the interests and TODAY
e is receiving the congratulations I
his acquaintances and business as A
'ciates in this region with whom he
acquainted.
The announcement is made that the
'esent offices in the various cities of e
e region will be maintained in the Il
me localities as they are at present II
ID there viii be no changes made. u
In speaking of the consolidation to
preventative of THE TIMES this morn y
g. Mr. Geist stated that IT was lust ! O.
ch an amalgamation that he hoped
ouid be effected among the cities Of
rthern Lake county. He points to the
CT that the advantages Of having a \,
ntralized form of government are =
aotically the same as the plan he | cr
5 adopted OF having a centralized se
siness organization -