The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1910-10-24
FRANCHISES
PENDING IN
GARY COUNCIL
Street Car Grants Up Before
Aldermen That Have Been
Taken From View Lately
in Passing of Many More
Pressing Events.

Hidden under the kaleidoscope
change of passing events are several
fat franchises pending before the Gary
common council for disposition. Some
of them were born far back as last
spring but they are there nevertheless
and any Monday night seem brought
out of dormant committees and created
into valuable potentialities to the
grantees
Street car grants predominant. The
south of the Little Calumet river
franchise which is wanted both by the
Gary and Interurban and the Seamon
Gary and Crown Point line has pre-
cipiated quite a tempest but a solution
is seen in the councils decision to pre-
sent to Seamon a franchise that will
enable him to operate his cars into the
Gary limits and up South Broadway
to the Little Calumet river where he
can make connections with the Gary
and Interurban which is now built up
10 that point.
The Englchnrt Franchise.
There there is another frnuchise
grant asked by timothy W. Englehardt
and a group of Lake county capitalists
said to be composed of A. Murray
Turner of Hammond and A. F. Knots
quest is for the right to operate ears
from the Hobart limits and along
Ridge road to Broadway. For long
time another company would essay the
same right. 1t is the Gary Hobart and
Valparaiso traction line which is
backed by former United States Sena-
tor Hopkins of Illinois and others.
Pending also is another franchise
called the Seventh avenue one which
IS one of the most questionable propo-
sitions presented to any city council.
Alderman Castleman is said to be the
chief beneficiary of this little piece of
business. II would give the possessors
the right TO operate cars on Seventh
avenue, Eighth. on Jackson street
other imposing residential thorough
fares and about Jefferson park the half
million dollar recreation park that the
steel corporation stands ready to give
to the people of Gary.
Rival Line Planned:
This franchise if it is secured will
be very valuable TO the owners and a
destructive proposition to property
holders who own sites along it's route
1t would mean the dissertation of the
park and Jackson street. However,
from a financial standpoint to the
owners, it ought TO be worth half
million and would constitute a valuable
link to any future line that would
parable the South Shore finterurban
system. In fact some time ago Alder
man Castleman secured a franchise
from the Whiting city council a grant
which is also odoriferious in its make
UP. This is link number one and of
late the alderman has been buzzing
asst nit, haJ
number two? Gary might be link num-
Der three
Brother A. f. Would BE Gas Magnnte
Another franchise of some import
ance is the grant which Brother A f,
Knots seeks from the city council. II
is to give him the privilege to operate
gas. water electric light and steam
heat plants in the city, to build under
ground tunnels. aerial transmission
pipes. and in fact all kinds of trans
mission rights on, above and under the
earth. The securing of this would en-
able him, IL 1t financed, to compete with
the Gary, Heat. Light and Water com
pany which is a part of the steel cor
poration and which furnishes the light
and water utilities to the city operat-
ing under the grant made by the town
board.
Knots is seeking the franchise for
his health they are mistaken If he
gets it he-and a few others will be
on the road TO riches In fact a few
little dinners at RectorFs in Chicago
with sweet condolences exchanged over
the wine glasses attests to this JUS
as soon as Mr.. Knots get the light and
water franchise and just as soon as Mr.
Castleman's little grant can be passed
some eastern capitalists Will get busy
and there will be plenty of money t.
finance the propositions.
Waiting Fer Report.
Knetts light and water franchise
was introduced by Alderman Szyman
ski and Mayor Thomas E. Knots mad,
him the chairman of the committee t,
report on it. However, he has not don,
so yet. perhaps being engrossed witt
other cares of state. but nevertheless
every Monday night while Brothe
Tom is reviewing the business to com,
up before the house Brother A. f. ha
many earnest conferences with tn,
Hon. Szymanski but as yet the latte
has shown disposition to do any
thing.