The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1912-02-26
WHAT DRUM SAID.

Al. Drum, the operating superintend-
ent Of the Hammond, Whiting & East
Chicago Railway Company and the
members OF the Hammond Manu-
facturer's Association will result in
much good.
When sane level-headed business
men get together, exchange points of
view. leave their minds open to con-
viction they are sure to make head
way
That is just what happened at the
University Club yesterday. Mr..
Want Better Service" met "Mr.
Traction Manager and they had
heart to heart talk. The result will be
that the street car company will
doubtless grant some concessions
along this line.
However the business men of Ham,
mond learned more about the troubles
and difficulties of making traction
lines pay than they ever knew be
fore. They saw how utterly out of the
question it is to expect a street car
company in this territory to concede
eight rides for quarter or. in the
case of the Green line. accept a pro-
vision for universal transfers.
Some of the things that Mr.. Drum
told the business men of Hammond
opened their eyes. He said that:
1. In the last three years his COM
pany had spent 100000 in rehabili-
tating the lines in this district, adding
to the equipment and in other better
ments.
e. Tha two years ago $4,000 was
appropriated for the purpose of
building the Indiana Harbor extension
but that the city refused to grant him
a franchise. This money lay In the
bank for six months and the loss in
interes amounted to $500.
3. That the comany wanted to Law
its track on Holman street to one
side of the middle of the street SO that
1t could double track at an early date
bue that the city would not permit it.
4. That the company will spend
100000 in. the region for extern
sions from Hammond to Indiana Har-
Dor and Harvey If the people will
only be reasonable.
s. That he had a count made Of
those people who walked and those
who rode on the South Holman street
cars; that 1,S00 rode the day the count
was made while 500 walked and even
IL all had paid their fares that 1t
would not pay the cost of running
one car all day.
s. That the extensions Of the
company intends to make are not
warranted by the business that is
being done but are to be made on the
theory that they will be feeders for
the trunk lines and will help to in
crease the business on the whole sys-
tenn.
Z. That the city of Hammond
exacted a great deal when it re-
CURED the company to give service
to Whiting, East Chicago and Indi-
ana Harbor for five cent fare. That
the Green line gives longer ride
for nickel than any line In the
country operating in as sparsely
populated territory.
8. That his company desires to
avoid the paralleling and duplication
of tracks in this region, which would
result in the useless expenditure of
money. That this company does not
try to exclude other lines from the
territory. and that on the other hand
it encourages the construction of
non-competing lines.
9. That the company proposes to
build an extension from Hammond to
Hegewisch and thence to South Chi
cago that will make it possible to go
to the loop district in Chicago for
15-cent fare and in one hour and 20
minutes
10. That he make Frank Gavit
proposition by which he could run
into Chicago over the lines of his
company on terms that are based on
the actual cost OF such service to his
company but that the Gavit line has
never taken advantage of the offer.
II. That he will study over the
question of providing improved city
service in Hammond, but that it is
out of the question for him to put
on extra cars with the exception Of
taking them off if the service did not
pay He said No one but an ex-
perienced manager knows the storm