The Lake County times., 1913-11-29
REMOVAL
OF ALL POLES
IS DESIRED

Since the ornamental lighting sys-
tenn for Holman street in Hammond is
now a realized thing Of beauty, all OBJ
structions of every kind should be re-
moved from the curb line that these
posts may show up to best advantage.
Holman street is a very narrow thor
oughfare and any obstruction, such as
trolley, electric light or telephone
poles should be removed. and IL neces-
sary the city's authority used to ac-
complish this end. 1t has been under
stood for some time that the electric
light company was Ito remove its poles
and wires from Holman street as 1t
has done on East state street. and for
weeks past new poles have been erect
ed in the alleys Immediately back of
Holman street, east and west, for the
transfer of the wires. II seems, how
ever. that the electric light company
and the electric trolley company occu-
py a number of joint poles on Holman
street and as soon as the electric light
company removes it's wires it is said
the trolley company will replace these
poles by steel poles. little improve
ment to be sure over the others. but
still unsightly. The Electric light
company has shown proper civic spir-
it to the end that 1t Joined with the
ing the two principal streets of our
important business section attractive
and free from eyesores. They claim
there is no necessity OF any poles on
State or Holman streets in the bust
ness section. principally where build
ings face each side of the street.
In the attitude the railway company
has assumed it looks very much If
the old spirit of opposition to anything
and everything the public wants is
still dominating the Chicago interests
| that run the street railways in the
| Calumet district.
| The removal of trolley poles to
| which are attached the span wire that
| supports the trolley wire, is accom-
| piished by attaching the span wires to
the buildings through anchor bolts.
| This system was installed in Michigan
| City nearly two years ago, and for
| over two miles Franklin street, the
1 principal thoroughfare. is not marred
| by poles or any obstruction. and to
| this many business men bear witness
| who have been there. This arrange
ment is also carried out effectively in
| a number of northern Indiana cities,
| also in Minneapolis. Jacob Schroeder
| Of the board of public works, says that
| the practice of attaching span wires
| to buildings has been followed for
many years in Germany. and that troll
ley poles are installed only in outlying
sections where store buildings are
scattered and there is nothing else to
attach to.
1t seems that this Improvement is a
very desirable one and should be COM
menced at an early date. The electric
light company should certainly have
the cooperation of the street railway
company, and if the latter concern re-
fuses tc remove its poles then 1t is ur
square1v to the city to order them of
| the streets named.
It is understood that after buildins
owners have had the new scheme fully
explained to them they have expressed
| willingness to allow the attach.
ments to be made to the building walls
especially since there is no engineer
+, ing problem involved and no dangers
whatsoever to the buildings.
Let the Improvement be started a.
| once.