The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1913-11-26
CONFERENCE
ON TODAY

The vacation of that portion of state
Line street claimed by the mayor and
city clerk of West Hammond. on rep
resentation of Illinois property owners.
to be illegally occupied by landowners
of Hammond appeared at the close of
be the farthest thing from the minds
of Hammond city officials
West Hammond appeared less de-
termined. but though apparently open
at three o'clock that Mayor K. NJ.
Woszczynski and City Clerk Ignatius
Mankowski will be changed in their
attitude
Conference Well Attended.
A trifie late Engineers Edgar Rossi-
ter. w. F. Bridge and Peter J. Lyons
convened with Messrs Rohde and
Schroeder of the board of public works
and Attorneys P. S. Patterson. John
Gavit and S. K. Markham. Mayor
Snalley was called away to attend
funeral but before he left gave full
power to his representatives to act
Comes to a Showdown.
Early in the game the whole issue
resolved into q discussion of the merits
and demerits of Edgar A. Rossiter's
survey of the State Line and it's bear
ing upon the case When II was prac-
tically admitted for lack of evidence to
the contrary that the plat made by
Rossiter for the mayor and council of
West Hammond must stand as 1t 10
until another can be found differently.
Then Rossiter rendered his professional
opinion. while there may be an over
lappage of section distances" said he,
"the State line absolutely governs those
section lines 1t is impossible that the
section line of Indiana can overlap into
Illinois that the section line OF IlI-
nois could overlap into Indiana"
A Hopeless Outlook.
Rossiter's statement raised the ques-
tion as to the process of law. What
he had to say in this connection makes
1t appear that unless the cities of
Hammond and Vets Hammond can
agree upon the boundaries Of the State
Line street that the Improvement of that
thoroughfare can never be accomplish
ed. 'I doubt very much.' he said
whether or not you could change the
occupation OF property owners on either
side OF the street"
with the exception Of the mayor and
clerk Of West Hannmond everyone pres-
ent favored q compromise in the pres
ent controversy by which the agree
ment entered into between w. r.
Bridge. city engineer of West Ham
mond, p. j. Lyons, city engineer OF
Hammond and Ray Seeley. county sur
veyor, in the presence of Mayor Wos-
zssynski, can be carried out and the
improvement put through now
designated.
Says That He Cannot Relent.
The mayor of the Illinois town stat
ed however to q reporter that In spite
| of the arguments presented he feels
that he must carry out the wishes of
| the property owners on the west side
| of state Line street from Ogden south
who have raised the issue.
"I expect to. make no promises to-
tday,n he stated.
| talk that the opposition to the Ham
nond curb and the desire for a deci-
sion as to the location of the State
| line had been born in barroom.
whether it started over a glass OF
beer OF not" said he, "does not matter
but it came as a surprise everyone
had agreed and was impatient at the
delay in the Improvement"
| Meyers Went to Old Country.
| S. K. Markham reviewed the history
of the improvement of State Lins
street swhen John Hester was presi-
dent of West Hamrnond.'' he began
"the two cities agreed upon everything
The West Hammond administration de-
cided that it was not right to ask
Hammond to condemn its property
south of Ogden street. West Ham
mond was waiting until Hammond had
80 ~ 1or III
complete when John Meyers went te
the old country with the list of petit
l toners and never returned"
"The public sentiments of West Ham
mond" asid Rossiter, "are for the i'm
provement of State Line street. Speak
ling informally I see no reason why {
| few kickers should stand in the way
of the public good"
Mayor Woszczynski explained tha
the reason for his not adhering to the
argument which he entered into is that
Engineer Bridge did not explain the
situation to his complete understand
| ing. TT was misrepresented to me,
| said the mayor. Il thought that th'
section lines overlapped and that nj
| one knew where the State Line wa.
and that it was all right to go ahead
Now Rossiter has shown me that the
State Line is on the Indiana SIDE. ina
| changed matters"
Attorney Bridge explained that h,
did not think it mattered where tht
State Line was as there was dispute
and that the Improvement being need
ed he believed an agreement TO be bes
for all concerned. However, the mayor
declared that he had not understoo,
the agreement and that he therefore
had a right to break it.
At three-thirty, just before dis
misal, it was proposed that the prop.
Ierty owners to have raised objection
be appealed to. The mayor of Wes
| Hammond requested Attorney Gavit o
Hammond to talk at a mass meeting
| which Will be arranged
Attorney Gavit presented very 1eve
headed argument. Il believe that tn,
street which now exists is the one tina
has existed for years, IS 1t not?a h,
said. 1T has been recognized such