South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1913-12-08
LOCAL COMMITTEE TO
PROCEED CAUTIOUSLY
Kalamazoo and Battle Creek
Figure on Get Together
Scheme to Land Shops for
the Former.
BY JOHN HENRY ZUvER.

Grand Trunk railroad, despite their
inadequacy. employed 956 men in
1912. according to the latest report
of the Michigan commissioner of la
Dor. and the average wage paid was
$2.56 per day, this not including su-
perintendents and office help.
The car shops have not been equal
to the roads needs for some four
years, auxiliary works being main
tanned at Elston, Ill. Assuming. for
conservative reasoning, that the shops
located in South Bend, and construct
ed 10 meet all requirements, would
employ only 1000 men at the Port
Huron wage rate, it would still mean
a daily increase of $2,560 in South
Bends industrial payroll. or approx
mateiy 100000 by the year.
Il am deeply concerned in this
movement" said Sam. Adler, clothier,
member of the Chamber of Com
merce Industrial committee, Monday
morning. indorsing what has hereto
fore been quoted from VIM. Happ,
chairman Of the committee, j. b.
Weber, president. and u. G.. Manning,
secretary of the chamber and Mayor
Elect Fred w. Keller. This is an
opportunity that the industrial COM
mittee should not allow to get away"
re attended the meeting held last
week by the committee, and is we'll
pleased with the action taken. 1t is
reported that the entire committee
was not on hand. bat all who have
been seen on the subject entertain IA
vorable views.
Much dependence is being placed
upon the cooperation which it is be-
lieved the chamber will be able to
command from the next administra-
ton, when negotiations reach the
point where municipal support is
necessary.
Is Delicate Question.
I'VE will have TO proceed rather
cautiously" said Secy. Manning Mon
day. The Grand Trunk isn't any too
deep in love with South Bend, and
we may have to overcome prejudice
This will have to be done, If at ALL
without bartering away the self-re-
spect OF the city, or giving up rights,
the loss of which may prove a burden
TO us in the future" The committee
is generally Of the opinion that the
Grand Trunk will be reasonable, as
Stunning that il can be interested at all.
l.. G. LandOn, druggist, is one of
the committeeman that did not at
tend the meeting Friday night. but
he is none the less keenly interested
in getting the Grand Trunk shops for
this city if they can be had. He as
serts that everyone he has talked with
on the subject looks upon the shops
as a good thing for the city to get
after "The News-Times did a good
thing" he says, when il brought this
matter TO the public attention, and for
the light it has thrown upon the af-
fair. If we do not land those shops
it ought to be absolutely because the
Grand Trunk refuses to give us a
hearing"
The subcommittee to take UP the
shop question with the road will be
named just as soon as a date can be
fixed for a meeting with the Grand
Trunk officials.
Rivals May Cooperate.
Monday a hint comes from Michi-
ganway that Kalamazoo and Battle
Creek may get together. especially
should the latter come to feel assured
that its chances OF landing the shops
are slim.
Battle Creek has a somewhat sim
liar condition in dealing with the
Michigan Central railroad that South
Bend has with the Grand Trunk If
the Michigan Central can be induced
TO abandon its main line through the
city, use the Grand Trunk depot to
the east With perhaps,
as a union depot, and go through town
along the Grand Trunk right-of-Way.
that city might be induced TO coop
crate with Kalamazoo to secure the
shops for the latter place.
The Kalamazoo plan is 10 have the
Grand Trunk abandon its present line
from Battle Greek to Pavilion. and
follow the Michigan Central tracks
! from Battle Creek 10 Kalamazoo, then
Misunderstanding the present spur from
Pavilion, touching the present main
line again at that point About the
only shipping point along the pro-
posed abandoned line would be eli
max. a town OF about 500 population
and it would get Augusta, Galesburg
and Kalamazoo instead.
The big question. however. is the
Michigan Central and whether or not
! it will care TO so cooperate with the
Grand Trunk as 10 make il a competi-
| tor at the above pOints-seemingly ar
unlikely consummation.
III wever. If Kalamazoo can by any
process turn the main line OF the
J Grand Trunk into that city. its rivalry
with South Bend with regard 10 Sc
curing the car shops becomes a seri-
| Gus matter.
The industrial bodies in the two
Michigan cities are not sleeping o.
/ their oars" They are setting their
| plags and making plans 20 haxe them
stick. But such enterprises are no
landed in day; il may take weeks OF
months OF negotiating. and South
BeEo. though not the first on the job
has not had all its chances destroyed
after all