The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1913-02-04
THE BUILDING GENIUS.


ured by building activity. That is
the real barometer of the prosperity
of community.
Not only is 1t important that the
gross expenditures for buildings be
large but that a large number of
buildings be built. Building opera
lions divide themselves naturally into
three classes: Industrial, business and
civic or semi-civic and residential.
1t is more important TO COM
dences be built than that a million
dollars be spent in building business
blocks and public buildings. The
home building will lay foundation
that will make the other come as
matter of course.
There ought TO be some way by
which the commercial organizations
of the various cities would each year
recognize the progressiveness of citi-
zens who invest their money in build
ing up the community.
A day should be set aside for them
and their names should be read off
from a roll of honor. The Hammond
woman who by sheer determination
and against great odds built the
Orpheum theatre building did more
for State street than any other prop
erty owner on that street excepting
of E. c. Minas, the merchant prince
of the streot.
The erection of splendid structures
has characterized the development of
Gary and the Moe Theatre building
and many others now under construc-
ton, indicates the faith of citizens in
the future Of the city.
In East Chicago the Friedman
building is tribute to the man whose
name it bears. His faith in the city
he has thus ornamented is shown con-
clusively
The Hammond building, in the city
whose name it bears, pointed the way
to the construction of other splendid
structures and was the real beginning
of Hammond on a solid basis.
Indiana Harbor and Whiting have
their pioneer building ventures. But
outside of the conspicuous buildings
there have been thousands of citizens
| in the cities of the Calumet region
who have taken great chances in the
building of the homes which have
h1,i1f nm tho c0u,mupity
Homewood the finest residential
district of Hammond, was once called
| mortgage town by the improvident
loafers of the city. There was time
when scarcely a home in that now
beautiful suburb was free from en-
cumbrances But now the builders of
these first homes are among the sub
stantial people of the community.
And those who delighted most to
lsneer about the homes of the residents
of mortgage towns are either shining
cuspidors or are ekeing out 4 hand to
mouth existence in some other way.
One of the leading bankers of the
region one day confided the fact that
had been the basis of his fortune.
/ Il was a young man them said he
and the people of the town would
point to that building and say, Thai
lis -'s building 1t gave ms
financial standing. 1t built up m.
credit / was able to borrow none.
and hence | succeeded
Many a man dates his real start il
mortgage on his home. 1t is the be
ginning of an era of independence
that made a man of him.
| There are many things to discour
| more for labor and more for material
than most any other place in tn
country. Contractors delay jobs an
materials are hard to assemble il
: lions of dollars worth of constructio
l going on each year in the combine
cities of the region.
Architects estimates are almost in
| uiSueI tudu tie COntldCtoi
figures. There are scores of confirm
> ed knockers who will spend hours c
: their time telling you that it does nc
: pay to build.
And yet fortunes are being mad
= tout of residential and business proper
8 ty Those who built when materia
were higher got that much addition;
income from their property
If the spirit of building up til
= region can be spread broadcast it wi
have a tremendous effect. 1t NEAR
future greatness.
il -~~------
n ..MARRY Young . saws 2 woma