The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1917-12-21

IS HELD IN
CHICAGO
Gary, Hammond, East Chicago
and Whiting Send Their
Representatives.

A meeting, said by w. P. Glea-
son of the Gary steel plant to have
been the first rational step take
IN this county toward the forma-
ton Of local sanitary district, was
held last night at the Planters
Hotel on Clark street, Chicago.
The meeting was under the
auspices of the board of trustees
Of the Chicago Sanitary District
and was attended by twenty of the
most influential and representative
men of northern Indiana.
ALL CITIES REPRESENTED.
From Hammond there were 4. NJ.
Turner. l.. L. Bomberger. George Han
nauer. C. M. Mcdaniel and Jesse WI
son; from Gary were w. P. Gleason, w.
f. Hodges and r. NJ Davis. from East
Chicago. Col W. J. Riley. Z. w. Vic
key. Julius Friedman. Leo Mccormack.
Abe ottenheimer I. Ls Evans: from
Whiting. Beaumont Parks, Walter
Scipage. c. J. Bader. Fred Smith. Frank
\. Gavit and J. IL Gill
The chairman of the engineering
board of the Chicago district Trustee
Clark. presided and five of the nine
members of the board Of trustees. in
cluding the president. We're present
DEVELOPNENTS A SURPRISE.
The developments at this meeting
We're somewhat of revelation to the
preconceived notions of the attitude and
plans of the Chicago board, as pro-
nflilgated in 1913 by Engineer Henry
". Lee as their representative. were
completely reversed in the discussions
that ensued.
The whole scheme or the Chicago
board as finally worked out as the re-
suit Of many years of study and the
expenditure or millions Of dollars was
laid before the visitors and the develop
ments of the past few years were terse-
ly outlined. Engineer Fierce of Chicago
giving a large part ol the information.
Their prediction as based upon their
experiences and the work now under
way was that the sag would. be opened
within, two years
OPINIONS ARE REVISED.
The information obtained at this
meeting caused some of the men who
were most active in the opposition TO
the formation of n sanitary district four
years ago to revise their opinions on
this matter and seemed to remove all
10 a movement that should
be started right awaE TO again place
before the voters of Lake county cities
the question of entering into a legal
alliance TO accomplish the ends sought.
WHAT HAPPENED THEN.
1t will be remembered that in the
vote on the formation of q local district
four years ago. Hammond and East
Chicago voted against the measure and
Gary and Whiting voted in its favor
The chief objection of the Hammond
men was that the organization Of such
a district at that time was premature
inasmuch as it would create an expen-
siVe board with almost plenary powers
Of taxation long before there was real
Is any necessity of concerted action.
East Chicago disagreed with the
methods proposed by those in charge
Of the movement in regard to the
feasibility Of dumping our sewage into
the Calumet river and depending upon
water process of publication to remove
sufficient of the impurity to make this
sewage harmless to the people along
the western banks Of the water route.
Il. w Wiclcy was one of those who
most firmly believed that the cities Of
this region would have to treat their
sewage eventually and that il was a mis-
take TO let the people think Otherwise
the assertions OF En-
sineer Lee.
Neither city apparently had any con-
ldence in the ability or sincerity Of Mr..
Lee as the Chicago representative.
AS result of direct questions put to
.he engineers and sanitary experts Of
The board last night it was forcibly
and definitely brought out that the
opening OF the sag would change the
current of the Calumet river and the
ship canal but that this would not be
sufficient in taking care OF local prob
ems, that it would be absolutely neces-
sary in view OF the fact that it would
be impossible TO use enough water to
landle the publication of our sewage
hat sewage treatment plants would
lave to be constructed.
IT was also the unanimous opinion or
hose present that in order that har-
nony of purpose and concerted action
night be taken by the cities of Lake
sounty that a sanitary district of
iorthern Indiana would have to be
a movement has already been started
o call a meeting of representatives OF
fary. Hammond, East Chicago and
Whiting to further discuss this problem
nd see what should be done to get the
aovement of the establishment of such
distrist again under way