The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1918-05-27

necessary securities nor even to get
bids We have no money for a filtration
plant and apparently no way 10 get 1t.
And even u we had it. materials could
not be bought. Restrictions that are be
ing imposed today by the necessities OF
the government make it asolutely i'm
possible 10 float any bonds except liberty
bonds 10 let any contracts except under
government supervision or 10 make any
public utility improvements NO. essen
tial in the prosecution Of war"
East Chicago people were visib'y i'm
pressed with Mr. Geist's frankness
Citizens Have wondered.
Citizens OF East Chicago and members
Of the chamber Of commerce have been
Wondering for six months or more why
nothing was being done apparently by
the East Chicago and Indiana Harhor
Water company in response to the order
OF the state public service commission
While hstipulated a yesr and a hair ago
that the company should have a ultra
tion plant in operation by January L..
1915 All kinds Of rumors have been in
the air it was reported that plans
could not be secured: then that bidders
could not be found that bonds could not
he sold. etc
In OFGEr ildJ tne ulllAl4tS COL POI a tANtt
and the people might have a chance TO
lay All their cards on the table, thor
oughly understand each others game
and thrash the matter out open and
above board. rip of amy mask OF
camouhage that might exist and get
down 10 cold hard facts as to conditions
and possibilities. the chamber of COM
merce invited Mr. Geist and his officials
to public meeting and through the
press invited every citizen to attend
Noisy Ones Were Absent.
With very few exceptions. however.
those who have been making the most
noise about this proposition were con
spicuous by their absence. With the eX-
ception of the Harbor end of the city.
the meeting was a representative one,
number of prominent club women being
present.
With a few words OF Introduction as
to the purpose OF the meeting, President
Friedman called upon Mr. Geist to give
the facts relative TO the hltration plant
situation.
The speaker first gave an interesting
bit Of history concerning his past re-
lations to this region. going back TO
the time when with an initial capital o.
only $4,000 he purchased the old Ham
rnond Illuminating Co, evolving there
from the present Northern Indiana Gas
and Electric Co. corporation into
whose Improvements during the last
seventeen or eighteen years $2S.o00,Oo0
in cold cash has been invested
Secures vast Sum for County.
"s22. 100000 Of that money" said Mr..
Geist. has come from Philadelphia and
the east. Incidentally. l might say.
that during that period there has been.
through my influence, s35.000,00o trans
ferred from the cast and invested in IN
diana securities l give this simply az
an evidence OF my intense interest in
the progress development and welfare
Of this region
Thus far" said he every demand
made upon us by the public has been
met. But today. we confess that
through the intervention Of the war. We
are decidedly up against it. We know
OF no way whereby We can give TO the
people Of East Chicago this much need
ed filtration plant. We know you need
this service. You are entitled to it. And
If anyone. from this city or any other.
will tell Us what more we can do than
we have done-wtll tell US how we can
get the money and the material to build
this plant-we will welcome the in
formation"
He said that If petty politics had not
blocked the way the filtration plant
might have been built five. six, seven or
eight years ago: that the lack OF CO.
operation among city officials had block
ed him in every attempt that he had
made 10 reach a condition that would
make such an Improvement possible.
Omen of Happier Relations.
This is the first time" said he. that
have ever been invited 70 conference
Of Your public men. Personally am
highly gratihed. Nothing can be gained
nv continually scrapping and from this
time on. let us be reasonable, sit down
calmly together and work out our COM
mon problems All that We shall want
AZ any time is a square deal whose
terms shall be stipulated. il you Will.
by non-partisan and unprejudioed eX-
perts. To me this meeting is An omen
of q brighter future and happier rela-
tons between the company and this
people"
At the close OF the discussion z. W.
Wickcy. in the course Of q spirited and
interesting talk, said that in the light of
the information given he could see but
one possible solution Of the problem He
suggested that the construction Of the
filtration plant be advocated as q war
necessity. involving the welfare Of
region largely engaged in war contracts.
and that the matter be placed before
the Lake County Council Of Defense and
that this body be requested to take It
up with the federal government and ask
that the war department get behind the
project and make possible the sale of
the bonds and the purchase Of material
Mr.. Geist Perfectly willing.
He asked Mr.. Geist to petition the
county council to this effect and Mr.
Geist said Immediately thst he would
follow the suggestion that he was will
ing TO do any thing that gave any prom
ise Of relief
motion was then made BY Mr..
Wicl1ey and seconded by Mr.. f. y.
Canine that the chamber OF commerce
request the council to take favorable &C
ton on the petition when presented
The motion vas unanimously carried
This. then. will be the next line OF
procedure II the government cannot
be induced 10 take hand in the project.
it seems to be a foregone conclusion
that East Chicago viii have to wait un-
til the end OF the war before it can have
notable. healthful drinking water.