The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1918-06-13

Hammond's urgent claims for emergency
| relief
City Had TO Have Homes.
Going back to the inception Of the
project; the fact became apparent many
months ago that If Hammond was go
ing TO get any benefit out Of the war
prosperity that was expected to result
from the placing Of a S100.000.0O0 or
dnance order with the Standard Steel
Car Co. it would have 10 build houses
Hammond had reached the point
where every house was occupied and
where projects were being evolved for
taking its workers to Chicago in order
10 supply the housing deficiency This
meant dead loss 10 the city as many
men would enter and leave the east
gate to the Standard day after day. BY
special train on the Nickel Plate with
out ever seeing Hammond
The chamber of commerce had made
more or less futile efforts to arouse the
business men Of the city to the need OF
more houses. There were enthusiastic
public meetings but all il served to
do was TO stimulate the men who have
been building homes in Hammond as a
matter of business The idea that every
business man was to build at least one
home did not materialize The idea Of
stimulating subscriptions to the build
ing and loan associations did not help
because builders wanted maximum
straight loans
Then the idea was suggested that the
government alone was the agency
through which money could be loaned
al low rate Of interest and on the lib
eral basis OF rs per cent of the total
cost of the building About this time
a bill sppropriating $50 600 600 for this
purpose was introduced IN congress
At first It seemed as though IL would
be q useless effort Tor Hammond to 20
out after a portion of this money The
prediction was freely made by skeptIcs
that Hammond would never get any OF
the fund if 1t was made available.
About this time Roscoe F. Woods
proposed written program for stimu-
lating house building az a public meet
ting of the housing committee of the
chamber Of commerce. This was after
wards presented at the weekly luncheon
Of the members council and adopted
At that time Mr. Woods was made
member of the housing committee
As chairman Of the housing commit
tee William j. Winery deserves a great
deal Of credit for his painstaking work
in compiling facts regarding Ham
housing needs Mr.. Winery went 10
Washington in the interests OF Ham
mond's claims for recognition and paid
his own expenses.
II was Mr.. Winery who succeeded
in first interesting Congressman VIII
R. wood in Hammond's case and it
should be said to the credit Of the
Tenth district congressman that he
was untirinE in his efforts and effici-
ent in his methods in his efforts to
secure a portion of the appropriation.
Subsequent 10 Mr.. Whinery's visit to
Washington it was decided on Congress
man Woods recommendation. that the
cities Of Hammond Gary. East Chi
cago and Whiting should present their
claims for recognition Jointly and trust
to the wisdom Of whoever should be Sc
lected 70 apportion these funds to make
a fair apportonment as between the
cities Of the region.
Although Hammond was the first OF
these cities TO hear that it had been
granted recognition it is expected that
the other cities viii hear in due time
and that both Gary and East Chicago
viii get liberal apportionments.
Following the preparation Of the
Joint report Of the housing committees
Of the various cities of the region VIII !
liam A Nellie, president Of the Lake
Copnty Printing & Publishing Co. (
which publishes the Lake County Times. |
and vice president of the Hammond
Realty Co. decided that the needs of |
the region was so great along the line
of additional housing facilities that he |
would go 10 Washington to see what !
could be done
. He was accompanied BY W J. Hast
ings. who also had given the matter |
great deal of study. Together they Sc
cured an audience with Congressman !
Wood, Senators Watson and New and /
finally had an hours conference with |
Secretary Of Commerce and Labor viii
SON who expected 10 have charge of |
the distribution Of the funds
While they were there the housing !
report Of joint committee was received |
and Secretary Wilson manifested con-
iderabIe interest in it and asked many