Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1919-01-11

SATURDAY, JANUARY II, 1919.
ALL PRAISE WAckER.

Citizens of every shade of political
party affiliation are praising Charles
II. Wacker the energetic chairman Of
Chicago Plan Commission itself for It's
great work In the identifying Of Chi.
cago. Its successful fight for the
boulevard link, the widening of
Twelfth street and now the extension
Of Ogden avenue are to their credit.
First steps toward the extension OF
ogden avenue from West Lake street
to the Center street entrance Of Lin.
coin park are expected to be taken by
the board Of local improvements fol.
lowing a public hearing attended by
hundreds of property owners who will
be affected by the Improvement.
II will take a year to get through
with the preliminary work and vote
on issuing bonds will not be asked un-
til 1920. The estimated cost of the ex-
tension is S4,650,000 and It is the ex-
pectation that half of this amount will
be raised by special assessments.
The council chamber was crowded
when M. J. Faherty, president Of the
board of local improvements, called
the meeting to order. Fully third
Of those present were women.
At previous hearing the sentiment
appeared to be strongly In favor OF the
Improvement, the only question In dis
pute seeming to be as to the extent Of
territory that should be included in
estimating the damages and benefits.
No serious opposition was expected to.
day.
Albert Schroeder Of the Yondorf
Clothing company was applauded
when he went to the map and pointed
out the proposed crossing at West
North avenue and Larrabee street and
said that the North Avenue Business
Mems association wanted the crossing
buildings that would have to be torn
down II the proposed route was In.
sisted upon.
In speaking to the Ogden avenue
property owners, Mr.. Faherty said
that in his opinion property owners,
whose land and buildings were sta
tionary in value, made great mistake
In opposing such public improvements
as the Ogden avenue extension.
~ have heard men here speak Of
their property as being in such stag.
nant condition that 1t will not stand
the expense Of the Improvement" he
said. why, II was in the place Of
those gentlemen, ! would do every.
thing possible to bring the improve.
ment to my property, believing that
the valuations would increase through
the influx Of business and 1t would be
profitable investment"
other arguments advanced were
that the extension would give a
through street from the north side to
the southwest section of the city, and
would divert much traffic that now
passes through the loop district II
also was asserted that II would afford
better street car transportation for
workers in the great industrial plants
OF the west side. 1t was said that a
large area OF property now stagnant
would be opened up for industrial pur-
poses.
The Through Streets association at
meeting adopted resolutions approx.
ing the proposed extension of Ogden
avenue as outlined by the Chicago
plan commission. Charles X. Wacker
chairman Of the commission, said his
body planned more improvements for
the west side than any other part OF
the city.
Mr.. Faherty, who attended the meet
ing, predicted that Western avenue
when improved. would be one of the
most important thoroughfares in the
city, and in time would be the center
Of population.