The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1920-11-18
VISITOR TO
HAMMOND
SIZES It Up
Observing Salesman Praises
and Condemns the Things
He Likes and Doesn't
Like About Hammond.


Hammond from the standpoint OF an
observing outsider whose viewpoints
are at least Interesting was discussed
last night BY J. II. Thurston OF Akron,
o., @ rubber salesman who has beou
making the city three or four times
year and whose work calls him here
for several days a. a time. Mr.. Thurs
tons viewpoint is striking because of
the fact that he travels all over the
United States, was in chamber Of coma
merce work for . number OF years
ana is in a position Of showing famil
isrity with more towns and cities n
the United States than the average
man knows by name. His hobby -
city study from an economic stand
point ano he believes the day is com
ing when cities will &c run BY man
ayers instead OF mayors and when
what IS good for cities will be studied
the same as children
IS STUDENT OF CITIES.
when seen by Times represents
tive at his hotel, and BY the way ne
doesn't think much OF Hamnlond's eat
ing facilities. and asked TO size up
Hammond frankly from q comparison
with other cities Of its size he has
studied lie didn't take long to plunge
into his subject. He sa d: ~ hen
come into a town ! study II like the
olc-fashioned drummer used 10 study
the pretty girls on the street when ne
got through with his work studY
It and ask myself Il 1t is the kind Of Il
town l would like to bring up M
family in. Hammond is a widely sd
vertised town. One can always pick
81
Hammond. whether you arc in Denver
or Pittsburgh but 1t is generally
something which shouldn't happen in
stead OF something that ought 10 hap
pen. Get constructive news circulated
about your town, not destructive.
Hammond has no more faults than the
average town OF its size.
HE SEES CITY HALL.
II notice It Is growing fast ana
putting on airs OF civic importance. It
must be energetic or II would not
grow. 1t has generally good streets.
saw the fire department make a run
and your motorized hre equipment
shows class. Your city hall and po-
lice station Is positive crime but
your public buildings are a credit 70
: the city. Your street car servics
should be improved NJ trip to East
Chicago aae back was like riding IN
: cattle car and your women and chit
drcn shouldn't have 20 stand FOR It.
Hammond's physical appearance IS
really marred b. the railroads cutting
through the heart of the town and
your main streets are far too narrow.
What are your children and your chill
dren's children going to do with
street congestion problems? Why
stead OF tackiing 1t now?
ADMIRES THE FACTODIEs.
"Your city has a great asset in rs
numerous splendid factories. They
are remarkable for their variety. You
don't know how lucky you are 70 have
a diversity and not to depend on uGe
rubber industry alone or the steel in
dustry. Your people appear progress
sive and prosperous. ! see no poverty
and business seems to be good. You
have a splendid lot OF looking stores
and their stocks appear as up-to-date
as any that You see in the metropole ses
Of the country. You evidently sup
port them we'll or they couldn't ap-
pear 70 be so prosperous While walk
lnx BY your department stores today
I noticed a number Of idle young men
and girls walking back and forth. Up
on inquiry was told that they were
picketing the stores and ha.n been do
ing il for three months in an effort
70 get citizens to boycott the stores
because OF differences with the pro-
prietors-
NOT 4 FREE PEOPLE.
so you see your city Isn't free
city. Because Of the differences be-
tween the pickets and the proprierors'
differences that probably have been
magnihed your people are not free
TO go in those stores and buy things
that they need and want to buy. That
hurts business and sets back every
body concerned. Boyeotts are nasty
things never saw q boycstt yet
that did anybody any good. But of
course that's Hammond's business and
not mine" and Mr.. Thurston struck
match for his cigar had gone out.