The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1921-03-26
tContinucd)


plus the cost Of tahe proposed memorial
park. Will place the citys Indebtedness
beyond. by a number OF thousands of
dollars OF what It is possible under The
constitutional limitation Of two per cent,
computed on the valuation OF city prop
erty. To hoat bonds In a sufficient sum
to provide for this indebtedness. This
statement Is based on the foundation l
obtained from Mayor Brown. who un-
doubtedly is qualified 10 give facts and
figures. relative 10 the matter in hand.
But the promoters OF this memorial
PARK project put up the argument that
the enterpris SO VIII take care of its own
indebtedness by the proceeds derived
from its patronage. and that 1t will not
cost the city q penny This may sound,
on tho face OF IT, ike a very plausible
argument, but after all. IT is purely
speculative and predetermined. How
ever admitting that il would pay for it
self, that Is not the vital point. which is,
that the city must secure the payment
Of this debt by issuing bonds to cover
the cost and TO do this. will. IN my
Judgment. seriously Interfere with the
proposed improvement Of our water sys-
TEN. which is vital TO the interests Of
every man, woman and child OF the city
Even as II is, the Improvement 10 the
water system under the consideration.
does not give us all that we should have
but is good az it goes, and viii undoubt-
eddy be greatly appreciated by the Peo~
pie.
We should not only have an increased
water supply. but cleaner and purer
water. If altering plant is out of the
question, then by all means. the water
intake. which, I understand is scarce
ly out q mile from the shore line should
be extended at least. an additional mile.
This. of course would incur a large ad-
ditionaI expense But this should have
the right of way above every other pro-
ject. involving q large expenditure OF
moRey. Then. where is there any good
common sense in putting an additihoal
burden upon the CITY when il IS entire
ly uncalled for.
On the evening OF this council session.
during tho discussion OF this subject,
one of the speakers went SO far as to
state that ne had inside information to
the ecect that the County Commissioners
had already on foot plan TO erect q
County Memorial at the expense Of a
million dollars. and that il was neces-
sary that this city project be launched
first, in order that we might be exempt
from taxes that would be levied 10 meet
this expense. Now I made It my bust
ness to interview one or the County
Commissioners in regard TO this state
nent. and he said 10 me that there was
no movement OF that kind. even under
discussion at any of their meetings. not
only that. but such project had not ev-
en- been mentioned. so far as he knew.
and that he had been present at all Of
the regular meetings. This wild state
ment OF the speaker in question, must
have been the creation Of an overheated
and expanded Imagination.
The promoters of this sch eme have re
sorted to every bit Of strategy at their
command to put this scheme through.
They went so far as 20 appoint a special
meeting at the Chamber OF Commerce.
especially for the ex-serviec men. hoping
in this way to arouse their enthusiasm
n favor Of the enterprise but the meet
ing proved TO be a fiat failure. Even
hand and stirring music failed to attract