The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1921-06-02
COUNCIL
IS IN A
QUANDARY
Councilman Martin Questions
Million For Water Works.

The special meeting OF the Hammond
city council. called last week for the
purpose OF passing on the Ericsson re
port of the water situation, with recon-
mendatons for the Improvements neces-
sary. was the main subject Of discus
sion today at the Chamber of Commerce
luncheon. Alderman Frank Martin.
one Of the three councilmen who voted
against the proposed presenting of a
contract to John Ericsson. consulting en-
gineer OF Chicago. TO oversee the con
struction Of the Hammond water works
improvements as outlined in his re-
port, introduced the subject by explain
ing why he voted as he did
The proposition. as presented by
councilman Martin. was that the coun-
ell went ahead and passed the ordin-
ance without any clear idea Of how
the necessary money was TO be raised
20 defrav the expenses Of ths work.
During the discussion Of the proposed
ordinance. Mr.. Martin asked Alderman
Keeler. chairman Of the finance COM
rn1ttee. how he expected 70 raise the
money. Mr.. keeler replied that he did
not know. The total cost Of the con
struction will amount in the end to
close to a million dollars Realizing
that to issue bonds for the amount, ev-
en- II the credit OF the city would stand
It, would be fatal. the Hammond
Chamber Of Commerce appointed com
n1tttee consisting Of Judge Y. 5. Reit-
er. Dr. Z. S. Jones and W. J. WINERY
70 Investigate and report on the con
dftions under which the water works
were operated. The committees re
port showed that the Hammond water
works Is operating az present under ?
corporation called the Lake city Water
company. which is not functioning. but
whose existence allows the city to keep
its credit while running the water
works virtually es the sole owners,
This suggestion, which was Endorsed
b. the Chamber Of Commerce was pre-
sented to the council that this or 2
similar plan be adopted for the new
water works. in order to keep the cred
II Of the city for any emergency which
might arise. Il was met with ridicule
BY the council. without stopping to
consider where they were 70 set the
money. they voted the expenditure Of
close to a million dollars Members
Of the bodv rose TO their feet and be
rated the Chamber Of Commerce round
~, saying that that body might be a
bunch OF fairly wise birds but they do
not know it all" It IS probiematical
where the city Will get the additional
money 10 oomplete the work after ev-
cry cent Of available credit Is used to
start It.
1t was moved and passed that the
present Chamber committee on the wat
er situation go before the council as
soon as POSSIBLE and present to them
the plan proposed IN their report back
to the body.
Another point brought up at the
meeting involved the Plummer avenue
'rblack belt" In view OF the fact that
over a hundred people have lost their
lives in race riots in Tulsa. Okla. re
Gently. it was suggested that the law
lessness in Plummer avenue district
be kept to A minimum. in order to quel
any such tendency in this city for re
4ailatton on the blacks. There are a
great many Hammond men who have
experienced the solicitation OF negro
women along the street. Promtscuous
gun play. such as took place two days
ago, was also condemned.