The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1921-08-12
REPAIR SHOPS
CLOSE DOWN
ON MONDAY
Railroad Co. Finds 1t Can Hire
Work Cheaper In Other
Shops

Al industry which seemed about ~
le iost to the Calumet region at time
Ve hcn employment conditions would
make It's loss most keerly felt has
been rescued through the Intervention
o5 the United Boiler Heating s Fcun-
dry Co. Of Hammond.
Monday the bsg locomotive repair
hops al Gibson closed down and the
word was given out that the Indiana
IIaroor Belt Railroad Co.. henceforth
contract its repair work instead Of
maintaining iJs own shops Unaer
present conditions, Ii was said. the
company found that It could hire TIE
work cheaper IN other shops than un-
der the cid plan.
Since then only few out of the
force which frequently ran as high as
$50 and 400 men have been retained
n the plant. These men have been
making only emergency repairs Ar
rangements had already been made for
sending the bulk OF the heavy work 10
several Of the lars railroad contract
shops in this part ST the country
Then the United Boiler Heating <
Foundry Co. ~ Hammond made its
proposition. Charles Nan president
and manager Of the company wHo was
AZ one tirle general foreman Of she
Gibson shops on hearing of tbs shut-
down conceived the idea Of leasing Tho
railroad conpany's plant and doine
locomotive repair work not only for
The I. II E but for other lines pass
ing through the Calumet region
Last night before leaving for Wash
ing;on, George Hannauer. vice presi-
dent and general manager Of the I
the deal had been completed and that
the shops and equipment are Is be un-
der the management of the Hammond
Arm. He said that he Understood the
holders Of the lease would be ready
to take charge next Monday
The Indiana Harbor Belt Railroad
Company has found il Impossible .o
make repairs at the Gibson shops as
eheaply as It was able to contract the
work elsewhere hence the shop was
shut down said NIr Hannauer
Mr Nau, president "a the United
Boiler Heating & Foundry Co. of
Hammond. who was a general fore
man at Gibson shops for years. ex-
pressed the conviction that he could
50 organize the Gibson shops that il
could do the work ia competition with
any plant. The management has de-
cided to give him that opportunity.
and viii turn the shops and round
house over to the United Boiler Heat
ing & Foundry Co. on Aug Is
The United company VIII operate
this shop the same as it does Its pres
ent plant II viii have the night 10
take on repair work for others besides
the Indiana Harbor Belt company. II
viii bid on the heavy repair work of
the railroad company ~ competition
with other locomotive repair shops.
Mr. Neu seems sanguine that un-
der this plan he can not only bring
new repair work e Hammond but
that eventually he can do all os the
locomotive work Of the railroad com
Dany at Gibson shops whereas much
~ it has heretofore been sent else
where Tor repairs"
The Gibson shops are the largest
and 6est equipped a this part Of the
country Chicago has only two plants
which approach their capacity. when
running at peak the plant required
from $50 70 400 men and it is said thar
= sufficient contracts can be landed
this force can be increased to close to
500. For a long time the j. IL B
has been sending fully half Of its lo-
comotivss 70 other shops for repairs.