The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1922-10-23
Cd.
IS SEEKING
FORMATION
Commerce Chambers Ask
About Jones and Laugh
lin Plant
CBULLETIN

eu upon lin at Crown Point ON
saturday concerning the legal title
to u b m & d land, which vax
brought 10 the attention of the state
when the East Chicago Co, aftempf-
ed 70 dispose of tIistract TO tba
Jones and LRughIin steel Co., thai
ne would take action AT once to re-
lease this properly for saIo
In a concerted effort, the Cham
oers of Commerce of East Chicago.
whiting and Hammond arc now de-
manding that no obstacles be placed
In the way of Jones and IauxhItr
steel Co. plant eocating here. II
these civic bodies are xuccex.frt
this submerged land will be offered
for sale by the state to the highest
bidder.
Lake county is beginning to ask
WHY the Jones and Laughlin Steel
company real estate deal is being
delayed
Writings Commercial club in a
heated session asked WHY?
East Chicago's and Hamrnond.s
Chambers Of Commerce on Saturday
Other civic, commercial and man
ufacturing organizations in Lake
county are preparing to ask WHY?
CHICAGO WOULD TAKE THE
PLANT
The WHY? has been gaining in
volume since word came that Chi
cago real estate men are working
day and night in an effort to locate
the Jones and Laughlin plant in the
territory south Of the proposed Lake
Calumet harbor. They have assured
the big steel concern that the state
Of Illinois will do everything pos
sible to bring about the Immediate
building OF The steel works
For several months there has been
L delay in closing the Jones and
Laughlin deal The people of Lake
'ounty are be ginning to ask WHY?
Last December, the official an
louncement was made that the
Jones and Laughlin Steel Company
Of Pittsburgh. one OF the largest
independents in the United States.
had purchased and placed under
contract tracts totaIing 1900 acres
the city of East Chicago. upon
which II intended TO erect its west
ern steel plant and Blast furnaces
In making the announcement il was
stated that the closing Of the real
estate deal and the building OF tho
steel works was contingent upon
the passage of certain enabling acts
by the United State the state OF
Indiana. the county of Lake and the
cities of East Chicago and Ham
mond
CONGRESS ACTED AT ONCE
The United States congress almost
Immediately passed an act to enable
the company to proceed with its
plans-authorizin the closing of a
small part Of the wes- branch OF TIE
Indiana Harbor ship canal. This to
permit efficient arrangement of the
manufacturing facilities and devel-
opment OF .he ore docks.
Lake county commissioners gave
their consent to certain necessary
proceedings
East Chicago and Hammond city
governments also Immediately CO.
operated. giving authorization with
respect to certain street arrange
ments and sewer building plans.
But
The state of Indiana is delaying
the game.
GIGANTIC PROJECT INACTIVE
AS a result there is blocked the
greatest industrial enterprise that
has come to the region since the
Gary steel plant was announced in
1906.
If the delay Is prolonged or II 1t \
becomes a snag, then
Lake county may lose a prospee-
tive steel industry that viii employ
thousands of men and add thou
sands to its population.
TAX Loss WOULD BE
TREMENDOUS
The city OF Hammond. the county f
of Lake and the state of Indiana
will lose forever the taxes on an
outside capital investment of be-
tween $50. coo. 900 and s1oo.ooo,oeo.
To the state of Indiana alone this
would mean a tremendous loss in
revenue as any one OF the fair sized
steel plants in Lake county has E
larger assessed valuation than many
Indiana counties. and hence any one
of the steel plants pay into the
state treasury more taxes than sew
eral counties do.
WHITING DEMANDS TO
KNOW WHY
At the meeting Of the Whiting
Commercial club on Friday, evening
the Jones and Laughlin situation
was thoroughly discussed. Speakers
showed how the United States gov
ernment. through a special act OF
congress. the county commissioners
and the city governments Of East
chicago and Hammond had coop
Grated with the Pittsburgh concern
in clearing up obstacles in Its path
Realizing that the prospectiye
steel plant. while within Ham
mond's boundaries. it also touches
the boundaries of whiting and East
Chicago and would add to the de-
evlopment Of the whole region from
Gary TO the state line. he Whit
ing Commercial club voted TO get IN
touch with other organizations in
Lake county in order to determine
why the Jones and Laughlin situa-
ton IS delayed.
MUNCIE. Oct-Patrick Hoban.
printer, is suffering from bruises
and a disloeated shoulder. $ tho