The Lake County times., 1922-01-24
GOOD NEWS
FOR HARBOR
BOOSTERS

state HarbOr at Wolf
Lake and Lake Mich
igan
An important step in the prorres
OF llliana Harbor for Hammond is on
Of the significant news items OF the
days A letter to Major Henry W
Lee, secretary and engineer of ths
Interstate Harbor Commission. from
Cen Lansing II. Beach chief of engi
neers received this morning. enclose
copy OF the official appointment or
Col. Curtis Med. Townsend ass fe,i
eral member of the Interstate HArbo
Commission Of Illinois and Indiana
The ocicial appointment reads a
follows:
War Department
Washington
January 3. 1922
To assist the states OF Illinois
and Indiana N carrying out the
provisions Of acts passed by the
legislatures of those states Great
ing an Interstate Harbor Cons
mission, Colonel Curtis Med
Townsend, Z. S. Army, retired. is
hereby appointed a member of said
Interstate Harbor Commission o.
Illinois and Indiana.
The appointment of Colonel
Townsend involves no obligation
whatever on the part Of the Unite<s
States nor shall his appointments
be regarded in any way as an
acquiescence In or approval of the
plans for said harbor by the Unit
cd States. He will function as a
member OF the commission to as
sist- in making of plans, collection
of date, estimates OF cost, and re
porting of conclusions TO the two
state legislatures.
JOHN W. WEEKS.
Secretary OF War
LANSING H BEACH.
Chief OF Engineers, U s. Army.
The Indiana act creating the com
mission was approved March 10, 1921.
The Illinois act was approved June
IS. 1921. Congressman Wood intro
duced a bill in congress Aug. Q. but
because OF a delay OF several months
in considering the bill. il was decided
to proceed without act of Congress as
the same was mere OF a courtesy than
a necessity.
Accordingly Major Lee made thrre
trips to Washington. finally securing
the appointment of Col Townsend t.
complete the commission. In lfna
with Washington's famous -rocIivjty
for procrastination the appointment
made Jan. was not communicate
to local officials until today.
wORLD'S GREATEST HARRoR.
Wolf Lake as q possible harbor ha,
been discussed ever since Father Mar
quette came through the Calumet reg
ion nearly 250 years ago. 'Harbor"
Knots, one time mayor OF Hammond.
urged the harbor but without result
Since 1908 Major Lee has consistent
~ boosted Wolf Lake harbor in press
on platform. before city councils. civic
bodies state legislature and Con-
gress. At his suggestion [. S. ensi-
neers mad the plan now before the
public.
With the cooperation Of Ma, or
Brown of Hammond. chairman of the
promoting commission, Mayor Schrage
of Whiting. treasurer: Jesse Wilson
epresenting civic bodies and oscar
woln and Aid. Ross Woodruff Of
,hicago. Major Lee, secretary and en-
nineer Of the body, drafted laws for
both states and the interstate boosters
put them through.
with the opening OF the St Lawr
nee waterway the proposed interstate
rarbor will be the port of vessels
nections with 27 railroads and the
lakes-Gulf waterway. to say nothing
Of $50 local factories. will make this
eocal point the busiest crossroads in
the world
Since the harbor plans were an
aeunced in November, 1920. many inn
7ortant industries have secured sites
n Hamm nd and vicinity. notably ths
recent Jones' & Baughnn purchase Of
900 acres Local industries have also
extended their holdings in this section.
he Standard Oil for example.
The proposed harbor's benefit 70
Hammond and vicinity is almost in
cs-4eulable Shipments may be re-
ceived from or sent to any port on
earth in one carrier and at the least
expense. saving thousands of miles of
I3lsTQdI maui. As q SltAiNALT w AtNNA
and canal navigation i will also be Of
a-reat value in connection with carGoes
ound via the Mississippi o. other riv-
srs or canals. Illonis is nov spend
ing s2o.ooo,0o0 in improvements os tho
Lalxes-Gulf waterway and the United
states operate steel barges on the Ms
sissippi.
According to present plans the
United States will build y mile
hreakvater from South C,iiica so across
the whiting shore front Dredging
operations win provide adequate
sopth as far rs the entrance 20 Wolf
Lake. This VIII cost Cnolc Sam from
six to eight millions
The Interstate Earbo- Commission
is expected to construct. maintain ard
operate the terminal facilities Ill Wolf
Lake and Lake Michigan. 1t IS
planned to issue bonds for this pUr-
pest, 10 be retired out os harbor re-
ceipts. Warehouses. railroad tcrnin-l !
.,.,,-,o-f fr.-ts r,frfop sins