HAMMOND, Ind., was first organized as i a town in 1883 and in 1884 became a city. It is located in the extreme northwest corner of Indiana, bordering over seven miles upon the Indiana-Illinois State line and two miles on Lake Michigan. It is immediately connected with the city of Chicago, and is bounded on the east and northeast with the cities of East Chi cago and Whiting, Ind. First a packing-house town, the location of the Hammond Company, numerous other industries have taken its place —such as steer works, railway car and locomo tive works, railway appliances, distilling, etc. The F. S. Betz Company, manufacturers of sur gical instruments, is the largest of the kind in the world. The W. B. Conkey Printing and Publishing Company is the largest printing and publishing establishment in the United States outside of the government printing office at Washington. The Grand Calumet River passes through the city. This stream is navigable and empties into Lake Michigan at South Chicago, Ill. Both sides of the river are lined with in dustries of various kinds. The Indiana Harbor
Canal connects the river with Lake Michigan, thus affording a harbor on Lake Michigan in Indiana, as well as at the mouth of the river in Illinois. One of the chief distinctions of Hammond is its railroad facilities, hav ing 14 trunk lines and three belt lines. Each of the belt lines connects with every railroad running in and out of Chicago. There are interurban nterurban lines connecting the city with Chicago, Whiting, East Chicago, Indiana Har bor, Gary and other cities in northern Indiana. The city is rapidly developing its banking and financial interests. It is the location of the Lake Superior Court, which is one of general jurisdiction. Hammond has five beautiful parks and an admirably equipped public library, excel lent public schools, in addition to Catholic and Protestant establishments, and is well supplied with churches. It is governed by a mayor and council. Pop. 25,000.