The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1908-12-31
City HAS ENJOYED
Of MARKED
Il PROGRESS
NJ MUNICIPAL DEPARTMENTS
!, HAVE GREATLY INCREASED EFF.
REGENCY AND 1909 OPENS
WITH TREASURY FULL.

detroit enters upon the year 1909
N1kh strong-box full OF cash and n
lv<0rd OF having made many steps
r ard progress In a municipal way
"a ring the year past.
Y debt OF the city has been kept
In accordance with the rules OK
4st and the new year finds debt
" S1,SlS.lS0.59, which, with de-
"a OF speciai assessment debts,
a net debt OF 6,lS7 ,350.44.
re Is ifdw in the banks which
ne city funds the sum OF $3,14i.-
w n cash, OF which $l2S,00O belongs
sinking fund. In addition TO
t The city has S2.6T2,690 Of secur-
tn the sinking fund stronghold,
lat the city could almost pay of
ebts at par were that necessary
IAN. /.
airing the year many notable addi-
<ipne were made in public works. The
p9x1Ag and sewerage OF the city were
greatly improved and several public
Ouiidings erected.
\ The most notable of these are the
Belle Isle casino, which was thrown
oflt,n last spring, and the bath house
- The island playground. which is
On being completed. New schools to
nc tumber of three were completed
oripg the year. and Ave additions to
1n<ls finished, vhile the Cass high
&oel. the ADDITION 10 the Eastern
N - Aschool and the three new schools
Md two additions are In process OF
t<xetruction
The police department was largely
in6 based and new station built in
thSa extreme eastern portion OF the
cits. The fire commission also built
G<esral new engine houses TO protect
tkkra,uter portions of the city, while 4
n&N1 automobile engine and an in
tfeJvse. In the number Of flremen give
fGrfner s,romise Of better fire protec-
%V(,public lighting commission be-
vc work of replacing It's old ma
and it's system Of lights was
Increased during the year. y
unicipal bath house was opened
~ for the benefit OF the people
tpst AIDE and its great patron
vltieAtes7 that IL relieved public
| naunicipal asphalt plant was in.
$500 ~ caV cftN SO hat II achieved
4 4 accord feat OF laying $4,000
/ Are sya.rds of asphalt pavement in
A456aboh3 and at "A much lower cost
~ suca paving had ever been lail
Khe ciy for before.
;t1,ean new sewerage system for
II &xtreme western portion OF the
scA >Sas begun, but the intercepting
nj TO serve the eastern portion
ofk1 city is not yet started. owing
toi hire TO get site for a pumping
y T4iwater board began great plan
an peased service which will be car
tfeX Iut on the scope OF providing
ppsa water for very much larger
bsM n than the present city. Its new
AZ AIN have already made a great dif'
fcf&ki M{the pressure.
-Yzxnev paving in the city amounts
to 1fES959 miles. or this 9.2l54 miles
srels0 cedar. 1927 are OF brick. .6267
OF ssSfhalt and SSH OF cresoted block.
Ofth5t G. 5545 miles OF reDaving. 2.40
miles are OF brick. 3S29 miles OF as
pbafkhnd .S18 miles OF cresoted block.
or All Is. 200 miles OF resurfacing OF
80 1928 miles are of brick, 5.495
kuf asphalt. .7SS miles 81 cresoted
VI 1868 miles of cedar and 600
)f block stone.
fotal of all the paving. repaving
S$xurfacing is 36.157 miles.
mcity has ordered the building
d eement walks, in addition TO
ksWtgid voluntarily by property
MnX~ The city gangs and contract.
~ I've built 1859 square feet OF
<net Alks, 1865 square feet OF ce-
mpS intersections an6 repaired 3,5S4
unt kfeet Of crosswalks.
- Ne the year the separation OF
her OF railroad grade crossings
western side OF the city has
i fe safer in those localities. The
I'm ut Vinewood and Scotch.
fe the most impor ant ones of