The Detroit times., 1908-12-29
SAME
FARE ON THREE AND
5-CENT LINES
ClTY'S PAVING OBLIGATIONS ON
FORMER BRING COST TO TAX.
PAYERS ABOUT LEVEL WITH
THAT ON OTHER SYSTEM.

Commissioner OF Public Works
Haarer does not agree with Corpora
ton Counsel Hally, who has made the
assertion that the difference between
the ad valorem taxation OF the three
cent lines and the specific taxation OF
the five-cent lines, more than makes
up the extra cost TO the city in look
ing after the foundations and paving
OF the three-cent lines.
Does Mr.. Hally remember that the
city had practically nothing 10 pay
for the foundations and repair OF the
three-cent lines for years and that II
is just in the last few years that TINS
cost is coming In at a rapidly increas-
ing rate?" says Haarer. Any com
pilation that shows the cost OF fixing
up the three-cent lines as spread over
all the time since the lines were built
Is unfair since IL is only in the last
few years that the track work has
gone To pieces.
Does he remember that we have
had to renew the pavement on Bagg'
ST. to Fourteenth-ave. and all the way
out Fourteenth-ave. TO the boulevard?
Does he recall the sums we have had
to spend on Adams-ave. and Hastings
ST and along the Crosstown line?
Does he realize what il cost the city
to put I'm foundations and lay paving
all the way out Oakland-ave? Does
he know that we must put new found
atoms under Beaublen-st. and Abbott
and Howard-sts? Does he recall the
cost of the Kercheval-ave. extension
10 the city?
I'VE are having to do work all over
the three-cent system now. and the
people Of Detroit do not understand
what an expense 1t is becoming. We
have had 10 repair the pavement on
Clifford-st. three times the past sea-
son and only an appropriation for new
foundations will Ak that street up In
satisfactory manner.
II do not know yet how much
shall ask for this coming season for
the three-cent lines, but II will be a
lot OF money. Replacing OF founda-
tons and laying OF pavements be-
tween the tracks Is very expensive
proposition Why, the ID. Z. X. has
spent nearly million dollars the
past year in its paving work and 1t
has as much to do In 1909 to put the
lines In proper shape.
The taxation system on the two
lines is very different. On the three
cent lines, the company pays the reg
ular city tax on 100000 of personal
property, in addition TO the regular
taxes on real estate. while S2,1OO,OO0
OF franchise value is taxed for county
and state purposes but not by the
city.
On the five-cent lines the company
pays specific tax of per cent on
A af,N- he al I'M ~
the City railway and the ort Wayne
and Elmwood railway. II also pays
specific tax Of so cents a car on all
freight cars, which amounted to ST.
go last year In addition, il pays city
taxes on s650,000 OF personal proper
ty on stub end lines. while $5.100,000
OF personal property and franchise
value on the old lines Is taxed for
state and county purposes only.
Hally still holds TO his contention
as 10 the relative Importance OF ad
valorem taxation as against paving
cost
When the foundations were put
down for the three-cent lines" he ex-
plains. lit was not thought that the
city would ever have to replace them.
or course. the city would not make
such a bargain again as ii did with
the three-cent lines"
{ is the opinion of number OF the
aldermen and other officials that, con
sidering paving costs at the present
time the rates Of fare on the three
cent lines are little less than those
on the five-cent lines. The average
rate OF fare on the three-cent lines is
brought up by the five-cent cash fares,
by the transfer rides at a nickel each.
by the night passengers at six tickets
for quarter and, lastly, by the pres
ent burden of paving cost On the
f,ve-cent lines. for which there is no