The Detroit times., 1909-01-15
50 MILES OF NEW
TRACK NEEDED FOR
VERNON PLAN
PRINCIPAL FEATURE OF LATEST
SOLUTION OF TRACTION PROB
LEMIs RE.RouTINo OF LINES
SOME CHANGES PROPOSED.

notably. Some OF Mayor Breitmeyer's
friends are inclined to think that Yer
nor has been rather presumptuous In
presenting an ordinance before the
committee OF so has had chance to
get at the facts as TO operating cost or
street railways.
Vernon, however. intends TO bring
his ordinance before the Breitmeyer
committee as draft to work along
when il has gained the necessary III
formation to work with II is by no
means a new idea with him, as he out
lined the plan, now put in concrete
form. year and half ago. It's
principal idea is OF re-routing or the
street railway lines so as to carry
the passengers at the lowest cost.
The course OF Vernor's work Is
shown In seven large maps which hang
IN his Woodward-ave. Office. He first
took the lines whose franchises have
expired or will expire In 1909 and 1910.
and traced them upon a map. Then
he traced the lines the franchises or
which expire In 1915, 1924 and other
years on another map. which proved
conclusively that the d. U. X. sub
urban cars could be brought into the
city only by roundabout lines after the
expiration OF the main franchises.
A third map shows the streets which
will be available for a new system
after June, 1910. A fourth map shows
the new trackage that would be
available for new system after June.
1910. A fourth map shows the new
trackage that would be necessary to
make working street railway system
in opposition to the three-cent lines
and stub-end lines which the ID. u. K.
would have remaining A fifth map
shows the ideal system In case the
n U. r. accept the franchise, another
map the new trackage the ID. u. *.
would require and the last map Is a
combination to show the ideal system
with the old lines and new ones In
different colors.
To complete the ideal system, re-
routed, the d. U. r. would have to
build about so miles OF new trackage.
but much OF the material for this
would come from abandoned lines.
Thinks System Would Pay.
There Is no doubt In my mind but
that this new system could be operated
at a good profit at three-cent fares"
says Vernon There would be d.
vision OF expenses so that the Detroit
lines would pay only their proper.
t,onate share OF running the system.
IF the ID. L. r. Is not willing to
accept such franchise as this II
would be for one OF two reasons:
Either they would not be satisfied with
per cent on the actual investment or
they do not fear competition. AS 10
the latter, think that there are
capitalists who would be willing TO
take up the proposition, possibly the
same men who were behind the Peo-
pies Railway Co. offer some time ago.
IF the d. u. r. officials feel that
they cannot run the lines according TO
this franchise, II would be up to them
to suggest notifications as to rates
of fare or as to routing. | would not
expect all the lines Of the ideal sys-
tenn to be built at once"
Vernon has a firm idea that the In.
viting OF competition to bid on tho
franchise would stir up the ID. u. r.
to act, inasmuch as this city Is the
center Oh tut WIlOlt IL ". II. SybttHl,
and the interurban and freight bust
ness depends upon holding a strong
position here The d. U. r.. he ad-
mits. Is In a better position to make
an offer than competing line would
be, owing to It's already having its
tracks down In the streets.
The Vernon plan provides for a new
rorth and south crosstown line In the
west end along Junction and Scotch
ayes and also for an east-end north
and south loop line. taking in Van
Dyke and one other avenue TO be de.
cided upon. There would be new
north-end crosstown line parallel TO
the boulevard and connecting the Mil
waukee Junction factory district with
the west side of the city direct The
Sherman line and the portions OF the
Fourteenth line running on Henry and
Bagg-sts. would be pieced together to
form another crosstown line which
would be extended so as to pass both
the eastern and western markets
Would Abandon Some Lines.
The lower end OF the Sherman line
downtown would be done away with
and one of the lines north OF and
parallel to Jefferson-ave. would also
GO. The western end of the Sherman
line would be brought across the cen
ter OF the city on Elizabethst. and
Adams-ave. to connect with some other
line. The lower portion OF the Brush
st. line would also go. The map shows
Encouragement OF the present lines
that would make them more direct
and piece the ends together very diff.
ferently. while number OF extensions
and new loops would serve portions OF
the city which have inadequate service
now and some streets which now have
car lines would be returned to ordinary
trafflc.
The Third line would be extended 10
the city limits as loop on Hamilton
boul. and Third-ave.. while a new loop
IS provided for on Roosevelt.ave. AID
Tillman or Twenty-third-sts.
All through the plan allows for
single track rather than double track
lines. Cars would cross Woodward.
ave In only one direction at Congress
Fort. Monroe and Statests.
One important feature OF the ordin-
ance. which would be likely 10 meet
with strong opposition on the part OF
the traction company. is that which
provides that all earnings over Z per
cent and all betterments constructed
out OF the profits OF the lines should
revert 10 the city. This would give the
city an increasing interest in the lines
and a fund piling up at interest 10
assist In the purchase OF the line at