The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-06-12

"fmPatfehee- is beginning to be felt
by the business community Of Detroit
with regard 10 the stubborn stand
taken by the common council which
prevents a settlement by which ferry
service 10 Belle Isle would be resum-
ed. Not only Is the lack OF water
transportation to the city's great play.
ground a hardship upon the people
generally. but one Of the chief attrac-
tions of Detroit as a summer residence
and convention city Is being lost
Among a number OF business men
consulted by The Times with regard to
making an arrangement for this season
by which the ferry service would be
again put on, the council being free
meantime to negotiate tor a different
rate OF fares next. season, not one but
felt that the city would be the gamer
by truce for this season.
The general expression was that,
while the citizens who feel that they
do not want to pay for round-trip or
pleasure ride tickets, would not have
TO use the ferries unless they wanted
10, the present deadlock prevents the
vastly larger proportion OF the inhab-
!tants who want the ten-cent service
from any pleasure on the river. A
temporary settlement on tho COM
pany's terms would harm no one.
while the deadlock hurts everyone, In
the opinion OF most Of those consulted.
I'VE should get the ferry service for
this year on any fairly reasonable
terms" says Charles Ducharme, Of
the Michigan Stove works. The EN-.
ployes OF this plant particularly re-
quire the river service on account OF
their warm employment. Car service
on the lines running to Belle Isle
bridge has already been heavily tax
ed and the condition In this regard is
bound to grow worse as the season
grows warmer. we have the park
there and should get the benefit OF 1t.
The people OF the city would not be
inconvenience SO much II the Ques-
ton were taken up later for final set.
Element. Competition will bring al
most anything about, and it might
very well be that by next year we
should have service at lower rates"
william OWdflL, Oh the IlOitl Odu-
lilac, voices the feeling OF the hotel
men when he says: 1T is shame
that We do not get the ferry service.
We ought TO get It right away. The
town is full OF strangers during the
summer. and they have all heard of
the beauties OF the Detroit river and
Belle Isle, and want to enjoy them.
Losing the ferry service is detri-
ment to the city. | think The Times
is entirely right on the question. The
council ought TO take its fights up in
the winter when the business of the
city would not be damaged"
THE best thing for the city to do
now is to let the ferries run this sea
son at the rate of fare asked" states
d. NJ. Ireland, OF Ireland &c Matthews,
another large industrial concern. A
new contract can be made for next
year, il that seems best, but we ought
not to be without service 10 Belle Isle
this year"
IL think both parties to the discus
ton are rather stubborn" states Fred
B. Smith, president OK the Wolverine
Manufacturing Co. But the people
of the city are entitled to the service.
Many people have spoken to me about
the matter. The summer is no time
to fight out this scrap. There Is the
long winter to do it In. In this case
the city Is In the position OF big
corporation driving a bargain; II the
price asked a Corporation for materials
is high, the company does not smut
down its plants, but takes the best
terms IL can for the time being and
looks around for better terms later.
II the city would accept the ferry
company's terms temporarily and then
give notice that II will receive bids
for ferry service on and after a GER
tain date, 1t would give us the service
we need now and have tendency TO
make the company ready to accept
fair terms for next year"
Thomas Hunter, OF Hunter & Hun
ter. feels as do most men who en-
ploy a large number of people. that
the people of the city generally are
the sufferers by present conditions.
"a deadlock Is the last thing we
want he says. "The public demands
the boats. IL seems to me that the
ferry companys terms are not unrea.
, gonable IL they are, let us make the
bargain for this season only and have
another deal for next year"
One OF the aldermen who has voted
with the ordinance committee so far
declares that the people OF his locality
favor resumption OF service and that,
n the company's terms were fully UNI
derstood, he believes that most OF
these residents would be willing to
accept them.
Lots of people think that the COM
many wants to charge ten cents each
way to and from Belle Isle" he says,
while. as a matter of fact, the propo-
aition Is that ten cents be charged
for round.trip tickets. The only peO-
nile who would be affected are those
who occasionally want TO ride only
one way for a nickel. Why. some OF
the aldermen even do not understand
end think that The company Is asking
for a ten-cent fare each way"
PaIazzolo Bound over.
Salvatore PalazZOlo, alleged to be a