The Detroit times., 1909-01-01
CITY HAS ENJONU
YEAR OF Markell
PROGRESS
n,,c,.Ai DEPARTMENTS
HAVE GREATLY lNCHeAoIo
rlcleNcY AID 1909 OPENS
WITH TREAuRY FULL.

Detroit euers upon the year l2V'
with stpng-box fGll Of cash anu
record of having made many step'
orard progress in municipai way
curing the year past. - ban.
The debt OF The city has been KEEP
Town in accordance with the ruies VI
ne past and the new year mus uoo
~ only S7.SIS.1SOJ9, which. WIN ue
tuction OF special assessment ueo'S
caves a net debt OF S6,lSf ,5oo'i+.
There is now in the banks whlcn
,old the city funds the sum OF So.
100 IN cash, OF which Sl2S'ooO Delohs !
N the sinking fund. In adultioh "
nis. the clty mas a2,6'2,o9O Oh SUI
ties in The sinking fund strohsooA
% that The city could almost pay OH
I'll debts at par were thal hecessai'
N Jan. !.
During the year many notaDe auu''
ions were made IN public woiAS' ne
'lying and sewerage Of the CT! were
.reatly improved ana several puDllc
buildings erected.
The most notable of these are the
,elle Isle casino, which @as thrown
men last spring, aud the bath house
A. the island playground, which is
low being completed. New schools to
Inc number of three were completed
during the year, and Ave additions 10
tchools finished, while the Cass high
kchool. the adoitioE To the Eastern
high school and the three new schools
md two additions are In process OF
construction
The police department was largely
creased and a new station built in
ne extreme eastern portion of the
.ity. The Are commission also built
e,eral new engine houses TO protect
ne outer portions of the city. while Z
Jew automobile engine and an in
'rease in the number Of fremen give
further promise OF better fire protec-
ion.
The public lighting commission be-
Fan the work OF replacing its old ma
,1nery, and its system of lights was
realty increased during the year. A
ew municipal bath house was opened
4 July for the benefit OF the people
: the east side and its great patron
h c indicates that 1t relieved "A public
h NJ.
" rhe municipal asphalt plant was In
ased in capacity so chat it achieved
Q record feat OF laying $4,000
uare yards OF asphalt pavement in
{ season. and at much lower cost
o an such paving had ever been laiI
h the city for before.
!. great new sewerage system for
ytreme western portion OF the
: Xas begun, buc the interceptinG
er 10 serve the eastern portion
he city is not yet started. owing
!" failure TO get a site for a pumping
a ion.
~ ne water board began great plan
T.. 1creased service which Will be car
out on the scope Of providing
water for very much larger
~ :. roit than the present city. Its new
! ms have already made great diff
10 ance in the pressure.
u' The new paving in the city amounts
~ 1889 miles. or this 9.2154 miles
:, OF cedar. 1927 are OF brick, .6267
u asphalt and SSH OF cresoted block.
the 6.5545 miles Of repaving. 2.40
res are OF brick, 3.S29 miles OF as.
/. II and .31S miles OF cresoted block.
he 1926 miles OF resurfacing OF
ee>s, 1928 miles are OF brick, 5.495
lies of asphalt, .7SS miles OF cresoted
eek, .563 miles of cedar and .066
lies d, block stone.
The total OF all the paving, repaving
nd resu,facing is 36.157 miles.
The cit. has ordered the building
:, /; 2.913 cement walks, in addition to
nose laid voluntarily by property
wners. TIL, city gangs and contract
LIS have built S9,S69 square feet Of
, ew walks. 1865 square feet OF ce-
nent intersections and repaired 1884
quare feet OF ,rosswalks.
During the year the separation OF
number OF railroad grade crossings
d the western side OF the city has
I sde life safer in those localities. The
: 'paration at Vinewood and Scotch
ires. were the most important ones OF
I e year.