The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-05-04
SAYS CITY SHOULD
SOON PLAN SUBWAY
Necessary To Provide For Future,
Warns Committee On Extensions
in Report To Fifty

Il am very proud 10 have heard
something from this committee" said
!, Mayor Breitmeyer in Monday night 5
1 meeting OF the Committee of Fifty.
IN the council chamber--the first gen
gfai meeting held in several weeks.
|. The newspapers have gwen the I'M
preston that the committee was
|. asleep, but l think the reports sub
mitfed show the contrary. | hope YOU
: will continue the good work as start
. ID"
About 40 OF the members were pres
emit and listened to the reading OF re-
ports from the committee on extern
sions, the committee on taxation and
raving and the special committee APP
pointed to investigate the Cleveland
! situation. The committee on statistics
will be reSdy TO submit It's report In
two weeks. Chairman F. c. Van
Husan, OF Of the committee on APP
praisals, -sAid he would require at
: least 90 days additional time in which
!, TO formulate his report. This report
will constitute the basis OF any set
Element the city may make with the
Detroit United railway aud the task
OF gathering reliable and accurate data
was n huge one, Mr.. Van Husan point
ed out
or the reports submitted that of DR..
Carstens' committee on extensions
and Encouragement OF lines was the
most interesting BY way Of supple
ment to the reportp' roper the COM
mittee suggested that the city should
provide for the future by forming now
the nucleus OF a subway. II was
TOD hot nj Re IN M
2 development. Detroit will have a pop
X ulation of 100000 in 10 years, and
/ any settlement of the street car ques-
! ton should be made with that con-
/. tingency always in view, IN the COM
mittee's opinion.
! The subway plan, as briefly outlined
BY the committee would be a great
step In the direction OF municipal OWL
} ership.
1T would be the entering wedge"
/. said DIR. Carstens, after the meeting.
i 1.-THE subway would necessarily have
; to be constructed by the city. and the
tracks could be leased 10 the COM
! pany offering the best proposition.
In this connection the report has to
say:
3, 1T is imperative 10 form now the
4 nucleus of subway, for In no other
way can we contribute so inuc hto the
rapid growth and development Of the
city. The subway system should be
constructed and owned by the city
and leased at fair rental 10 whatever
company 10 for the time being, oper-
ating the street car lines. or until such
time as the city is ready 10 take over
the entire street car system
Chicago and Boston began their
subway construction by building a
short central subway with outlets in
various directions. This seems to be
the logical process of construction,
as the subways can be readily extend
ed In such directions and at such
times as the needs Of the city de-
mand
Detroit. while not as large as other
cities where subways are in operation,
must nevertheless give this matter OF
the construction OF subway in the
immediate future, as a relief for cen
trial congestion, serious present con-
alteration"
II was pointed out that the absence
OF heavy grades would materially re-
duce the cost OF construction as conf
pared to the cost in other cities.
The committees plan for the rear
n
1 face lines has already been published
She plans. if carried out. will increase
the total trackage for city service from
195.746 miles to 270.179 miles.
In the performance OF its work. says
the report, the committee kept in view
the following objects: To secure as
many double tracks and as few loop
4 lines as possible; to secure an even
and fair distribution OF service; 10
render all educational institutions and
manufacturing centers easy of access:
20 make II possible for person board
ing car in any part OF the city 10
reach any other part by the most dia
rect route and In the shortest time
possible. and to relieve congestion of
trafiic I'm the center Of the city by d.
yerting II in other directions.
The plan. IL adopted. will make
necessary the widening of some
streets and the opening OF others for
short distances.
The report of the committee on
taxation and paving. OF which Melvin
Henry Is chairman, is a most volumi-
nous AFFAIR. IL shows In detail all
taxes OF every nature paid by the COM
pany In the city as well as In tic
townships through which IL operates
from Jan. I, 1900 to Dec. 81, 1908. The
committee promises TO submit, at the
earliest possible moment. a further
y report as TO the expenditures by the
I, city for paving on the old Detroit Rail
way lines. In this report the commit
I. tee will also give its Judgment as to
! the most equitable form OF taxation
4 for street railway system operated
/ by private ownership should such
method of operation be determined
I Upon"
I The total taxes paid by the COM
( ,any for the period mentioned arc
1 summarized as follows: 1901, $10S.
/ Si7.4s: 1902. s117.44934: 1903. $780,
1 so2.s5: 1904, s13S.535.49: 1905, s122,
I 767. 39: 1906. s12S.112.97: 1907. $751;
s21.4s; 1908, sf37.122.53.
r. A. Smart submitted the report OF
4 the special committee, headed by
Z prank Danger, which investigated the
situation in Cleveland Several mem
+ hers OF the Fifty eomplimented the
}, subcommittee on care and fairness
Z nhown in compiling it's report.
. The committee found that under
4 The leadership of Tom l.. Johnson
4 Cleveland for several years has been
u a. ~ v.,idaf az constant agitation re-