The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-02-23
MILLIONS NEEDED
FOR IDEAL STREET
CAR SYSTEM
MAP PREPARED BY o. v. r. Off.
GALS CALLS FOR 46 MILES OF
NEW TRACK AND RE-RoUTlNG
OF MANY LINES.

That millions OF dollars worth OF
now tracks and equipment Will be re-
CURED to place the street railway sys'
TEN OF Detroit In ideal condition was
shown by the map presented by the
ID. u. Il. officials TO the extensions
committee of the Committee Of SO
Monday afternoon. Thiss calls for
about 46 miles OF new tracks. which
win cost from $4,000 to $4,000 per
mile for foundations, tracks. electri-
cal equipments. cara. etc.
In making its map, the ID. u. X. has
not abandoned single piece Of its
present trackage, asking only addi-
tional rights to build new lines and
extension. In this respect II differs
from the Vernon map, which was laid
out TO give the best arrangements
for tearing up many miles OF the
present tracks.
Neither map quite suits DR.. Car
stems, head OF the committee. and
after another meeting, wednesday. at
which all sides will be heard. the
committee will prepare its own map.
The particular points raised by DR..
Carstens are that the Vernon plan OF
having cars cross Woodward-ave. In
only one direction at each crossing
should be retained. that the Mack
and Myrtle lines should be Joined as
crosstown loop and that some OF
the tracks between Gratiot and JEFF
ferson-aves. should be removed.
He also favors having the line
which both Vernon and the d. U. X.
officials place on Horton and LOthrop-
ayes. placed on Baltimore-ave., this
being made possible by opening a
short stretch OF Milwaukee-ave. from
Lincoln to Holden-aves. Such a
change would give better service to
the factory district along the railroad
on both sides OF Woodward-ave.
Not only Is large additional track
age called for In the d. U. r. plans,
but also a complete re-routing OF many
lines. The Trumbull line. for in
stance, would run east TO Van Dyke.
and north on that street to the city
limits. thus giving new east-side
route 10 Belle Isle and the factories
west OF Belle Isle bridge.
Among the changes proposed by
the ID. U. r. are crosstown line
parallel with the north boulevard:
another crosstown line on High.
Winder, Henry and Locust-sts.: and
extention OF the present crosstown
line out Forest-ave. and its extension
TO Jefferson-ave. by way OF loop on
Mcclellan and Pennsylvania-aves..
thus giving a new route to the wa
ter works; extension OF the Third
line out Hamilton boulevard, double
track: q north and south line on
Junction-ave. and Thirtythird and
Thirty-fourth.sts.; extension OF the
Myrtle line on Ash. Vinewood and
Buchanan: looping OF the Chene line
on Grand and JOS. Campau-aves.; re-
arrangement of the Brush and Hast
ings lines with new tracks on Russell
and Rivard-sts., and factory loop on
Clay and Holbrook-aves. extension OF
the Dix line to Baby creek and dou-
ble-tracking OF Michigan-ave. to the
limits; extension OF the Mack and
Kefcheval lines to st. Jean-ave.: a
new line out McGraw-ave.
The Brush cars under the new ar
rangement would run out Oakland
ave to the limits. while the Hastings
and Russell cars would run out 10 the
factory loop mentioned above.
I'VE must get our work done so
that the other committees In figur-
ing cost Of running the system, can
know just what the system Will be, 1"
said DR.. Carstens I'VE must lay out
system now that will last for 25
years at least without rearrange-
ment."
In many places the committee
found that injudicious plating by
greedy property-owners who wanted
in years past TO cut their acreage into
as many lots as possible, has made
1t almost impossible to lay out car
lines properly. This aroued the good
doctor to the point where he de-
nounced such real estate men as them
diabolical fellers."
IF this were Paris or some such
European capital. expense would not
be counted and avenues would be cut
through where they were needed"
asserted Frank Dancer. OF the com
mittee.
w. w. Hannah, who Is one OF the
committee. declared that the fact
must be borne In mind that Detroit
men do not like to live too close TO
their place of employment and that
this tendency calls for more car SER
vice than would ordinarily be requir-
"a q, 81 nP thic ci1a