The Detroit times., 1909-05-18
ALDERMEN MORE
OPEN TO REASON
Likely to Negotiate With Ferry Co.
For Resumption Of Service
to Belle Isle.

An inclination among the aldermen
to negotiate with the Detroit. Belle
Isle & Windsor Ferry Co. Tor an equit.
able settlement OF the differences be
tween the company and the city was
noticeable Tuesday morning A NUM-
Der OF the aldermen who voted 10 turn
down the company's request to cut out
one-way fares when the matter was up
before have given the question more
mature consideration and are open 10
conviction now.
Mayor Breitmeyer will send the fol-
lowing communication 70 the common
council tonight.
To the Honorable the Common Coun-
ell:
GentIemen-I herewith transmit To
from Walter h. Campbell. president
and general manager OF the Detroit.
Belle Isle d Windsor Ferry Company,
In response to an inquiry from me as
TO just what the city might expect In
the matter OF the institution OF ferry
service to Belle Isle this summer. Mr..
Campbell says that his company has
given its reasons for not starting ser
vice this year in detail 10 the ordI-
nance committee.
1t seems TO. be the case. however. that
no definite plan of action has been
fixed upon by the common council. The
season Is advancing. and In fairness
to the people OF the city Ii seems to
me that your honorable body should
make some final disposition OF the dis
pute with the ferry company, and
would respectfully suggest that the
matter be taken up and settled in ac-
cordance with your best Judgment at
the earliest possible moment.
Respectfully submitted.
PHILIP BREITMEYER.
Mayor.
The letter from Mr.. Campbell TO
which the mayor refers, says: The
ferry company is and always has been
park. provided II is permitted to do SO
faction of the public The necessity
OF some change in the present ord.
nance has been apparent to the Off.
GERS OF the. company for some time and
the reasons for this have been given
in detail TO the committee on ord
nance of the common council"
Herman F. link. president of the
common council, says: II do not like
TO see the boats pulled off the island
service, but there are two sides to be
considered There is no doubt that
the city has had good service and at
e
rides are certainly worth ten cents to
those who take them. But the Ques'
ton comes up as to whether Ii Is
right to make the man who rides only
enc way pay 10 cents for the privl-
lege. IL rs per cent OF the people
take the pleasure rides, then the will
OF the majority and their convenience
should control"
AID. Grindley favors the system of
giving limited one-way tickets which
may be sold for 10 cents and redeemed
for five sents within a limited time at
the other end of the route. They
say that they want to get rid Of the
checkers on the boats" says Grindley.
This plan would put the checkers OH
land and would allow Of less employees
than the company now has"
There is no other city that has
such water service" says Aid. Trevor.
Il appreciate that, but the uncomprom-
Using attitude of the ferry company and
its unwillingness to come in and rea-
son the matter out are enough 10 get
ones Irish up. The benefit of the
ferry boat service cannot be over-es-
timated. though. l realize that II has
meant the saving Of hundreds OF lives
In the extremely hot weather. Mothers
have been able to take their babies out
on the cool river when they will Ill
and the little ones have recovered"
Il am open to conviction" says Aid.
Allan. "A great many people have
come to me and told me that they
wanted to see the boats running
again. But we want fair deal from
the ferry COMPANY"