The Detroit times., 1909-05-04
SAYS CITY SHOULD
SOON PLAN SUBWAY
Necessary To Provide For Future,
Warns Committee On Extensions
in Report To Fifty

II am very PROUD To have heard
soc ething from this committee said
Mayor Breitmeyer in Monday nights
meeting Of the Committee OF Fifty,
in the council chamber-vthe first geE'
era; meeting held in several weeks.
The newspapers have gwen the I'M
preston that the committee was
asleep, but | think the reports sub
mitted show the contrary. | hope You
will continue the good work as start
Cd"
About 10 OF the members were pres
ept and listened TO the reading OF re-
ports from the committee on extern
sions. the committee on taxation and
paving and the special committee APP
pointed TO investigate the CLEVELAND
situation. The committee on statistics
will be ready To submit its report In
two weeks. Chairman l.. c. Van
EGsan. OF the committee on ap-
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 and the task
of gathering reliable and accurate data
was huge one, Mr.. Van Husan point
ed out
OF the reports submitted that OF Or.
Carstens committee on extensions
and Encouragement Of lines was the
most interesting. By way OF supple
ment 10 the report proper the com
mittee suggested that the city should
provide for the future by forming now
the nucleus OF a subway. II was
pointed out that, at its present rate OF
development. Detroit will have pop
ulation OF 200. 900 in 10 years, and
any settle ment Of the street car ques-
ton should be made wiki that con-
tingency always in view, N the COM
mittee's opinion.
The subway plan, as briefly outlined
by the committee would De great
step in the direction OF mlnicipal OWL
ership-
1t would be the entering wedge.
said DIR. Carstens. after the meeting.
The subway would necessarily have
10 be constructed by the city. and the
tracks could be leased TO the com
pany Offering the best proposition.
In this connection the report has to
say:
nucleus of subway, for in no other
way can we contribute so much 10 the
rapid growth and development of the
city. The subway system should be
constructed and owned by the city
and leased at a fair rental to whatever
company is for the time being. oper-
ating the street car lines. or until such
time as the city Is ready 10 take over
he eff QuCtnm
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 or
the construction of subway In the
immediate future. as relief for CEN
trail congestion. serious present con-
sideration"
II was pointed out that the absence
OF heavy grades would materially re-
duce the cost OF construction as COM
pared TO the cost in other cities.
The committees plan for the rear
rangement and extension oil the sur
face lines has already been published.
The plans. II carried out. will increase
the total trackage for city service from
195,746 miles TO 270.179 mile..
In the performance OF its work. says
the report. the committee kept In view
the following objects: To secure "a
many double tracks and as few loop
lines as possible: TO secure an even
and fair distribution OF service: TO
render all educational institutions and
manufacturing centers easy OF access;
to make II possible for person board
ing a car in any part OF the city to
reach any other part by the most di-
rect route and In the shortest time
possible. and to relieve congestion OK
trafic In the center OF the city by d.
verting IL In other directions
The plan, II 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