The Detroit times., 1909-01-25
bAU BE IS READY
WITH NEW STREET
CAR FRANCHISE Z.
OFFERS REVISED PROPOSITION,
AND SAYS HE'LL NAME BACK
ERs IF COUNCIL AGREES TO
CONSIDER MATTER.

A new element has been injected
into the street railway settlement
proposition by the filing OF a petition
by William K. Baubie. promoter OF the
Detroit Traction company, for re-
opening of the franchise proposition
which he made somewhat more than
"a year ago to the council.
Baubie is now ready to bring In. he
says, the outside capitalists who are
willing to come into Detroit. take over
the lines on which the d. u. r. fran
chises are soon to expire and build
enough new lines TO operate q rival
street railway system. He has amend
ate most OF the objections previously
made by members OF the council.
The principal features OF the new
Baubie franchise are: A fare OF eight
tickets for quarter at all times with
universal transfers; an agreement by
which the city can purchase the lines
at cost at any time, on six months
notice. guarantee that the bonded
Indebtedness shall never be more than
SIS, 900 per mile at Ave per cent. In
terest: all paving and repairs to be
done by the company: modern cars
and equipment; all employees to be cit
liens; the company TO be taxed on all
real and personal property; the fran
chise TO be revocable II It's provisions
are violated.
In case the city does not buy the
lines. the. franchise Is to run for 80
years. Baubie declares that he will
put up a bond OF 100000 to insure
performance OF the contract.
Il will name the men who are be-
hind this proposition just as soon as
the council gives me assurance that 1t
will consider this proposition-they
don't even have to promise to submit
IT to the people," says Baubie. Il
would like to have IL submitted this
spring, however as the time Is getting
short until the expiration OF many OF
the franchises.
II will not name my men until l am
assured that this matter will be seri-
ouslya taken up, am acting as thar
attorney az this time. The PROPOSE
ton Is one that could not be made by
the old company, burdeped down as II
An with stocks and bonds 10 the
amount OF $4,000 per mile.
my people are taking the chance
here of putting In this road and then
having to sell 1t again to the city with
out any profit. We believe, however.
that the people will not vote to run
the system II they are given good
service at a fair rate and this we
mean to give. The routing has not
been changed TO accord with the lines
suggested by Aid. VernorS our engi-
neers have been over the city and Laid
out the most feasible routes.
This is practically .evocable
franchise. and Is the best that was
ever offered city In the United
States. The people should be allowed
TO vote on It,"
Baubie was given very little consid-
tration when he brought In his origl-
nal ordinance year ago last Noven-
Der. He would not name his hackers
and the aldermen also objected to the
clause that was then In the ordinances
requiring the city to pay half the cost
of paving. Many OF the aldermen
also expressed themselves as being
DESTROYS Of putting the matter OF a
settlement up to the d. u r. first.
I'VE will see what Baubie has,"
stated Mayor Breitmeyer, Monday. II
am not greatly impressed with the
plan. However l am glad to have any
thing brought In that will aid us In
getting a settlement. This matter
should be taken up with all the others
by the committee OF so. admit that
do not like his plan Of laying tenn
porary tracks 10 parallel the lines of
the ID. U. r. where the latter do not
expire this year"
The map accompanying the Baub G
ordinance shows a comprehensive sys.
tenn including all the streets on which
franchises are to expire soon and a
number OF other streets on which
connecting lines would be laid. He
claims that the new system would be
In running order I'm 1S monfho