The Detroit times., 1910-04-22
DUR. btAMES CITY
FOR POOR SERVICE
Says Failure To Keep Three. Cent
Lines Pavements in Shape Pre-
1 vents Running of Larger Cars

Threatened with the adoption OF
Aid. Garveys ordinance and resolu.
uon' giving 30 days in which TO i'm.
prove service on the three-cent lines,
OF forfeit Its franchise. the ID. u. r.,
through President Jere c. Hutchins.
replied, Thursday morning. with a hot
communication 10 the common coun-
Gil. stating that the city's failure to
Keep the pavements on the three
cent line tracks in repair, made IL i'm
possible Tor the ID. U, r. to give good
service. or run heavier and larger
cars The communication follows:
Ihc Honorable The Common Council
81 the City OF Detroit. Michigan
ushtlemen-lt is noted tlrat there Is
pendlng before tile common council "A
resolution which declares this company
70 De IN default respecting the cars
WIN which the lines known as the
thiee-cent OF Detroit Railway lines.
are equipped And IL is proposed that
.nls company shall be given 80 days
tihe under the terms or the ordinance
uhcer which these cars are operated,
10 change tlte type or same.
We beg 10 call your attention to the
lhct that In said ordinance the city
OF Detroit Is under contract To do the
surface paving and To maintain the
FOUNDATIONS under the tracks on the
-
advise you that this obligation on the
part OF the city has been and is being
wholly disregardcd. As CONSEQUENCE
OF this neglect on the part OF the city.
we are not only not able to operate
over these foundations a heavier type
OF car. such as are used ops some other
lines in Detroit. but are/ confirsd to
the lighter cars now used. and not that
alone. but we are suffering much imam
cial loss as the result OF the conditions
or which we complain. Despite the
fact That the attention OF the proper
city officials has heretofore, on many
occasions beer called to the bad condi-
tion of these foundations. their main
tenanCe has bren 50 extremely meageF
as 20 have brought them into a state
which makes IL impossible 10 operate
over them except at great loss 10 our
selves and with much Inconvenience TO
the public
Within the last few months It has
been publicly reported by the depart
ment OF public works that the large
sum OF Sl.0l1.S20 il required to put
these pavements and foundations IN
proper condition for efficient operation.
This statement by that department
fairly represents the extent and serious
character OF the default on the part OF
the city and OF It's disregard for its
contract obligation. Application has
been made 10 your honorable body and
the board OF estimates now In session
by the department OF public works. as
shown In the public records. Tor an APP
preparation for expenditure tins sum,
mer OF s21S.O7s for these purposes. And
II is noted that the common council
has cut this requisition 10 the inconse-
quent and unreasonable sum OF $4,000.
Thlrty-siN thousand dollars would pay
for proper foundation and necessary
paving for but little more than one
mile OF track. such rs this company ~
providing on other streets In the city.
And In only In that approximate pro-
portion would $50 900 take care of the
80 or more miles Of the Detroit Rail
way lines which the city. under its
agreement. IS obi gated To provide for.
We respectfully urge upon YOU the
immediatt necessity for such an appro-
priation a. viii put these foundations
In proper order. Instead OF being able
10 operate a heavier type ot cars over
them as they nov exist, II Is with en-
treme difficulty and at vast unneces-
sary expense that we are able TO run
over them the lighter cars We are now
using And should the city authorities
longer neglect the obligations OF tho
city I'm this regard. such service as We
have been and are now able to render
over the Detroit Railway lines. must
he proportionately less efficient. In
stead. then. Of blaming MS or seeking
10 point out any derelicttons OF ours
as 10 the character OF the ,roiling STOCK
We are necessarily using ! would urge
your honorable body TO immediately
take such steps as viii enable us not
only To continue the service We are
rendering hut to improve il in accord
ance with tho requirements OF the pub
lie The amount OF the appropriation
officially desired by the department or
public WORKS FOR foundations and pay
Ing on the thrc"-crnt lines to-wtt;
s27S.075. Is not only not too much for
expenditures this wear but IN view OF
the citys neglect. which has continued
through several wears. IL. in our Judg-
ment. an altogether Inadequate amount.
Let MS urge Won To- immediate action.
Respectfully yours,
DETROIT UNITED RAILWAY.
j. g. HtTCHINS. Pres't.
The communication was shown To a
group Of aldermen, including Owen
and Heating, of the committee which
cat the paving item referred TO by
Hutchins.
1--WE cut ii because we didn't think
II was necessary" said Aid owen.
NO. we cut 1t because We didn't
think il advisable TO allow such a
large sum of money. as We expected
n settlement SOON said Aid. Heating.
THE three-cent lines are the biggest
humbug in the world said Aid. Yer
nor. They cost the public just as
much as the five-cent lines. The tax
PAYERS could afford 10 ask the ID. u.
r. to give three-cent fares on the