The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-03-03
7-F0R-QUARTER
IS BARBOUR PLAN
In Interesting Talk To Wholesalers
He Says D. U. R. Can't Give Scent
Fares and Good Service.

The time has arrived when We
must discard politics and personal
Lreiudices. view conditions in Detroit
as they are, and try TO remedy them.
said George II. Barbour. I'm the course
OF strong, earnest talk 10 the Whole
salers and Manufacturers. at their
weekly dinner In the Hotel Cadillac.
Wednesday noon. Mr.. Barbour took
the street car question. and the high
tax rate problem by the horns, and
outlined his personal ideas with re-
gard To them His remarks were
punctuated by frequent volleys or APP
plause
Il want 10 speak as citizen OF
Detroit. and not as member of the
committee OF ffty," said Nj. Barbour
DO you realize, that while we have
had an enormous increase In popula
ton we have had no street car exten-
sions. or no addition in number uf
cars. or service, for years? II Is time
that We set aside all party lines, and
tried 10 settle the street car question
TO the best interests OF the citizens OF
Detroit.
Il estimate that we nave 500 900
people In Detroit right now | don't
blame the street car company for not
meeting the growth in population. In
your own business. you would not
want 10 put in more money. under
conditions which were against YOU.
Here, the street car company has been
the butt OF political schemes. Mayors
have been electen on eight for a quar-.
ter platforms That may have been
all right, but IL is time now 10 do
something. Our new factory districts
suffer from inadequate service and
Jack on extensions. In June, we shall
have thousands OF Elks here III we
haven't cars enough 10 handle our own
people. what will we do when that
added population is thrown on us?
We haven't big enough cars, nor
enough cars. nor enough of them. The
Fort-st. cars are about the size OF the
old horse cars.
Detroit is entitled to the best street
car system in the United States. II
could and should have IT, II you
throw the question out of politics, put
your shoulders to the wheel. and deal
with the question as you would with
your own business, we can have IT.
believe that Detroit will never
be so fortunate as TO get terms as good
as in the Codd ordinance"
Mr. Barbour said that certain bust
ness men had told him they had voted
against the proposition, and were
sorry for it,
I'D consent to the tghtest fran
chise IN the world said the speaker
ION these terms: First-class cars,
first-ciass tracks frst-class trucks. like
those on Pullman cars
II don. think chat the working
classes want eight tor a quarter AMI
ride where you car. II costs g. cents
10 carry each passenger. So the com
Lany can't give eight rides for a quar-
ter and good service | would allow
them To charge - cents or seven
rides, universal transfers. eight for
quarter during wurlIingmen's hours
and would make them extend the JET
ferson line out TO the city limits. or
at least 10 the new factories out there
Then would have n paid commission
or. to do nothing else but see that the
railway lives mp To the letter OF the
law, the mnissicner to be paid by
the city.
Mr.. Barbour declared that the
growth of the city made higher taxes
imperative, and said that he was IN
sympathy with the big budget He
closed with an intert sting talk on the
stove Industry OF Detroit.