The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-02-09
PLANNED TO MAKE
GREAT CITY OF
HAMTRAMCK
Franchise Hunters Said To Have
Backing of Syndicate of Manu-
facturers, Who See Wonder
full Future For Village.
Annexation Will Be Opposed and Ex-
pansion Provided For BY Incor-
porating- Surrounding Terriaory.

Thursday evening the council OF the
village OF Hamtramck will meet to con-
slider, and possibly 90 pass, two fran
chises which would give 30-year grants
covering all the principal public utili-
ties TO two men. Arthur &. O'Connor
and Matthew Finn.
While these franchises were intro
duced last week, there has been such
mystery about them that not even the
village officers seem to be very ia
miliar with their contents. They are
10 come up for third reading and on
order Of final passage without any pub
lie previous discussion whatever
To take effect. they must receive a
three-ffths vote OF the electors or
the village at the village election In
March. This means very short time
for discussion OF their provisions.
Arthur G.. O'ConnoF, one OF the APP
1licants for the franchises, Is an at
torney who has handled some big deals
in Hamtramck real estate, has taken
a lively interest I'm bringing large fac
tories To that place. and Is generally
looked upon as having done as much
as any one man could to promote the
remarkable industrial progress OF this
nearest suburb OF Detroit. Finn Is a
bond dealer with Offices I'm the Bull
block. who has been active In fnan-
Cirg Village loans and is usually n
bidder or city bonds.
But few believe that these two men
Intend. OF their own resources, To build
street railways. and gas. electric light
Ing. power and heating plants. And
none OF the villagers seems 10 know
Inst who Is behind them.
Is the ID. l.. r. attempting TO get ex-
tensions of It's lines in Hamtramck,
anticipating annexation TO the city. as
Il did with the jefferson line in Fair
Ciews
Are the other franchise rights to be
disDosed OF to the other big public
utility companies OF Detroit when
granted
HamtrSmck people do not seem to
know.
One story current Is that coterie
~ the big manufacturers who are To-
eating their plants In Hamtramck
have formed themselves into syndi-
cate to build up IN independent city
there, touching Detroit on the north
east and that they viii furnish much
OF the capital behind the projects.
4 have heard that the manufacture
ers want TO make Hamtramck sep
arate city. annexing the rest Of the
t~wnship and fighting against annex
~ To Detroit" stated President
Charles Geimer, Of Hamtramck, when
asked what be knew OF the franchise
, proposals. ''I3ut one cannot tell. II
he manufacturers decide 10 go into
the city, in We will go.
There Is one thing certain, we need
improvements and il is up TO some one
IN start them. We have tried to get
he d l. r. tn grant us extensions
end better service, but they would not
even give us shed for waiting
room. We have to pay five-cent fare
inside the village now. on the North
Detroit line. and another fare 10 come
down town to Detroit. SO we are not
going TO b. any worse on II we grant
the new franchises. only we will have
two more lines. Perhaps the ID. L. X.
IS back Of the franchises. don't
know
81 do know thatVwe must have cars
20 carry the workingmen from 10 fac
tories or more. The line we have now
Is not enough and we will have to do
something.
What are The terms in the other
franchises? ! don't know; but / I'M
derstand that we are TO pay the same
rates that people in Detroit get. |
have appointed a committee TO look
(COntInued on Page Seven)