The Detroit times., 1910-07-30
MAYOR TOSSED IN
AIR ONCE MORE
Latest Scheme for Settling Traction
Problem Turned Down Cold by
President Hutchins.

plans for the settlement Of the stree
car question has gone glimmerins
President Hutchins. OF the Detroi
United Railway. submitted a reply
Saturday morning. TO the mayors re
cent suggestion of a rental scheme
and the proposition is turned dow
cold. The terms suggested woul'
prove ruinous to the company, Nj
Hutchins declares, and he suggest
that the company and the city &c
back to the old arbitration plan.
II now transpires that the mayor
plan called for seven tickets for
quarter or six tickets for a quarter
with universal transfers" instead o
merely for six tickets for a quarter
with universal transfers. Mr.. Hutch
ms evidently has taken seven tickets
for a quarter as a basis for his calcu
lations In framing his reply.
The letter follows in part:
Most careful consideration has
been given the suggestions made
by you that the company reduce
its rates Of fare. pay to the city
an annual tax of upwards oil
s365,OO in addition to the ad
valorem and other taxes now be-
ing paid and Immediately pro-
coed with the construction OF
certain additional tracks for the
convenience of the public.
We find, after careful investi-
CATION. that the proposed reduc-
ton In fares and the payment OF
the suggested additional tax
would result In reducing the COM
pany's resources more than ST.
100000 annually. Such a reduc-
ton would not only absorb the
company's present income, but
would create a vast deficit, and
would leave the company In sit
uatfon where It wUufd- be fnpos--
sible to render service for lack
OF funds with which to meet the
expenses and charges necessary
TO such service. The impossible
ity Of such an undertaking Is,
therefore. apparent.
Mr.. Hutchins estimates that the
extensions proposed by the mayor
would cost about $496,619. Then he
proceeds to ennumerate the under.
takings the company now has under
way, talking in figures that are stag
gering to the ordinary layman. Cap.
ital undertakings under way for the
current year will represent an outlay
of $1,529,371.32, he says, OF which
$711,713 represents cars and car
equipment; $229, b94.a7 for additional
power, conduit lines and sub-stations
$162,164.20 for terminal yards and
stations 1926 , sos GO FOR new
tracks and turnouts, including the
double tracking of Harper, Mt Elliott
and Mack-aves. or this amount the
company has already expended $S27,'
1888, and the balance must be pro-
vided before the end Of the year, Mr..
Hutchins says.
The company he represents, had
planned to spend s496,619 additional
for the proposed extensions, but, he
explains. "the constant agitation OF
our affairs, the city's failure to re-
pair the foundations under the three
cent lines and the increased cost OF
doing business are so affecting our
resources that we do not know where
to get the money for such a purpose.
In the improvements now going for
ward the company Is using, the presi-
dent asserts, not only Its entire earn
ings but its entire credit.
The letter concludes:
I'VE are In hopes that the stu
alton may SO clear itself before
the end Of this season that we
may proceed within the year with
the extensions you have in mind.
To that end, we again beg to sug-
gest that the plan to determine
the value of our properties and
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ried to completion so that the
public may know, not from us,
but from others competent to
Judge such matters. that which
II Is possible to do In fairness and
Justice to everybody concerned.
| am sure that should the pub
lie once knew, through a high
court OF arbitration, such as has
been named, just what the De-
troit United railway properties
are worth and what 1t costs TO
carry passengers, there could be
no possible misunderstanding be-
tween us.
'If the ID. ". r. is so anxious to in
form the public as to it's workings let
II send a weekly statement to the com
mon council SO 1t can be printed In
the official proceedings was Corpora
ton Counsel Hally's comment when
shown a copy OF the letter. The trou-
bic Is that 1t is trying TO educate the
public all one way and that is the d.
l.. r. way"
1--WE are right back to the PROPOSE
ton that we must have valuation
before we can accomplish anything
definite" said Mayor Breitmeyer after
reading the letter THAT Is the line
we will have to follow now and the
franchise committee Will meet Mon
day TO discuss the situation.
There are some things In the let
ter that I will have to have made defi-
mite informations about however. be.
fore will accept them. / want to
know how some of those figures arc
made up and not simply take the
company's word for II. | want 10
know lust how the company figured u
out that L. would cost S1,200.0O0 u
year to give seven tickets for a quar-.
ter and universal transfers. Il esti
mate that IL would cost only about
$50 600 TO give interchangeable trans
fers. for instance"
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