The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-07-06


lbssn paid by msmbsrs of the Commit
tee OF Fifty and myself.
would suggest that both the re-
mort and these bills be referred TO your
committee on franchises
PHILIP 3REITMEYER,
Following is the report and bills re-
TO Honorable the Mayor and the Com
| mon Council OF the city OF Detroit
Detroit, Mich, June s. 1919;
Gentiemen-In response 20 the Tesolu-
/ ton OF the Common Council passed jan
uary as 1910, as follows Resolved,
That tho Committee III Fifty. appointed
l by Tits Honor the Mayor 20 inNestiSale
the street railway question. be and here
ton and hold itself IN readiness 10 take
| up for consideration 1nN part OF us re-
iIoit United Railway 20 afrord the said
railway company hearings thereon TAKE
such evidence as may be offered on the
matters under dispute, and report lls
4 findings ard opinions 10 this Common
Council" we beg to advise you that We
proceeded TO give the Detroit Chltel
Railway hearings as requested m salo
resolution. We found that We could not
carry on the hearings satisfactorily ana
ladvantagcously before our body as
whole. This was due to the fact that
Considerable testimony would have 10 be
taken and that the testimony would be
OF 4. technical nature aud mat the hear
inSs would be extended Over period OF
several weeks, and conclusion could
sidcration of the entire m0'ter submitted,
Tor these reasons IL was decided 10 re-
fer the matter TO board OF arhitrauon,
whose decision would ~ binding both
upon the company and the committee as
the amount TO be transmitted TO the
Common Council for Insertion In the or
dinancc. This amount could not he bind
ing upor the city OF course until the
ordinance was passed by the Common
Council and voted upon ord approved by
the people. Our action In appointing
this board OF arbitration has received the
official sanction and approval OF the
Common Council by resolution passed
April 30. 1910, Beca use OF the uutoT-
flnaTe, deplorable and to our minds
wholly lneNcusable coLduct OF Mr.. Bar
croft, who made the Epprc isal for US and
in whom We placed the fullest confidence
lat tho time OF securing It's services and
who We consider has violated this con-
dderce and what We believe 10 be pledges
and PROMISES 10 defen3 his work, We
have found IL impossible q proceed with
these hearings and arbitration, The re-
ports 81 Nh Webster oIT attorney, and
Mr. Waller, our engineer, hereto at
and conditions that confront us, This
book Cf Mr.. BarCrofrs. we find Is so
arranged as 10 be valuable to no one
except Mr.. Bancroft.
This report shows three plans which
can be followed. and We recommend that
enc OF these three methods be adopted
ana the NOIK GuFTltN FORWARD. IntSc
three plans which hay. met our approval
are:
/. Proceed with Mr. Bancroft with the
hearing and arbitration OF the appraisal
? new appraisal made under an en-
gineer who viii turn over TO the city
complete details.
3. A valuation board cf three en-
gineers &c take a value cn the property.
We do rot believe that the money paid
nv the city for IN" appraisal taken
rr., Il n -. H. =
feel warranted In spending the money
that would be necessary FOR "A new ap-
praisal In order therefore that the
money that has been speIt shall not be
shall lie made valuable and useful to-
the people Of the City OF Detroit whom
We all have the honor 20 represent. we
suggest end recommend that the Com
mon Council relieve us OF the obligation
imposed upon us by resolution OF jan
uaEy is, 1910. and that the Mayor and
the Common Council proceed TO give the
Detroit United Railway hearing with
Mr.. BarcrCft In full charge OF the en-
gineering rart OF the work, and Corpora
tion Courtei Hally IN full charge OF the
legal part OF the work before the pres
cnt board OF arbitration n possible IN
the members OF which board we all have
the utmost confidence. or before any
other board OF arbitration. or In any
other manner satisfactory TO Mr.. Bar
croft. MIR. Hally aud yourselves We
believe trait all OF the objections raised
excuse for refusing - defend his own
work before an impartial board OF arbi-
tratiou, Rave already been removed, but
hearing and with Mr.. Bancroft in full
charge, subject TO your approval he will
have left no excuse for not proceeding
We assure you that we have come to
this conclusion TO ask you to proceed
with the hearing and relieve us of this
obligation only after every possible
carefully and found impracticable.
having In mind and at heart al
ways the best interests of the
without Mr. Bancroft by getting another
engineer To take his pla &c. IL was an
nounced in the public press, whether BY
Mr.. Barcroft or not we OF course do
not know, that we corid rot secure am
other engineer from the Atlantic 20 the
Pacific, who would act in Mr.. Barcrofts
I place; We. howeVeT promptly secured ,,:
Walker. engineer, 1t was Lext announced
mat VIC could not get any OF Mr.. Bar
croft'c men" to come and testify as to
great Efforts to prevent us from secur-
ing these men Nevertheless. we did sue
coed In securing all OF the resident en-
gineers rrd assistants. and five out Of
eight OF the nonresident engineers whose
services we considered desirable and inn
portaEt. But IL was next found that on
praisal was published and the fact that
large proportion Of the detail work was
In the possession OF Mr.. Parcroft that
these men could not appear ms witnesses
and explain and testify as To their work
without doing the major portion OF 70
over again. IL WAS then determined that
practically q new appraisal was neces-
sary.
With an idea Of making use OF the an
praLsal made and ayoidiny the taking OF
"A new appraisal IL possible. a special In.
vestigatior. was made by Attorney Civde
1. Webster and Engineer Frederick w
Walker TO devise ways and means %
submit TO the board of arhitratiaa-in- a
proper manner. the Committee OF Fiftv's
appraitm This report has been previous
Nv referred TO and Is enclosed which re-
port We have endorsed and approved In
all its details II You cannot or do not
desire TO proceed with Mr. Parcroft with
the appraisal already made a new an
praisal Is absolutely Te~esyary. This can
be taken separately AMI Independently nv
hiring competent engireer to take
charge or the work. II Won should de-
eide uron this course ant should prefer
To have US take the new appraisal we
stand ready to proceed whenever so au-
thorlzGd ly you.
still another method Tor determining
the valuation " this pr, perty. Is by
valuation board OF three engineers 20
place a value on The property. one en-