The Detroit times., 1910-09-09

Engineer Tells Council Committee
That Detroiter's Figures On D. U. R.
Appraisal Are Worthless.

Figures presented by Engineer r.
I. Bancroft In his appraisal OF the ID.
U. X. for the committee OF fifty were
attacked by Engineer Frederick w.
Walker before the council committee
on franchises. Thursday. Walker
also intimated that Bancroft is not
an engineer. declaring that the latter
had admitted that he did not possess
any OF the degrees which qualify an
engineer in Walkers estimation.
Walker was called 10 Detroit by tie
committee 10 discuss plans Tor coin-
plotting valuation OF the ID. U. Il.
properties which could be used in fix
ing a rate OF fare. Walker said that
the figures presented In the book pub
lished by Bancroft were absolutely
useless.
THE city has bought gold brick"
he said in response TO question by
President Gilman, OF the common
council He compared figures on
Power Station A. and Power Station
b. saying that In one case boilers
which had been In use 10 years had
been appraised at SO per cent OF cost
10 replace, while I'm the other. boilers
that had been used only l-2 years
were appraised al only % per GEM.
He said that Bancroft had In some
cases put down machinery as worth
less, and had yet placed a good vaiu-
alton OH the foundations OF the ma
chinery. which were worthless with
out the machinery itself.
Walker gave comparison or
figures. On one power plant, he said,
Barcroft's figures were $4,000; the
ID. u. h. figures $4,000, while his
own were $4,000
1T Is necessary to have his data
to see how he figured that" said
Walker. THAT detail data is the
property of the city, and the city
ought TO be able TO get IT, With this
In possession. II would be possible 20
check over, and TO defend his figures
IL they are right"
We certainly ought to get those
figures" said Aid. link. Many good
citizens believe the city should have
what it paid for. myself know OF
a case where q candidate has been
defeated in the primaries, just because
the citizens thought So" The more
Aid. Korte and Gilman insisted
that the city replevin the documents.
The question Is not whether the
Bancroft appraisal Is toto high or too
low" said Walker 1t is whether II
can be defended in court. There are
two ways In which working APP
praisal could be obtained. One would
be by engaging an engineer to make
all appraisal which could be defended
in all Its detail. offered to furnish
FIVE engineers and do this work for
$l1.350. exclusive of the fees for court
testimony. computed that IL would
take "a days, II the ID. u. r., as IL
proposed, would turn over its own In
ventory for us to check against
There Is another way In which re-
suits could be obtained. That would
be for the city TO engage an engineer
to represent II, the company engage
an engineer, and these two third.
The difference between these and q
board of arbitration would be In their
technical training. II would be a sad
commentary on the engineering pro-
fession IL these could not agree upon
and eliminate from discussion many
details which would have TO be fought
out at length II taken into court. Il
think this board could decide upon
everything except such questions as
paving and intangible assets"
1T Is up to the city to quit dilly-
dallying and get something definite
that II can give the people to vote
on" said Mayor Breitmeyer.
The great trouble seems to be that