The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-05-19
SOS PLIGHT Due TO
FAILURE TO GET
Barefoot SMEN
They Insist on Standing By Chief,
and Without Their Testimony APP
praisal Can't Be Used Before
Arbitration Board.
Mayor Says He'll Secure New Valua-
ton of D. U. R. Property, Paying
Whole Shot Himself If Necessary.

Mayor Breitmeyer announces that
he will take the street car question III
his own hands and carry II through
TO a finish, even II he has TO stand
the expense himself. He promises
new appraisal of the Detroit United
properties by June 80, and Is confident
that the matter will be In shape 10
submit to the people sometime In
August. or just before the fall primar'
les. The mayor evidently Is banking
on the special election TO "cinch" his
denomination for the mayoralty, and
has persuaded himself that the peo-
pie are just pining for an emporium
ity to give the d. U. K. new lease
OF life.
The people are waiting for a
chance to vote on the street railway
question, all right enough" said Cor
poration Counsel Hally. I'm not SO
sure, though. that they are ready to
vote tho way some people think they
are going TO vote
The mayor spent nearly all OF We'd
nesday in conference with Attorney
Clyde |. Webster and Engineer Fred.
erick w. Walker, the new director or
appraisals. The meeting OF the execu-
tive committee of the committee OF
fifty. which was TO have been held In
the mayors office Wednesday after
noon was postponed until Thursday
afternoon at 4 o'clock.
The report submitted to the COM
mittee by Webster and Walker does
not bear out the confidential asser-
tons previously made by Webster
that all but two or three OF Engineer
Barcroft's experts had agreed 70
come here and testify. In the report
the cost OF making proper prepare
ton for and conducting the hearings
before the board Of arbitration VIII
cost 10000, which means, OF course,
practically an entire new appraisal.
This expense may be reduced"
the report continues, ''if all the assist
ant. engineers will appear and TESTIFY,
and II the detail matter and papers
are turned over to your committee,
yet IL would not be proper to proceed
on such assumption In arranging for
the funds for carrying on the work.
AS a matter OF fact, II is learned on
good authority that the committee
has secured pledges from but four or
five OF the % or more experts who as
sisted Bancroft. The others are stand
ing by their chief.
In connection with the charge that
the Bancroft appraisal, as printed, is
unintelligible TO those now in charge
OF the arbitration work for the city.
letters Of commentator received by
Mr.. Bancroft from engineers OF the
highest standing in all parts OF the
country are interesting. Mayor Bret
meyer himself was so highly pleased
that he wrote Mr.. Bancroft as fol-
flows:
Il congratulate you on the complete
and efficient report OF the Detroit
United properties. am sure you de-
serve the appreciation OF all Detroit
for your good work"
Extracts from the letters OF the en-
gineers follow:
You certainly are entitled TO a
great deal OF credit for this report,
and join In congratulations. 1t Is a
gem in every particular and covers
the ground fully and intelligently. !
think 1t exCells anything Of the kind SO
far produced anywhere In many re.
spects. 1t seems to me the company
will find II difficult to discredit your
findings with the array Of facts and
figures you have placed before the
public In this report"
Il am sure that the people Of De
troit will eventually, II they do not al
the present time, fully appreciate your
personal sacrifice and the public spir
itedness which prompted you to under
take this enormous work under such
unfavorable conditions, and with such
little prospects of adequate recon-
pense for your time, labor and ex
pense."
81 am satisfied the people of De
troit will ultimately do you justice
professionally and financially"
1T appears to me to be remark
ably painstaking work and model o.
it's kind"
81 think II is one OF the creates
pieces OF information that have evel
had in my hands, and Is worthy OF the
highest praise"
1T Is by all odds the most complete
record of its kind that have seen il
print"