The Detroit times., 1911-04-22

rich districts OF western Michigan TO
Detroit trade.
The railroad facilities OF Detroit
have also expanded 10 meet the In
creased commercial needs. Within
the decade IL has been found neces-
sary TO build a new belt line railroad
around the city 10 provide side-track
facilities for Detroit shippers. Con-
slant improvements have been made
in the terminal facilities for the
handling OF freight and passengers.
The Michigan Central has under
way vast improvements to the facili-
ties for handling passenger traffic In
connection with the great tunnel
which has just been completed under
the Detroit river. This tunnel Will
undoubtedly divert a large portion or
the traffic which formerly went via
Cleveland and Toledo to the more
direct route via Detroit, adding to
the Importance OF this city as rail-
road point. Before the tunnel was
built. traffic was frequently seriously
impeded during the winter by ice In
the river blocking the passage OF the
carferries. Millions OF dollars are
being put into these terminal I'm
proyements TO provide adequate facili-
ties for Detroit's rapidly growing
travelling public.
Has Water Facilities, Too.
Detroit is fortunate, however. In
not having to depend entirely upon
railroad service for transportation.
The beautiful Detroit river. which
flows majestically past the city, is OF
vast commercial value as we'll as be
ing a matchless ornament to the city.
For more than eight months OF the
year navigation with Buffalo, Cleve-
land. Toledo and the other cities OF
the great lakes is open, and much OF
the freight for these cities and the
territory adjacent to them goes by
fast daily vessels to these ports.
The development OF the lake fleet has
been as great as the development OF
the ocean liners. each year seeing an.
other vessel larger and more COM
modious than the one that preceded
her, launched upon the lakes. The
passenger feet that plies from De-
troit, taken as a whole. is the finest
in its class in the world and compares
favorably with the vessels In the
vessels that make the longer trips
there are magnificent day boats that
carry crowds OF excursionists to the
resorts along the river and lakes
every day during the summer season.
The growth OF the city along indus
trial lines has not been confined TO
the development of the automobile
Industry and allied lines. While the
older lines OF manufacture which have
long been centered in Detroit. do not
show the phenomenal growth that
has been shown by the motor car in
dustry still there has been a substan-
tial growth In practically every line
In which Detroit figures prominently.
Center Of Stove Industry.
While the automobile has some
what obscured the fact. Detroit for
many years has been the leading cen.
ter OF the stove industry in the United
States and produces more than one
third Of the drug supplies made In the
country. These industries have or.
banded rapidly within the past ten
years, adding big extensions to their
plants and putting on more men every
year.
Detroit is also a large center OF
paint and varnish manufacture ana
under the development OF the automo-
bile this industry has grown almost
as fast as the industry which fostered
1t. Within the past decade Detroit has
added to its other factories the larp.
est manufacturers OF adding machines
in the world. In the manufacture OF
radiators and heating apparatus ne.
troit stands in the front rank. ard 4,
Is also one OF the largest centers OF
the manufacture OF freight cars.
These industries have constantly
been growing in importance and add.
ing more men TO Detroits army OF
workers.
Could Supply World With salt.
Detroit leads the world In rlie man.
ufacture OF soda and salt products
and there is enough salt in the
vicinity OF the city 10 supply the
world. In the manufacture OF bryss
goods and In rolling copper and brass
sheet and tubing Detroit Is one of tae
leading cities in the country. II IS
also a large cigar manufacturing cen.
ter and has one OF the greatest cast
steel foundries in the west.
These are only few OF the many
Industries In which Detroit is a
leader. There are many other lines.
so many that II would take a volume
to describe them properly. For in
stance there are overalls, corsets. fur
niture, especially fine tables and
chairs, pickles and preserves, seeds.
rubber goods, coin machines, go-carts.
furs, organs and plano-players, alum
mum, capsules-these are some of the
lines In which Detroit stands promin-
ent When one adds TO the industries
the immense automobile
business that has grown up around
Detroit the Importance of the city as
an industrial center can be realized.
All these Industries require .wo
things of the city-ground upon which
they may build their factories, ground
upon which the workmen whom they
employ may build their homes. and
money with which to operate. The
Detroit real estate interests have
grown up to immense proportions to
fiji the former need and have filed II
with energy and with a keen sense
of the welfare OF the city. There has
been no booming Of property as a re-