The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-12-08
Settlement Plan Best
Ever, Says Du POM

In response to a request by the
press for an opinion on the proposed
Street Car ordinance
communicated to him through Mayor
Thompson, A. b. du Pont, OF Cleve
land, the expert who assisted the
mayor and Corporation Counsel Hally
in the negotiations for a settlement
has submitted the following to his
honor:
Viewed from either the stand
point providing a plan to facilitate
municipal ownership or as an or
dinance providing for private own
ership, consider 1t the best settle
ment in the interest of the public
that has as yet been proposed in
Detroit or has been adopted In
any other city. -
First: From the standpoint OF
municipal ownership, this ordi-
nance binds the railway company
effectively to sell and deliver all
of it's property within the city
limits at just price to the
city, in as short a time as is
practicable after the city deter
mines TO buy the same.
Second: Viewed as an operating
ordinance, II provides for the low
est rate Of fare that any street
railway has contracted to operate
in the United States and In addi-
ton provides for the regulation
OF the service as the traffic de-
mands.
II also is the only ordinance
that know OF anywhere that
binds the railway company TO
properly provide for additional
tracks. to be constructed and OPP
Grated where the city designates.
| believe that the limitation Of
five per cent of the, then existing
tracks that must be built at the
city's election each year Is ample
to secure for the city, the full
term of the proposed ordinance,
adequate street railway facilities.
Yours very truly,
A. B. du Pont
Mayor Thompson has received nu
merous inquiries from citizens, by
mail relative to the ordinance. He
has answered several OF them as FOL
lows:
D have seen in the papers q
statement that the three-cent rare
would prevail as far as the Lozle,
plant on Mack-ave.; to the railroad
crossing on Chene, and to the Addison
switch on Michigan. I do not md this
set forth in the ordinance. How Is II
covered?
the ordinance. which says that the fare
and transfer provision shall apply e
routes operated by the grantee within
tho city limits as of the year 1911, aho
so much OF all routes extending oe-
yond said limits as have now CITY SCI
vice cars regularly operated thereon
for a single city fare City cars arc
operated to these places for single
city fare,
I note that the paving and foundation
work may be done by the company and
It's bills presented therefor 10 the city
II the necessity for the work be al
mitted by the d. p. w. Does this mean
that the commissioner OF public works
must take a position against the com
NOR council and board of estimates IN
whose Judgment by their refusal &
make ali appropriation for the work
the work was not necessary?
A. Section contemplates that eacf
year the ID p. w. will present an esti.
mate to the common council and board
of estimates, who Will cause TO b'
placed in the tax budget an amoun
which will be necessary TO pave be
tween the tracks for that year. II, III
The Judgment az the common Council
ard board OF estimates, they deem !
unn ecc ssary TO make an appropriation
there IS another way provided for do
ing the work which will be answered
in the next question.
q. II the appropriation Ia not mad'
for this work under these circum
stances, where will the money com
from?
A. II the commissioners admits tn
necessity OF repairing the Foundation
or paving the d. u. r. may proceed
with the performance OF the work, an,
the bills therefor shall be paid at &C
tual cost of labor and material, plu
10 per cent for the use OF tools an
determine the correctness OF said bill
Nv the usual method, and from time {
Time specify the character of the ma
tarials and the design OF the work AZ,
supervise its construction. II the cit
refuses 20 pay these bills, the compan
will have to sue in the court for tn
amount for such work IL In true tina
tho -. +. w, would have to take
position against the Judgment as ex
pressed IN the budget OF the common
.council and board of estimates.
q. md nothing In the ordinanc
providing for night service. How !
this covered?
4. Section 3, of the ordinance. read
that the right Is reserved TO the con,
mon council 10 make, by ordinance
such reasonable rules as may frof
time to time be deemed necessary {
project the interest. safety, welfare. o
accommcd alton and the running OF car
for the public. Under this section. IN
common council can demand any nigh
service or provide any schedule tina
may bc necessary 60 accommodate tn
public. either by night or day. In n
acase up TO the present time has tn
leity had any trouble i'm procuring nigh
lars.
h
"A. over on Lake Wannsee, near BerliI
oley have a real ghost boat, whic