The Detroit times., 1911-03-29
Plan FRAMED UP
FOR EXTENSION
Of GAG LINES
Mayor and d. q. r. Get Together
After Weeks of Secret Negotia-
lions, and New Tracks Will Be
Laid on NAKED Permit"
Hamilton Blvd. Extension Most I'm
portant in List-Work To Start
Within a Month.

AS a result OF secret negotiations
{ that have been In progress between
Mayor Thompson and officials OF the
Detroit United Railway since Feb. g.,
Detroit is in a fair way To secure at
once the much-needed extensions OF
the street car lines authorized by the
common council neariy a year ago.
This was one Of the first matters TO
which the mayor gave his attention
wnen he took once and there is every
prospect that work on the extensions
will start within a month provided
there is no hitch In his honor's plan.
The ID. u. r. stands ready TO institute
the improvements as soon "a the
council gives its Official sanction to
the new plan.
Mayor Thompson submitted the
whole proposition to the council Tues
day night In a communication giving
detailed report OF his negotiations
with the railway company. The matter
was referred to the franchise commit
tee, as the mayor suggested, and Aid
HARPER has already promised to call
.
day afternoon to consider the ques-
ton. The committee undoubtedly
will recommend that Corporation
Counsel Hally be instructed to draft
new resolutions In accordance with
the mayors suggestions, these to
amend or stand in lieu OF the reso-
luton adopted by the council In April
1909. In this event the council should
take final action on the proposition
two weeks from to night. So far as
known there will be no opposition
TO the plan.
"The city loses none Of its rights
and the company gains no additional
privileges" said the mayor The new
resolutions will be so drawn as to
make the company's investment In
the extensions secure and put II in
position to raise the necessary funds
for the purpose OF building the extern
sions"
Mr. Hally is prepared to draft the
resolutions as soon as the council
gives the word, and he will have the
assistance Of Attorney ]. G. Donnelly. |
representing the d. U. r. They have
gone over the matter thoroughly and
have practically agreed on the form
OF the resolutions.
The extensions to be built are as
follows:
Hamilton boulevard--Extensioh OF
the Third car line by double-tracking
Hamilton boulevard from Holden-aye.
to he northerly city limits.
Chene-st-Loop on Grandy-ave.
Brush-st-Loop on Beaubien-st.
-Double-tracking or the
line from Baldwin-ave. TO the easteriy
city limits
Under the terms OF the resolutions
to be drafted by Mr.. Hally, covering
each OF these extensions, the city has
the right to purchase the properties at
cost, less depreciation, at any time,
so that the extensions will not inter
fere in any way with municipal own
ership: In fact, they are right In line
with Il. The company will simply be
given permission TO lay the tracks and
operate them, but the ID. U. r. will
be given no franchise.
The Hamilton-boulevard extension
rs the most important OF the four.
When completed 1t VIII represent
three-fifths of the entire Third line,
$50 that IL is really bigger investment
than the present Third line. II will
mean several new cars. The extern
sion has been long sought by residents
|of the north end. II will not only
greatly relieve the present congestion
on Woodward-ave., but will also tend
to greatly enhance realty values and
build up the territory lying west OF
Hamilton boulevard.
The mayors communication TO the
council follows:
3 Gentlemen--Apout Feb. /. 1911. the |
supreme court handed down it's de-
'cision In the municipal ownership |
matter 1t became apparent from
this that before the city could 1
Ownership and operation OF street rail- |
ways. considerable time must OF neces-
nity elapse, and AZ seemed TO me that /
certain sections Of the city--in fact. the /
whole town--was suffering from the
lack OF street car facilities. which could
sions were built. with this view In
mind, on Feb. 6, 1 addressed the fol-
lowing letter to Jere G. Hutchins, presi-
dent OF the Detroit United railway:
Dear Sir:
ell OF Detroit passed a report rec
ommending the double tracking Of
Mack-ave from Baldwin-ave. to
the easterly city limits; the con-
structton OF double-track street
railway upon Hamilton blvd. from
erly city limits and also the
double-tracking OF the Chene-st.
line north OF Gratiot -ave., by loop
Ing IL onto Grandy-ave., and a con-
struction OF the Brush-st. line in
connection with the, Beaubien-st 4
"A n ma II N lnnu hats u