The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-04-08


biles aud parts In Detroit; Worhin ~
by the thousands are employed IN pls
new plants all over the city anu 'ns
weekly payroll runs into hundreds VI
thousands. With the automoole
tabnshed as one OF the necessines =,
modern civilization and the unparuleu
facilities for that industry thal nav
been built up IN Detroit. the future VI
the city seems 10 look ever orlsh'e'
than the past.
Other Lines Expand.
The growth In population due,
largely. 10 the wonderful expansion OF
the automobile trade. has forced an
expansion in every other nhe lha'
touches the public or commercial NE
one of the vital parts OF "A modern
city is it's transportation system. ne
reports OF the Detroit United ha'l
way for the past 10 years, SHOW Wna'
has been done along this line lne
mileage OF the system has increaseu
from 1875 miles OF track TO 100 miles
now in operation. There will be add
ed 10 this within the near future sew
eral much needed additions TO take
care OF the increased tratiic.
The mileage given above Includes
the suburban lines which are uhuer
the control OF the Detroit uhlteu.
These radiate out from Detroit IN all
directions, and give the city quick
and convenient communication with
all the adjacent country, including the
many hustling little cities located
within 100 miles OF Detroit. Arrange
ments have recently been completed
by which electric service is extended
still farther into the state, through
cars running TO Kalamazoo, Lansing
and Battle Creek, opening up the
rich districts OF western Michigan 10
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 10 build 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 taclll-
ties for handling passenger trafhc IN
connection with the great tunnel
which has just been completed under
the Detroit river. This tunnel VIII
undoubtedly divert large portion OF
the traffic which formerly went via
Cleveland and Toledo 10 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
car.ferries. Millions OF dollars are
being put into these terminal i'm
provements 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 or
vast commercial value as we'll as be-
ing a matchless ornament 10 the city.
For more than eight months of the
year navigation with Buffalo. Cleve-
land, Toledo and the other cities or
the great lakes is open, and much or
the freight for these cities and the
territory adjacent 10 them goes by
fast daily vessels TO these ports.
The development of the lake feet has
been as great as the development or
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 fleet that plies from De
troit. taken as whole. is the finest
in its class in the world and compares
favorably with the vessels in the
transatlantic traffic Besides 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 TN
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 OK
panded rapidly within the past ten
years, adding big extensions to their
plants and putting OH more men every
year.
Detroit is also a large center 0f
paint and varnish manufacture and
under the development of the automo
bile this industry has grown almost
as fast as the industry which fostered
II. Within the past decade Detroit mas
added TO its other factories the larg
est manufacturer OF adding machines
I'm the world In the Manufacture Of
radiators and heating apparatus he
troit stands in the front rank. ard It
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 I'm the man.
ufacture OF soda and salt products
and there Is a enough salt in the