The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-03-31
TOEXTEND
CAR TRACKS IS
INDORSED
Committee Instruct Mr.. Hally To
Prepare Necessary Resolutions,
Adoption of Which Will Be
Urged in Council Tuesday.
Brooks Thinks d. U. r. Would Con,
struot West-Side Crosstown Line
On Same Terms.

After a brief but important session,
Thursday morning, the franchise COM
mittee OF the common council, on mo
ton of Aid. Watson, instructed Cor
poration Counsel Hally, to draft i'm
mediately the resolutions providing
for needed extensions OF the street
car lines, in accordance with the rec
concentrations made by Mayor
Thompson, last Tuesday night. Mr.
Hally promises TO have the resolu.
tons ready by Saturday, and Aid.
HARPER will call another meeting OF
the committee before next Tuesday
night with a view TO reporting out the
resolutions for consideration by the
council at that time.
General Manager Brooks appeared
before the committee on behalf OF the
Detroit United Railway, and assured
the aldermen that the company stood
ready to proceed with the work on the
extensions whenever the council
passes such resolutions as have been
proposed.
Aid. Gilman, who was back on the
job for the first time since his recent
illness, although not a member OF the
franchise committee. asked permits
sion to put a few questions to Mr..
Brooks and the latter was willing.
why did you not build the extern
sions when the council gave you per-
mission q year ago?" was the hrst
query.
Because We were confronted with
threats of a nature that made II I'M
possible for. US to raise the money for
that purpose" was the reply. I'VE
believe IL Is only right on the part of
the city to guarantee that when we
put our money into those extensions
our property will be protected"
Can you build the extensions II
the proposed resolutions are passed
by the council?'
YES"
did your company ever consider
that there is a necessity for a cross
town line in the western part of the
city?"
Il would say that the development
of that part of the city has made such
q line necessary"
What street would you consider
the best one on which TO build new
liner"
II would say Junction-ave., for that
seems to be about the center of the
biggest population in that section"
IF the council gives you permission
to build q crosstown line under the
same terms as are proposed for the
extensions would you go ahead and
build it?"
Il think ii could be arranged"
To- AaaAn a
answer, but this Mr.. Brooks declined
to give without first consulting the
directors Of the company.
Aid. Koenig. of the Third ward, was
on hand with q chip on his shoulder,
and wanted the committee, OF which
he IL not a member. to insist on the
company accepting tree-cent tickets
on Brush cars running on Beaubien-
St, IL the proposed loop arrangement
Is approved. He pointed out that the
resolution providing for this loop had
not been passed by the council at the
time the other extensions were passed
on, last April, and intimated that he
would take the fight into the council
unless the committee followed his
suggestion, which the members show
ed no disposition to do.
John McVicar, representing the
ownership advocates, want
ed to know how the resolutions would
be worded to guarantee the company 8
Mr.. Hally pointed out
that the company's security lies in
the citys promise to buy the proper
ty at cost less depreciation II, at any
time, II decides to operate the street
car lines.
Then why not let the company
build all the extensions needed and
make one big job of it," continued
Mr.. Mcvicar. They can build 90
miles this year just as we'll as they
can build six miles, all under one
agreement"
Mr.. Mcvicar warned the aldermen
to beware of the past In granting the
desired and not to slip
up again"
Aid Gutman, president OF the coun-
ell, sees in the coming together OF the
city and the company on the euen-
sions hope OF a settlement OF the en-
tire street car question along similar
lines.
81 would not be surprised to see the
company come forward with some
plan, now that the city has shown a
disposition to deal with II In friend
ly manner" said he TO The Times.
"If the company would agree TO waive
all Its claims to perpetual rights In
the streets and the city would prom
Use to buy all its property at cost, less
depreciation, on expiration OF all exist
ing franchise rights in 1924, I believe
an aQraamant could he raachpd COW
ering the intervening period, that
would be satisfactory to both the city
and the company. In the meantime
the city could be preparing for NUM-
cipal ownership"