The Detroit times., 1912-06-17
APPEAL TO RAILWAY BOARD
TO ORDER MORE GRADE
|. SEPARATIONS PLANNED
Local Lines Flatly Refuse To
Increase Annual Appropria-
ton of 100000 for Work
M. C. R. PLEADS POVERTY
Committee Holds Up Action
Pending Report On Money
= Actually Expended
M. C. R. PLEADS POVERTY

The common council may ask the
state railroad commission TO compel
the railroads TO separate more grade
crossings than they are now doing,
lQder the contract Win the city to
spend 100000 annually. The council
committee on grade separation was
told by the Michigan Central, the
Lake Shore and the Wabash railroads,
Saturday. that they will not enter into
| an agreement with the city TO spend
an additional 100000 in separating
grades in the Eighteenth ward. The
only alternative for the city is to APP
peal TO the railroad commission.
This was suggested TO the commit
tee by Corporation Counsel Lawson.
but the committee deferred action
until June 20 On that date the Mich
igan Central railroad agreed to sub
nit TO the committee a sworn state
ment showing just what money the
railroads have spent annually since
the present agreement has been Il
luTCt, anu NOW tue SOSl 10 dppOi biOhSu
among them.
George II. Webb, chief engineer or
rhe Michigan Central railroad, sub
mitted a letter rejecting the city $
proposal calling for the expenditure
of an additional 100000 annually.
The letter stated that the rail-
roads are willing TO transfer their
operations TO the Eighteenth ward,
hut, in that event, they would stop
work in the other sections OF the
city The letter in part. follows;
No matter how much the Mich
igan Central railroad might de-
sire TO comply with the request
OF the city 10 increase this
amount. il is at present not finan-
cially able. The large and contin-
suous growth OF Detroit necessi-
tates great expenditure OF money
on the part OF the Michigan Cen
trial railroad TO enable IL TO salts
factoriy provide for the expedi-
tious handling OF the increased
amount of business that Is tSing
done by the industries of this city.
This involves very large eXpen-
!, diture. OF money for the present
year-amounting TO over mill
ion dollars-and an equal or
greater amount each year for the
next few years TO carry out the
plans projected for this purpose.
Would you have any objection TO
the CITY taking this matter up with
the raiIrouu- cornmfssion2' asked Mr.
lawson The city is willing to Dor
row money TO pay the additional cost
oil its proportion OF the work. We
don't see why the railroads should
not be willing 10 do likewise, II we
presented that to the commission they
might ask you do the work
I'VE entered the contract In good
faith and supposed the city did like
wise" said Mr.. Webb. THE contract
is binding on both parties.
+, The east-side aldermen were con-
stantly shifting the subject to sepa-
rating the Dequindre~st crossings,
while Aid Gilman and the aldermen
of the west side were insisting on the
committee first considering the Eigh-
teenth ward crossings motion was
put TO have the railroads instructed
10 proceed with the LiYernois and
Dix-ave. crossings in 1913, but Mr..
Lawson stated that would involve
drawing new contract as the pres
ent contract provides only for doing
work in other portions OF the city.
The motion was not put TO vote.