The Detroit times., 1912-03-22
ALDERMEN SLASH PARK
BUDGET AS THEY SMOKE
HURLBUT'S GOOD CIGARS
Show Great Eagerness To Weld
the Ak Cuts Totaling
: Over 100000
NEW FERRY DOCK DENIED
Money Asked To Reclaim Land
at Foot of Belle Isle
\ Also Refused

When the council committee on
parks and boulevards finished with
Commissioner Hurlbut's estimates,
Thursday afternoon, the original bud
sGt OF $1,3S3,705 was reduced to s634.-
225, less than half the amount asked.
The budget will go TO the council and
board of estimates within a few hun
dred dollars OF the actual amount APP
propriated for the department last
year. The committee eliminated about
100000, Thursday afternoon, the
other cuts having been made at two
previous sessions. This is the first
reduction OF any significance made by
the council committees In the esti-
mates, and the figures of the park de-
partment are not likely to be trimmed
much further
II was a cruel jolt for Commissioner
Hurlbut TO see his pet plans thrown
Gut by the committee, of which Aid.
John Thompson is chairman. A box
OF fine cigars. the commissioner
tribute to the powers that be. rested
on the committee table, Wednesday
afternoon, and fresh box made it's
appearance Thursday afternoon. The
air was dense with smoke as the CON-
mitteemen pulled Hurlbut's favorite
brand and slashed his estimates. No
sooner was one item cut than the al
dermen would make a break for the
next one, pounce on II like a cat on
a mouse, shake II up and tear II TO
pieces. Before the proceedings were
over il got TO be race TO see which
alderman could get there first with
Che ak. And Hurlbut pulled and
sighed.
Now. now, gentlemen, that item
ought TO be allowed" said the com
missioner THAT is really important
to the department. II. Cut out
did you say"
The committee had cut out the item
while the commissioner was pleading
for II. Il can stand II II you can,
gentlemen" the commissioner would
say III we haven't the money we
can't spend II; that's certain"
The other city departments have
very heavy budgets this year. Larger
appropriations in the department of
public works, police and fire depart
ments are deemed absolutely essen
tiai and the aldermen were glad to
have found place to insert the
knife.
n The largest single item cut out by
the committee, Thursday, was $780,
900 for retaining land at the foot q
Belle Isle. This was planned to work
out in connection with the building of
the Scott memorial fountain. Since
II became apparent that the commit
toe would cut IL out the city plan and
Improvement Fcommission requested
an appropriation OF $4,000 toward
,reclaiming the land. The committee
= did not consider the request in the
meeting, Thursday. II was the alder
mems opinion that the work could be
postponed at least another year.
The estimate OF $150,000 for the
construction of a new steel and con-
crete ferry dock on the island, was
cut out, as was the sum OF $6S,O00
for building another story to the
island bathhouse; $4,000 for sea
wall for the new park at the foot OF
Junction-ave; $4,000 for a conven-
fence station on the island. and S40,-
900 for a trunk sewer on the island.
The committee reduced the item OF
$4,000 for improving Ferry field TO
$4,000, allowing enough TO put in
sewers and water mains and sod the
Nounds.
The wages OF all the women en-
ployed In the park department were
increased from $1.50 TO $175, and the
item OF $40, 695 for the Belle Isle aiko
and phaeton service that had been
reduced to $4,000 was restored to the
former figure, at the request OF Aid.
Brozo and Keusch, to allow the COM
missioner to increase the wages or
the employees in this department El-2
CENTS an hour.
The sum OF $4,000 was allowed for
a new band stand in Clark park, the
commissioner having asked $4,000.
The commissioners estimate of $4,000
for the extension OF Brush-blvd, be-
tween Willis and Alexandrine. was
cut TO $4,000 The estimated balances
OF the department were increased
from $4,000 to $4,000.
attic estimates for the upkeep of
Chicago and Boston-blvds., and Arden
and Virginia parkways were cut In
two by the committee. Aid. Keusch
declared himself opposed to the city
paying for the improvements of the
parkways on the ground that the
residents get nearly all the benefit.
S'The land goes up and the property
owncrs get the benefit, while other
people must pay the greater share OF
the expense" said Keusch. He want.