The Detroit times., 1912-03-06
$4,000 Q=NIILzBE=ASKED-I0=
SECURE PRELIMINARY PLANS
FOR SUBWAY ON WOODWARD
Council Committee Votes To
Have Giant Project Looked
Into Carefully
TORONTO SHOWS THE WAY
Canadian City To Build Subway
Cost Here Would Be
$l,000,000 a Mile

That the city officials are awake to
me necessity for Immediate action to-
ward securing additional transporta-
ton facilities for the citizens OF De.
trolt was evident from the earnest
manner in which the public utilities
committee OF the common couEcil
took up the discussion of the subway
project, acting under Aid. John
Lodges resolution, Wednesday even
ing.
The net result of this first meeting
was 10 pass a resolution requesting
the department OF public works to put
In supplemental estimate for
$4,000 to provide preliminary plans
for a subway on Woodward-ave. The
committee was unanimous on tie
proposition and there is no question
but that the council will back up lhe
committees action next Tuesday
night.
The fact that Toronto, with $50, 0,000
inhabitants as compared with De-
troit's 100000, has not only had plans
prepared for a subway, but has also
received bids on the work, Is likely
TO serve as an example for Detroit in
the subway movement. William H.
Adams, OF Adams & Cummins, civil
and consulting engineers In the Fore
building, appeared before the commit
tee and gave some interesting infor
nation as TO the Toronto plans, a
copy OF which he has I'm his Office He
pointed out that Detroit and Toronto
are laid out in much the same way,
and thought that this city could prof
itably watch the progress OF the work
there.
Mr.. Adams suggested that a con-
mission should be appointed TO take
charge OF the subway project, this
commission to employ outside experts
for the purpose OF determining tue
type of cars TO be used, and, In short,
10 fix the general mechanical details
before any bids are asked He CN.
pressed the opinion that il was abso
lutely essential TO determine these
details first OF all
The subway as contemplated would
run under Woodward-ave. at least as
far as the Boulevard. City Engineer
Mccormick estimated that the cost
of a double-track subway would be
of 81 900. .009 peF~mile.,
The committees first idea was tnat
the city engineer could prepare the
preliminary plans, and had made such
a provision in the resolution, but at,
ter the matter had been discussed
more thoroughly. the idea prevailed
that these details should be left 10
experts ON subway construction, as
the city engineer already has about
all the work he can take care of com
fortably.
II. w. Heating, well-known De.
troit~ engineer, suggested that the
council ask for competitive plans and
the idea was we'll received
Two other engineers, George III.
and T.. NJ Walker the latter
of the Michigan Central railroad,
We're on hand and gave the commit
tee some valuable information on sub
way construction, all of which tended
to arouse enthusiasm for the project.
X. II. Fyfe, the Woodward-ave. mer-
{ chant. talked on the necessity for i'm.
action in view OF Detroit's
rapid growth and the present con
gestion OF the surface lines.
Mr., Adams mentioned the names OF
a number OF noted engineers as eX-
rerts on subway construction, includ-
Ing William Barclay Parsons. OF New
York; Bion J, Arnold, of Chicago; A
b. du Pont, OF Cleveland. and Henry
3. Riggs, of Riggs & Sherman, To
ledo.