The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1912-11-09
First Claimed it Lost Money on
FOrt-st. Line, Now Fights
Custer, Says Bancroft
OF DELAY is
SURE TO BE CONTINUED
Company is Evidently Planning
to Carry the Case to the
Federal Courts

according to the d. u. RS own
statement il would save money by
stopping service on the Fort-st. line,
said Frederick Il Bancroft. the engi-
neer who assisted the city in the trial
OF the rental Case, to The Times.
frry- tried IT PREY bat claim
rs too absurd TO consider. II the COM
pany is losing money by operating
the Forrest line. il would be reason
able to suppose that il would be only
too willing 10 stop the service. But.
as a matter of fact, The line is pay
ing proposition ard The company will
undoubtedly fight the custer decree To
the highest court in the land.
The company mas shifted and al
tered its position several times dur
ing the trial of the case. having cor
rected its own briefs Every conten-
ton has been met by Corporation
Counsel Lawson and Special Counsel
Lucking, and the courts have sls-
tanned the city's contentious until the
d. L. X. hasn't leg TO stand on II
ne state supreme court enters the
decree compelling the company To
stop trespassing in Fort-st., within 10
days or get permission from the own
~ OF the street. the city. 10 continue
the use OF the highway. the company
Win probably carry the ease TO the
United States supreme court claim
ing that the court mas no right TO spec
.fy the time within which II must va
cate. and that this would amount 10
confscatioE OF its property without
due process Of Law.
1T Is anything % delay matters and
when the company says II Is ready TO
pull up its tracks just take that with
a grain OF salt There is no danger
OF the company voluntarily pulling up
it's tracks II WON do so until II
loses its hsat in the court OF last re-
sort Talk OF tn, company pulling
mp It's tracks is Just made TO throw
scare into the pubic
"As a matter OF fact il wouldn't pay
the company to tear up its tracks.
Why. it would cost $l470. according
10 the company S own nBuTes, 10 rafIp
out a tie When the tracks are re.
moved they are worth 40 more than
so much junk, so IL would be a waste
OF money 10 tear out the tracks.
When IL came 10 that kind of a show
down the company would probably be
seeking permission from the council
TO leave the tracks in the streets.
That's how much they are worth with
out the company having the right To
operate cars over them and charge
nickel rate of fare
The Fortst. line. on which the
franchise has expired Is bonded Tor
81 100000 and sl.64S,351 in stc<ks.
are issued against 1T.
That means that there is S2,S45..
35l obligations against the line. and
shows how important II Is that the
line be kept in operation. that the
revenue be had TO pay the interes;
on the bonds. II is just as vitality ilf.
portant TO the company that this line
be kept in opera on as ii is impor-
tant to the city that ii has street ear
service, and the city Is In Just as good
a position, ii not better position, 20
! drive as sharp bargain as Is the
/ ID. L. r."
! An attack on Bancroft is made In
/ the companys latest brief. but Bar.
croft only laughed at Engineer Rlfen.
berick's claim that the former Is In
competent 10 Judge of the cost OF con-
struction or removal OF tracks. The
city will file counter brief within
! few days. in which the latest conten.
! tons OF the ID. L. r. will be answered