The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1912-03-28
COUNCIL BOOSTS BUDGET
100000 MORE; SALARIES
TAKE FLIGHT UPWARD
Hundred Thousand Dollars AL
lowed For Retaining Land
at Foot of Belle Isle
D. A. c. GROUNDS TO CITY
Plan Is To Have Purchase Made
BY Park Department Instead
of By School Board

The city budget as reported to the
council by the various committees
was increased by nearly 100000 by
action or the council, "Wednesday al
ternoon, in reinstating several large
sums that had been cut out by the
committees. More salaries were also
raised, notably those OF the secre-
taries OF the various city departments
nearly all OF whom were put on a
basis OF $4,000 year.
Park Commissioner Hurlbut, whose
budget suffered the most In commit
tee. was allowed S6S,0e0 for build
a second story on the Bell Isle bath
house. This item had been elimi-
mated by the committee on parks and
bouleyards. The committee had also
reduced the sum asked for repaving
the Grand boulevard from $4,000
to 500, 900, and the council voted
the original amount. The committee
had cut out the sum of 100000 for
flling I'm the lower END OF Belle Isle
This appropriation was for improve
ments in connection with the build
ing OF the Scott memorial fountain.
Aid. Ellis led the fight against the
reinstatement of the item, but the
appropriation was finally placed at
500, 900 ito allow of start on the
work"
The big fight of the session came
over the appropriation of 100000 10
the Board OF Education for the Dur
chase OF the d. A. c. grounds. The
council struck the item from the
school board budget by a vote of II
A. ~
submit a supplemental estimate of
100000 for the purchase of the
grounds by the park and boulevard
department.. The council will prob
ably pass on the allowance Of the
amount in the park budget, Thursday.
Some OF the aldermen expressed
fear that IL the Board Of Education
had possession OF the land II would
be given over to the exclusive use OF
the public school children. They de-
clared that all the children should be
given the use OF II. The city may
turn II into a park In the future. 1t
vas considered very unlikely that the
land would be used as a site for a new
administration building il the Board
OF Education had possession Of H.
Aid Tossy, Lynch, Koenig and
Schultz led the fight against the ap-
inspiration. Lynch referred sarcasti-
cally TO the plan to buy play ground
for the children on "Piety Hill.
Tossy suggested that the money be
used to purchase two or more smaller
nIaygrounds in the congested districts
d the city. Koenig ridiouled the idea
a. buying 'the most expensive land in
the city" for a playground.
The item originally stood at $780,
600. A committee of educators and
nublic-spirited men appeared before
ne council committee and urged the
Allowance Of the item. but ii was cut
to 5000. 900. Robert Grindley, a real
6state dealer, has an option on the
nroperty and can buy IL for $1S5, 900.
The city would have TO purchase the
land from him.
Commissioner Hurlbut told the
council that he was in doubt about
what material to use in repaving
the boulevard He said he was go
Ing TO ask the advice of the council
on the matter and abide by it's de-
cision. He asserted that he did no.
wish to experiment, but put all the
money to practical use. The council
then reinstated the original estimate
Qf $4,000 for the work
"The boulevard is in a deplorable
dpndition, said Aid. Lynch. Every
dhe Is crying for improvement If
we allow the estimate. the chances
are the estimators win cut IL down TO
$I25, 900, anyway"
"The commissioner should pave
With some material that will stand
IT'D under wear and tear longer than
the present pavement" said Aid.
-Bfaza 81 cannot see+ haLtheIe-is
sny economy in appropriating large
sums to keep up a cheap and faulty
pavement. Asphalt will wear nearly