The Detroit times., 1913-12-29
BURTON WOULD
CONDEMN DEPOT
Site FOR PARK
Now is Time for City to Ac-
quire Piece of Waterfront"
says alderman
MICHIGAN CENTRAL
HAS OTHER PLANS
Intends to Rebuild Burned Sta
ton and Use il as Freight
Terminal

The Michigan Central fire gives De-
troit the finest opportunity it will have
for years to get possession OF part OF
the water 'front.', saic..-Na,- Charles W.
Burton president OF the common coun-
Gil, Saturday.
Now is the time for the city to
step in and condemn the Michigan
Central station property. while the
building is in ruins. thus saving the
expense OF buying buildings while ac-
quiring land. continued Ala. Burton.
For years people OF Detroit have
said that the city should own part or
all Of the water 'front.'. We have dream
ed OF a municipal waterfront, OF a
beautiful Dark on tGt riverside ia the
heart OF the city cleveland has had
The same cream IN connection with
her lakciront Cleveland has been In
the same situation as Detroit. IN that
the railroads have been in control Oh
her AXE hore In connection with
her new city plans. Cleveland brought
salt TO condemn some OF this property.
lew yeara 2go,.dB. after hard hgnt
was victorious.
s.ll4 Ia h. = - t h il trttt-
ment tor Detroit tc take similar ac-
ton Now ia the time 10 take over,
not only the Michigan Central prop
erty, but also the Grand Trunk station
and the land adjacent The Grand
Trunk building are worth almost noth.
ing. and IN acquiring that land the
city would be put to little additional
expense for the. structures on IT,
81 believe that the G.. Ehas the right
TO condemn this property Tor park.
PURPOSES / InJAnd 10 study the ques-
ton. TO see VOW Detroit can proceed
in the matter / believe that the city
should take ever piece OF property it
can get IL needs more land, and TO
buy land at this time. while the city
is growing into a great future. is a
good investment for the town
AT any rate this would be a big
step toward municipal ownership OF
the waterfront Eventually. we may
have an opportunity OF taking over
still other property along the river, 1t
seems to me that the scheme is worth
thought ana study"
But the Michigan Central has no in.
tention Of giving up its Third-st ter.
minal.
We shall start at once to clear
away the wreckage OF the burned sta.
ton and TO remodel II according TO
the plans already drawn" said l.. u.
Heusner assistant general passenger
agent OF the railroad. Saturday.
The remodeled station Will consti.
tute our freight terminal II won't do
TO say that the fire was providential
but We are in better shape to stand
it than we would have been at any
other time We have moved into the
new station and are running every.
thing in regular order and without con
f. ion
Il do not know the extent of our
losses We have lost number of
records, but there is no way OF els.
timating their importance Many OF
they-wUT-e reSQrds tbAt We are com
peeled by law Keep on hand for
difference. for a period OF years. It is
impossible to tell how important this
loss is
IT is not true that any money was
lost In the fire. Our ticket man drop
ped bill or two, In taking the money
across the street TO safety, but he
was followed by other employees who
picked them up"
The y. t. r. depot service was the
subject OF a good many complaints.
Saturday Al times there were not
more than two cars on the line, and
the schedule was far too infrequent
70 satisfy strangers who came into
town