The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1914-11-25
City's Refusal To Agree To
Closing of Any Streets
Adds To Expense
of Project
HALLWAY COMMISSION
HOLDS FINAL HEARING
Grand Trunk Pleads For Delay,
Declaring 1t Can't Raise Nee
essary Money

Inc separation OF tue DeQulAulS'
st. grades from Atwater-st. 10 Har'
per-ave., will cost the Grand Trunk
S5,01O,555 according TO figures pre-
pared by the railways engineers
and agreed 10 by the city engineers.
Corporation Counsel Lawson submit
ted these figures to the state rail-
road commission, Tuesday morning,
as the basis on which the commits
sion will work in preparing its order
for the separation OF the grades. The
hearing, which Is final on the De-
quindre-st. grade separation matter,
was held In the council chamber. Its
purpose was to decide on the plan,
the commission having previously de-
cided that the Improvement is a ne
cessity.
The plan calls for "A subways
with necessary track elevation Do
tween Atwater-st. and Harper-ave..
at seven and eight per cent grade,
The council steadfastly refused I'd
entertain plan that contemplated
the closing OF any streets, and as
the railway board can't order this
done, IL was necessary TO submit
The more costly plan. The cost or
constructing A subways complete Is
figured at s2,50s,693 by the Grand
Trunk engineers. J. w. Reid, grade
separation engineer for the city,
stated that he had checked over the
company's figures and was generally
satisfied with them, one exception be-
ing that he did not think the city
should bear the expense OF any bet
terments TO the railroad, such as
paved team tracks, which the COM
pany would have the city pay for.
eve went over the figures as far
as unit prices are concerned and are
satisfied. with them" said Reid.
L. c Stanley. general counsel for
\ the Grand Trunk railroad. argued
that the company did not under
stand that the separation OF the De-
quindre-st. grades was necessary or
proper.
"Then what does the Grand Trunk
propose to do in this matter?" asked
Lawson.
eve propose to avoid making a
concession or agreement without ma
terial aid from our tenant, the Lake
Shore road, which would not be
bound by any agreement we made, .
answered Attorney Stanley. eve
are not In position to make a con-
cession."
IL suppose you will follow any or
der the commission directs without
protest" said Lawson.
That's a very pleasant superstition
on your part" was Stanley's retort
Mayor Marx, who had entered the
council chamber. interrupted at this
point TO say that the city was ready
at any time to stand for Its share OF
ths expense.
Thcn Attorney stanley proceeded
to argue that IL would be impossible
for the Grand Trunk TO expend $4,000
600 for grade separation work be-
cause of the depressing effect OF the
European war on the money market
and the fact that the report OF the
Grand Trunk system from Aug. % to
Nov. Il shows total loss Of $4,000
900.
"The city has not yielded one bit
to accommodate this scheme OF grade
separation" he said. while | real
ize that the Grand Trunk stands in
the position OF unpopularly opposing
scheme the city wants, | tell you,
gentlemen, that IL is impossible for
I us to undertake the work. The carry
ing OF freight and passengers In Mich
igan at the present time Is being
done at loss We are already under
two embarrassments The first Is our
agreement 10 separate the grades in
13 streets on the west side OF the city
from Holdenave. TO McKinley-av. and
Twenty-fftE-st Money cannot be got
ten I'm England for large undertak.
ings at the present time. Let us post.
pone this work until times are better
and money can be more easily gotten
, for It."
Mr.. Lawson explained that tire city
did not care 10 burden the Grand
Trunk Immediately, but would be
agreeable to a plan TO spread the
work over a number OF years. lie
figured that IL would take che Grand
. Trunk at least four years TO complete
Its present grade separation work on
the west side, pointing out that II
would not be necessary for the road
10 go ahead with both Jobs at the
same time. In this event il may be
four years before the Dequindre-st
work is started
with all due Difference to the
Grand Trunk engineers, do not think
that the work Will cost anything like
$4,000, 000." said lawson
Commissioner Lawton r. Hemans
asked the city officials for suggestions
on how they thought the order ough;
10 read In regard TO the time in which
the work will have to be done. Law
son suggested that IL might be fair
10 give the railroad II years in which
TO do H.
II. n. Stafford, chief engineer Of the
Grand Trunk, in replying to lawson,
insisted that the work could not be
done cheaper
Under the head OF miscellaneous
expenditures. the Grand Trunk engin.
ecrs include in their report the fol.
lowing New station and driveway
AZ Gratiotaye., Sl5,395; Farnsworth
yard. paving driyeways. S22.50O train
service during construction, $4,000
proposed new team track north of.Gra-
tiot-aye, $4,000: interest on cost OF
{. construction. two years at Ave per
cent, s455.505; general. legal and en-
Rineers' fees. s594.137. These. togeth-
cr with the cost OF constructing the
subway. clevating the tracks. etc,
make ND the total OF s5.0tO.555.
The commission gave no intimation
as 10 when the order would be Issued.