The Detroit times., 1914-08-25
D. U. R. IS LOSER
in BIG SQUABBLE
OVER SWITCHES
Must Use Barcroft's Plans For
Connection of Dix-ave. and
Belt Lines
MEANS MOVING TRACKS
AWAY FROM THE CURB
A. H. Snyder, Winner in Court
Battle, Repeats Before
Council Committee

OpJectors 10 the proposed double
track switch connecting the Baker-st
line with the new Grand Belt line oi
the d. U. r.. at Dix and Junction
aves.. won notable victory, Monday
morning. when the public utilities
committee OF tn common council
unanimously voted to allow the ID. u
r. to construct the curve, but only In
accordance with plans presented by
Engineer Frederick T. Bancroft, re
tanned by A. H. Snyder. the principal
objector.
Mr.. Barcroft's plans, submitted to
the committee two weeks ago and re-
ferred to City Engineer Mccormick
last Friday, were returned to the com
mittee, Monday morning, with the
full approval OF the city's adviser
Mr. Mccormick corroborated Mr.. Bar
crofts statement that the curve was
the same as that now at Congress
and Griswold-sts,. place where traf
nc is much heavier than II will ever
be on the Belt line.
In addition he cited interesting fig
ures to show the effectiveness of the
curve. An attache of the city engin.
eer's Office had. he said, counted the
cars passing the Congress and Girls.
wold-st. curves between the hours OF
and 8 on weekday morning, and
found that 1872 cars passed each other
at this point. A curve capable OF &C.
commodating such large number OF
cars Is, In his opinion, bore than cap.
able OF meeting demands placed upon
1t on the Belt line for years to come
The curve. as laid out and already
started by the ID. u. R., has been the
bone OF contention between the com.
pany and property owners ever since
its lines became apparent. An ex.
ceedingly wide curve, constructed, &C.
tcording to the ID. u. R. attorneys. to
allow cars to negotiate the curve In
opposite directions without striking
each other. cuts inside the curb line
OF A. III. Snyder. Dix-ave. baker. Mr.
Snyder took the matter to the circuit
court and obtained restraining or.
der from Judge Hosmer, who held tha,
the council action authorizing the
construction OF the Belt line gave the
ID. u. r. no authority to construct
connections with any other existing
lines.
The fight was transferred to the
public utilities committee OF the
council when the ID. u. r. applied for
specific permission to lay It's curve
according to the plans prepared by I,
and submitted to the department oi
public works.
Bernard f. weadock, attorney for
the ID. u. r., led the fight against the
Barefoot plan, contending that Il did
not make proper allowance for clear.
ances OF cars and that, as result,
frequent delays would result In bring
Ing cars In and out OF the car barns,
which are located at DIX and Liver.
nois-aves
Mr. Bancroft pointed out that his
curve, while essentially the same as
that at Congress and Griswold-sts..
allowed clearance seven and one
half inches greater, and that II was
the same as all other d u R-cuEpes
In the city, save the one at Michigan
and Woodward-aves
The adoption of the Bancroft plan
VIII necessitate the moving OF the
present curved tracks OF the d. u. r.
four and half feet In toward the
center line OF the street, and will al
low fullwidth sidewalk In front
Of the Snyder bakery.
As was the case In all former meet
ings OF the committee to discuss the
matter, large crowd OF objectors and
property owners In the vicinity were
present.
d. p. w. Commissioners Fenkell was
the only person. aside from d. u. r.
employees. to uphold the curve as now
laid out. Tie insisted that the Belt
line would, within q short time, be.
come one of the most popular and
heavily travelled lines In the city, and
that clearance curve was q neces-
sity TO avert collision OF cars and &C
cidents to passengers who might ex.
pose certain portion OF their bodies
while the cars were rounding the
curves, thus laying themselves liable
to serious Injuries by being caught
between the cars