The Detroit times., 1915-01-20
CITIZENS WAGE
BITTER BATTLE
AGAINST SALOON
Fight to Keep Rum Shop From
Sixteenth and Myrtle-Resi-
dence District, They Say
JUDGE HOSMER WILL
VISIT NEIGHBORHOOD
Courts Decision Likely to Hinge
Largely On Result of
Investigation

Judge Hosmer saces a difficult
problem IN the suit brought by c..
w. Terry, OF No 622 Sixteenth st.
for an injunction restraining Fred
Dreher from establishing a saloon
AT the northeast corner OF Sixteenth
ana Myrtle-sts., and one that the SUI
preme court ultimately will be called
on TO solve, In all likelihood.
The case came on for hearing I'm
the circuit court, Tuesday morning,
and large delegation OF citizens
from the neighborhood, including
many women, was on hand 10 lend
moral support. Some OF them also
took the witness stand and backed
up Mr.. Terry's testimony as to the
residential character OF the neigh
borhood, except for the presence OF
business places on Myrtle-st. which.
ne contended, were there for the
convenience OF the surrounding resi-
dents. The Warner-Cramton law
prohibits the establishment OF sa-
loon In residence districts without
the consent OF all property owners.
within 800 feet OF the proposed To-
cation.
IL was brought out that about the
only buildings erected on Myrtle-st.
IN the vicinity OF Sixteenth, within
recent months have been built for
business purposes and that several
different kinds OF business are rep
resented in the block between six.
teenth and Fifteenth. The proposed
saloon building. the location OF
which the common council took out
or the restricted district without the
knowledge OF the residents. fronts
on Myrtle-st.. with a side door on
sixteenth, and ii was evident from
the questions asked by Dreher's at
torney, John ID. Mckay, that the de-
Tense Will rest solely on the conten-
tion that Myrtle is a business rather
than a residence street.
II live on Eliot-st." Judge Hosmer
interjected during the taking OF tes-
timony. Il have no doubt that the
establishment OF saloon on Eliot
ST would greatly depreciate the val
lie or my property and be an offense
TO the neighborhood However, If a
saloon were placed on Woodward
ave. at or near Eliot-st., that would
be q different matter, Woodward
ave. being a business street"
From the courts remarks, Ii would
appear that his decision depends on
whether the stores and the street
car line on Myrtle-st. rob jt of its
residential character. There is nc
doubt at all that Sixteenth st. Is
overwhelmingly a residential street.
Judge Hosmer will make a per
sonal visit TO the neigh borhood be-
fore announcing his decision.
One point developed was that no
new saloons had been established in
this district since the Warner
Cramton law went into effect.
Attorney Mckay made a point OF
the fact that most of the witnesses
sworn in behalf OF the petition were
opposed to the saloon as an institu-
tion and would like to see them all
abolished. The Rev Luther r.. Love
joy. pastor of the Fourteenth
Methodist church. was one OF these.
but he qualified his answer.
'In matter OF this kind, can
see as clearly as anyone" he said.
There Is no question that a bar
located down town like the one In
the Pontchartrain hotel for instance.
would do less harm than a saloon To-
Gated in densely populated resi-
dence district Relatively there is
"a difference"