The Detroit times., 1915-10-14
This and New Termi-
nal Given Credit For
Increased Receipts
CONGESTION
is RELIEVED
New Switching Yards
In Windsor Result In
Great Saving

That the Michigan Central tunnel
and new terminal have been an I'M
qualified success, not only from the
standpoint OF economy in both time
and cost in handling traffic, but from
the standpoint of the public service
as well, is shown by statement is
sued by Henry Russell, vice-president
and general counsel of the railroad
company.
On any trunk line with fuctuat-
ing volume of traffic there are usual
ly points which tend to limit the
amount of business which can be
done on the whole line, Mr.. Russell
points out. The Detroit river was
always one OF those points, he says.
and he details some of the troubles
which used to be experienced in get
ting freight and passenger traffic
across the river.
BY 1906 these troubles had be-
come go serious, he declares, that
the company was faced with the
necessity of largely increasing Its
investment in ferry transfer equip
ment or doing something else. and
the committee of directors was ap-
pointed which finally recommended
the construction Of the twin-tube
tunnel and new terminal The tun-
mel was commenced Immediately
and completed in 1910. the tunnel
and terminal, costing a sci 200, 900
investment, 100000 of which was
represented by capital stock Of the
terminal company and the remain
der by bonds.
What the result Of the building of
the tunnel and terminal has been Is
shown by figures comparing the pas
senger and freight earnings for two
three-year periods, the first includ
ing the years 1907. 1908 and 1909
before the construction of the tunne
was undertaken, and the secont
including the years 1912. 1913 ant
1914. after the tunnel was in use, al
though the advantage of the ter
minal was had OILY for the last
year of this latter period.
Passenger earnings tor the sum
mer months showed an increase OF
1914 per cent, for the winter
months of 34.S7 per cent, of total
increase Of 31.9 In the latter period
over the earlier three years. Freight
earnings on the same basis showed
an increase of 21.7 per cent alto
gether, the gain for the summer
months being 20.94 per cent and
that for the winter months being
22.47 per cent. The combined
freight and passenger earnings
showed a total increase OF
24.49 per cent, or an increase oil
1851 per cent for the summer and
%. As per cent for the winter months
Mr.. Russell points out that it II
impossible to tell how much of thu
increase shown Is due to the i'm
prcvements and how much repre-
sents a normal growth Of the road
His company seems, from the ton
of the statement, however, to be er
tirely satisied with its investment
He adds:
"A material saving has also bee
obtained by the transferring to tn
new freight yards at Windsor, col
structed for this purpose, of all tn
switching operations necessary o
through freight trains, thus relic
ing the Detroit yards (which wcr
rapidly becoming congested an
overcrowded owing to the extraol
binary industrial growth of Detroit
and increasing their capacity abou
40 per cent Another item, the e'
act amount of which can not nov
be computed because of the loss o
records by fire, is the saving in pc
diem charges on loaded and empt!
freight cars. particularly empty cars
many of which were formerly FIRE
uuently held back on either side o
the river as a matter or necessity II
order that the forwarding Of loade'
cars might be expedited. Unde
present conditions, there being NJ
congestion at this point, empties ar
forwarded without delay"