The Detroit times., 1915-11-05
Let the People
Rule-and Write

want to congratulate ali the vot-
ere who have voted for economical
and practical ownership. by casting
their ballots against this corrupt. in
famous. outrageous steal OF an I'M
certain number Of millions OF dol
lars.
Now let us one and all put our
shoulders to the wheel with the de-
termins sion &C. secure practical
municipal, ownership at the earliest
possible moment. But II the present
administration will not change It's
course and cut out all the dickering
with the ID. u. r.. not let them build
another foot Of street railway--and
does not resign at once 20 to pre-
vent the true municipal ownership
people assuming the management,
then let us wait and suffer for . few
months longer until the present adj
ministration IL placed on the retired
list with the three former admin
lstrations. then elect man as
mayor that you know Is q tried and
true municipal ownership man. and
not an eleventh.hour convert man
that you know has spent his time
and money during the past 20 years
lighting this grasping corporation.
Unless that he can prove that he
has made the light. don't trust him
we have been fooled enough BY
treacherous politicians. Let US at
once begin TO study system Of
building new lines that will give the
best service to the entire city with
the least mileage possible. would
suggest the appointment by the citi.
zens OF citizens committee Of
such men as are known to have Civ
en- this question considerable study
such men as Bancroft. Mcvicar
and others representing different
parts OF the city-to 60 over the
ground. investigate and recommend
a certain system of new lines.
While have not gone over the
ground. but simply used q city map
with the factories and many other
industries marked thereon. I would
suggest the plan that follows or
something similar to be built and
put In operation by the city before
attempting TO take possession OF all
he five-cent lines where franchises
have expired
With the right kind Of man In
charge Of the work. the entire fol-
lowing system could be completed
in six months or less, then take
over Fort-st-. Junction and Hamilton.
under the terms OF the United
States supreme court ruling and the
day-to-day agreement. Then for the
balance OF the fve-cent lines where
franchises have expired. junk every
thing. No dickering with the d. u.
r. Let them come TO the city on
their Bonded knees. pleading for
terms. not only for their city but for
their interurban lines.
LIS give the following plan as a
starter for suggestions: First, build
the cross-town line from Centralave.
on the west size. via McGraw, Mil
waukee and other connecting streets
to Cadillac-aver on the east side,
about nine miles. to be used as part
OF the following two belt lines:
Start the inside belt line at West
JeGersonave. via Junction-ave. TO
McGraw, thence on McGraw. Mil
waukee and other connecting streets
to Van Dyke-ave.: Van Dykeave. to
Jefferson-ave.. about IL miles: then
the outside belt line to start at West
Jeffersop-ave. and Solvayave., north
ON Solvay to Lafayette, Lafayette to
Central, Central to McGraw. Nc
Graw east to Livernois. Livernois
north to Rally, Daily to Joy-rd., JOY
I'd. to Linwood, Linwood to Boston
blvd, to Hamilton. north to Labelle
and Manchester, to Brush-st., TO eth
er Caniff or Holbrook. east to Con-
ant, to Miller, Peter. Hunt and con-
meeting streets to Cadillac-ave., to
Waterloo, to Connor's. to JEFF
ferson-ave., then on Moffat-st. from
Cadillac to Van Dyke. SO to connect
the two belt lines. This line has
less than q miles In all.
Then Twenty-fourth-st. from JEFF
ferson west to McGraw, q little over
three miles, then on Charlevoix fSom
Cadillac on east side via Watson and
Charlotte to Greenwood on the west
side about Al. miles. In all less
than ~ 1-2 miles: now add IL IL
miles for switches, etc. making In
all about 60 miles. At 337.224 per
mile, the amount the city engineers
claim Il cost to build the Junction
ave. line, would make this 90 miles
cost $2,z33.440. but there are miles
Of this line that are not paved.
Therefore, believe that @2.0o0.000
viii complete TINS 90 mites and the
city will not have to spend hundreds
Of thousands Of dollars for repairs
on this line for years a. they will
on the old lines.
About 100000 more win equip
this system with car sheds and all
modern cars and other equipment
ready for operation, leaving $1,000
900 Of the I'll .000.o00 available for
further operatings. With this sys-
| tenn completed. the city II then
ready to take over Fort-st., Junction
ave-, Hamilton and all streets whers
franchises have expired, and then