The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1915-11-09
Let the People
Rule-and Write

To the Editor Of The Tymcs:
In IN editorial. Friday. you state
what Is logically the first duty OF
the street railway commission" now
that It's attempted decker with the
d. u. r. has gone to the scrap heap
where much OF the stun II wanted
to buy from the ID. u. II. should be
already. viz: ITO prevent the issu-
ance Of any more bonds based on
the properties o. the y. u. r."
II strikes me II has a higher and
prior duty to the citizens OF Detroit,
to obey the law (charter) and fol.
low the line Of procedure pointed
out by the United States *
court. The COMM Tall three
members, as ] understand. were
Unanimously showed utter waste OF
thousands OF dollars In procuring
the Bemis appraisal. which II APP
parently never used. Then there
are other thousands the commission
spent for a trafic survey, which
may or may not be Of use. as the
commissions business ability de-
velops. Then there are other thou
sands to be paid for the useless and
futile efforts OF Messrs. Lucking and
Lawson. hired in the same manner
as the ID. U. r. was permitted 10
build the Junction-ave. belt. or such
portion OF II as II has seen 1T to
build TO date, instead OF having II
completed In 1913, as any compe.
tent contractor could have complet.
ed II, and at less cost.
Would II not be businesslike now
to engage a genuine. practical street
railway engineering expert to look
over the entire situation with a view
TO the city proceeding to municipal
ownership and. operation forthwith;
getting at the actual value OF the
ties. rails and overhead equipment
in Forrest. then paying for the work
the city has been stuck for on the
Junction-ave. belt and finishing the
line by contract after open compe.
tition. the city furnishing the rails
ties and overhead equipment, to be
put In place by the contractor un,
der the city experts supervision!
Then offer the d. U. r. 10 to ~
per cent more than full appraisal
value Of its ties. rails and overhead
equipment in Fort.st., and IL the ID
U. r. declines to sell at such offer
ed price, let II remove same from
the street and restore the street o.
to foundation and pavement. under
direction and supervision OF the ID
p. W.. say one or two blocks. or
1000 feet at a time.
Get some such competent expert
street railway mau or A. B. Du
pont. who was Tom l.. Johnson's
right-hand man in Detroit, and who
knows our needs az few others do
II the d. U. X. doesn't soon tire OF
taking up and making junk Of what
II can get q liberal price for. l shall
surely miss my guess.
Let our street railway commits
sioners redeem themselves by doins
something for the city even IL lots
OF ID. u. r. stun IL junked. and stop
all dickering with the private cor
poration that has ruled US, spat upon
up, flouted our every request, and
heaped contumely upon us for half
century, during all which time II
was or should have been making
money, or at least was taking IT out
Of Detroiters.
Don't attempt to see how much
OF IL the ID. ". r. can be coaxed
bullied or forced into putting into
operation" as you suggest in regard
to the $4,000 trafic survey. Don't
dicker with the ID. ". r. at all
Track work cannot now be properly
done at the edge OF our winter sea
son, and before II can he properly
done there will be no necessity OF
dickering with the ID. u. r.. as the
franchises on all streets needed will
have expired before coming winters
frost Is out Of the ground, and the
city can do its own changes neces'
sary for relieving congestion. All
that Is needed Is an honest, earnest
businesslike and energetic push by
the street railway commission and
the city administration.
Yours for municipal ownership
that Is sure to pay from the start
TINES ADMIRER.