The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1918-06-07

Very resp ct ully,
signed, Fred b. Woodard aud others.
The following petition was presented
and referred to the Department of Public
IMPROVEMENTS
Petition No. 2.
Owosso Mich, May 32, 1918.
To the Honorable Members of lhe Commission
OF the City OF Owosso:
The undersigned tax pave and re ,idents OF
john street, hereby petition your tonorable
body to cause cement curD To be laid on DO h
sides VI Jonu street from Main street to River
stree1. Very respectfully,
Signed, Fred B. Woodland and others.
The following petition was presented
and on motion of Mr.. Rosevear same was
received and filed; ayes, Hanscom, Rose
wear, Wright:
Petition No g.
To the Honorable
THE CITY COMMISSION Of lHE CRY
OF OWOSSO. MICHIGAN.
Your petitioner. Michigan Railway Com
lai,y, respectfully SLOWS:
l.. That it is engaged in the operation of a
street railway in Inc City of )yosso. under
the terms OF an ordinance granted October
October ID, 1895, as amended 10y an ordinance
Owosso and Corunna Electric Street Rail-
way Company, its successors and assigns.
2. That it is now and hes, .ince 1910, been
furnishing street railway service to the inhab-
itants of Owosso in accordance with the fare
fixed by the ordinance, being five cent
tare.
8. That said fare was based upon the nor
mai and prevailing cost of labor and material
used by it in the operation of the street rail-
way, existing at the time and for several
years subsequent to the time said fare was
Gtul Itch ad md In -
ferred to as the normal fare.
4. That during the twelve months I'M
mediateiy last past, your Petitioner has been
compelled to bear an unprecedented and ex-
traordinary increase in the cost oil labor, ma
terial and other items necessary in the oper-
alton of its railway; and that the conditions
now existing were not and could not have
been anticipated when the present normal
fare established; and nothing now JUS
titles any expectation of a decrease in such
costs. but that a steady increase Is certain
for the ensuing twelve months and longer.
g. That your Petitioner has borne these
increases i'm costs for the twelve months inn
mediately last past. and result. has suffered
and is suffering from great financial
losses which will, If continued, inevitably re-
suit in serious curtailment in service; in in
ability to finance its operations in deterior-
alton OF its property; and in insolvency; ana
that by reason of these facts, an emergency
exists that demands and warrants the prompt
granting to your Petitioner of relief in such
manner to enable it to continue to render
in the accomplishment of the common purpose
OF the time.
6. Money, like other commodities, has also |
advanced markedly, All construction and i'm.
provement work is abnormally costly and
puts abnormal permanent capital charge |
against your Petitioners costs. Your Petit |
toners credit, however, must be maintained |
in order that it may secure the money needed /
to continue to adequately meet the demands of |
this growing community. At this time when |
there are extraordinary demands for capital, |
and when street railways are pressed by the
unusual financial situation OF the United |
States and other nations which offer war |
loans at attractive prices with favorable |
conditions, it is absolutely essential for the |
er's ability to efficiently serve the community,
that these conditions be fully recognized.
Your Petitioner, in common with similar
utilities. must pay Z l-2 to per cent and
higher for money needed to carry on It's 6u-
siness. Without relief from your Honorable
Commission. your Petitioners credit will
shortly become very seriously impaired, with
resultant material damage to the City and its
inhabitants
z. The only product your Petitioner has to
sell is transportation. When the cost OF CIV
ing this service increases beyond its ability
to continue to give adequate service and earn
sufficient to pay its fixed charges, it follows
that one of two things must be done; either
the service must be very seriously curtaiied
or the price of its product increased
g. The Massachusetts Commission in grant
ing increased fares recently stated What
ever may be the merits of the claim that
street railway company in these times ought
not to ask normal return upon its Invest
ment, it certainly is not the principle upon
which the industries acting which are sup
plying coal, steel, and other materials to the
railways nor is 1t principle upon which
this Commission would be justified In proceed
ing under the law.
costs taken from your Petitioners records Is
a plain record of what has taken place, and