The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-02-09
FORD STREET CAR MAY OPEN
new ERA IN URBAN TRAFFIC.
DISPLAYING ELECTRIC ROADS
Detroit Will Be Asked to Vote
Big Sum for New Gasoline
Car at April Election
CITIES WATCH PROJECT
Many Towns in Which Trolley
Service Is Bad Are Waiting
Outcome of Experiment.
BY C. C.. LYON

Detroit, Feb. S.-This is not the time
for cities to rush pell-mell into new
fare-rate agreements with their street
car companies that will bind them
hard and fast to increased fares for
years to come.
The whole street railway problem
in American cities may be completely
revolutionized as the result of an ex-
pertinent that is to be tried here in
Detroit within the next few weeks.
Henry Ford and James Couzens,
mayor Of Detroit, are the geniuses
back of the plan to build a system of
municipality lines and operate
gasoline propelled street cars over
them.
Ford has worked out the mechanical
details. while Couzens has looked after
the financing
Other cities can well afford to await
the outcome of the Ford Couzens ex-
pertinent. BY so doing they may save
themselves millions of dollars and in
sure themselves more satisfactory SER
vice.
Ford and Couzens are not idle dream
ers. Ford is mechanical genius and
Couzens is one Of the country's most
successful business men, They've
never yet fallen down on a proposition
they've tackled
In my own mind" Couzens told me,
Il am convinced that Henry Ford has
found way Ito give our people better
and more reliable street car service
at reduced cost. Just as he has
solved the problems OF cheaper motor
transportation and cheaper power for
farmers, | believe he has solved our
street railway problems.
AT least some forward looking men
nA4y. boz
his plan we are asking the voters, on
April 3, to approve a bond issue Of Si5.-
100000 with which to build a municipal
system that will be operated exclu-
sively with Ford gasoline propelled
cars"
Like many another American city,
Detroit has led a cat and dog existence
with its street car company
Because of the long drawn out row.
the company has refused to extend its
lines to keep pace with Detroit's mar
velous growth. The city has gained
about 100000 population since 1910
while the street car system is hardly
adequate for a city Of half a million
instead of one Of nearly a million.
Principal Objects of Couzens' Plan
CouZens' plan has two main objects:
4. To give good street car service
to vast stretches of Detroit territory
that the present company refuses to
tap.
?. To bring about a situation where
the company will be forced to sell out
to the city.
Here's how he proposes to do the
two things:
With the si50O0,0O0 that he expects
the people to vote for the municipality
owned system, he will construct f63
miles of track into territory where the
people have no car lines.
Then backed by a decision OF HE
supreme court of the United states,
ne will condemn and take over and join
up with the municipal system 50 miles
IF track, including the two main street
ear arteries now owned and operated
Dy the company.
Franchises have expired on these
ines and under the court decision the
city may condemn and buy at a figure
hat represents the cost to the COM
Dany, less depreciation.
In this way, for $4,000 a mile, he
expects to buy lines that would now
cost $4,000 mile to construct.
New Bonds TO BE Put on Utility.
Couzens will not ask the people to
vote more than sf5,0O0OO0 for munich
pal ownership, no matter what the
system may eventually cost
The first $4,000 900 'of bonds is to
be a lien on the general tax duplicate,
he same as any other municipal bonds
After that money is spent, IL he needs
more he will issue more bonds and
make them lien on the utility itself
Then municipal ownership advocates
n Detroit have another idea. 1t origi-
lated with Frederick r. Ingram.
When street car line is built into
Jew territory. property jumps in val
e and very often enormous profits go
nto the pockets Of real estate specula-
ors
we propose to condemn and buy
II property for certain distance on
ach side Of the new street car line"
aid Ingram
Then We'll turn around and sell
he property 10 the highest bidders
nd the city and not the real estate
REGULATORS, will reap the profits that
asult from the building OF the city
wned line.
Straight Scent Fare Planned
Couzens proposes that straight b
ant fare with universal transfers shall