Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1921-11-25
DIVINE RSH|P Of
TROLLEY LINES
DETR0|T'S PLAN
Voters Decide to Gust the
United Railway From
Two of City's Most I'M
portant ThoroughfareS.
lBr The Assoclated Press,

Detroit, Mich, Nov. 24.--Recent
decision at the polls on the part or
Detroit voters to Gust the Detroit
United Railway from parts OF
woodward avenue and Fort stree!.
two Of the city's most important
thoroughfares, marked another
step in the long fight for a COM
plete municipal street railway sys-
tenn.
Controversy between the De-
troit United Railway and the city
has been almost continuous for
more than two decades. the figiii
cropping out at all municipal cleo
tons in one form or another.
City Is Upheld.
The struggle reached its height
some time ago when the voters
approved a proposal for munich
pay railway system to compete
with the railway company. The
approval was contested by the De-
troit United, however, the company
carrying the fight to the United
States supreme court on the
grounds of illegality in the election
but the city was upheld.
The largest angle of the traction
fight had its inception more re-
Gently, when the city offered the
Detroit United Railway $33S,000
for its tracks and overhead equip
ment on the Fort street and Wood
ward avenue lines. The company
refused the offer. declaring 1t
would tear up the tracks rather
than dispose of them for such a
sum. Franchises held by the com
pany on these lines had expired
and Mayor James Couzens. cham
pion of municipal ownership sub
mitted the custer amendment to
the voters at the recent election.
The voters upheld the mayor by
almost a two to one vote.
The ordinance requires the COM
pany to discontinue service on the
two lines in question by about No.
vember % and A. f. Edwards, the
traction organizations vice presi-
dent, announced as soon as the re-
suits of the election became known
that such action would be taken.
Ninety days additional are granted
the company to remove it's tracks
and trolley wire.
Although Mayor Couzens has not
announced his plans for meeting
the transportation problem that
will arise If service is suspended, II
is known the city expects to depend
upon buses and jitneys during the
period of several months required
to lay municipal tracks
Traffic Congestion.
Woodward avenue is described
by local police authorities as the
most congested city street in the
world. Detroit has no rapid tram
sit, depending upon street cars, mo-
tor buses and jitneys to move its
population. As a large number of
street railway lines center in Wood
ward avenue the traffic congestion
resulting has placed great burden
upon the police departments traf-
fic department. To overcome this
congestion the proposal has been
made that the city lay its munich
pal tracks on avenues near Wood
ward and thus leave the city's chief
thoroughfare free for vehicular
traffic. No definite decision has
been made regarding this matter
however. The Woodward avenue
street car lines at present extend
through Highland park, an exclu-
sive Detroit suburb that also con-
tains several important automobile
plants. That part of Fort street
from which the Detroit United
Railways must remove its tracks
extends from Artillery avenue to
the heart of the city. distance OF
approximately four miles. Several
automobile plants are located in
the Fort street district beyond Ar
tillery avenue. The Detroit United
has announced 1t would attempt to
re-route it's cars on the Woodward
and Fort street lines. bringing them
into the downtown district over
roundabout routes.
Ousting of the Detroit United
Railways from these two streets
will add about seven miles to the
municipal railway system, that now
comprises approximately 100 miles
of tracking.
Franchises on other Detroit Unit
ed Railway lines will expire within
the next few years.