The Washington times., 1923-05-16
DE RO|T MAKES
CAR SYSTEM
SUCCESS
City-Owned Street Railways
Make Big Profit With
FiVe-Cent Fares
nv Cosmopolitan News Service.

by Cosmopolitan Newe Service.
DETROIT. Mich. May 15.-De-
troit. Americas fourth largest city,
stands today an example OF the sue
cess of municipal operation Of its
street railway system.
AS the largest city having its
car system completely under mu-
nicipal control, Detroit today ends
the first year of its experiment.
The result is improved service, bet
ter morale among the employees and
a financial success on a five-cent
satisfaction to the citizens OF De-
troit, Mayor Frank e. Doremus
said today.
On May Is. 1922, the city added
to it's own system of sixty-three
miles of track $40 miles owned and
operated by the Detroit United Rail
way.
Forecasting still greater success
for the municipal system, which is
rapidly being extended under the
policy which Senator James Cou2-
ems outlined when he originated the
city operation plan while mayor,
Doremus, Couzens' successor, said
today:
Earnings in improvements.
During the past year a compare.
tive program was adopted to re-
habilitate the tracks and equipment
taken over from the former owner,
and this program has been financed
from earnings Of the system. Ow.
ing to the condition Of the track
ait the time of purchase, It will re-
uuire several years to complete this
program.
THE department il now planning
an extensive program of track lay
ing and improvements.
Detroit is one of three cities in
the United States having a popula.
ton of more than 5000 people that
Is still operating on a five-cent fare.
Municipal ownership of a street
railway system is not an easy thing
to accomplish Any little thing,
any act Of discourtesy or temporary
failure Of service is held directly
against the city government by GER
tain persons. For that reason, we
welcome complaints, that we might
correct the things that are annoy
ing the people Of the city.
System q Success.
II said during the campaign that
municipal ownership must succeed.
1 feel can say safely now that,
TO date. it has succeeded and that
there is every reason in the world
to believe that our advance 50 far
is but a small fraction of the ad-
vances we will make.
with our system performing in
a manner that is noteworthy for
the short space. OF time in which
we have had 1t. we will show con-
clusively that municipal ownership
is a definite reality and not a
vague dream.
'It is my opinion that the people
are amply justified in viewing the
| results of the past year with sat
isfaction. Much remains to be done
to give car riders the service -
which they are entitled.
I'VE can all find qualification in
the fact that the system Is now
being operated for profit and that
the earnings, dS last IN LnSy az
cumulate, are being applied on the
payment of the debt, improvement
Of service and rehabilitation Of the
system.
$4,000 900 Income.
William B. Mayo. Ford Motor
Company engineer. who also is a
member of the street railways com.
mission, declared today that 1.-The
first years operations have been
satisfactory in every way
Here is resume Of the status
Of municipal operation of street
railway lines at the end OF the first
year:
Gross income. 1000 ,oO0 net in.
come. $1,000 900; set aside from in.
come to meet interest and sinking
fund charges, $4,000 900; paid in
taxes. $500. 900: paid on D. u. r.
contract, $1,000 900: total trackaee.
373 miles, with 500 cars; total
number Of passengers carried,