PAGE EIGHT
THE DETROIT JEWISH CHRONICLE
Citizens, Here's What the Couzens Plan
Would Mean for Your Section of the City;
Consider Well Before You Vote On April 5
Ghost Tracks of' "C" Lines
On the East Side -
West Side Woes Under
the Couzens Plan
To the people living east of St. Jean south of Harper and east of Van
The Couzens plan of piece-meal operation could not have been framed bet•
Dyke, north of Harper:
ter if the mayor was out after revenge against the people on the west side
Mayor Couzens is asking you to guarantee with your property a $1.5,000,- and particularly the lower section.
000 bond issue for a political football railway and gives you nothing in
People traveling to or front the territory west of Junction will be called
return.
upon to pay T tV0 fares while traveling on the Fort-Woodward and the Fort-
West Jefferson lines.
Within this territory only "C" lines are planned and there isn't a dollar to
Mayor Couzens proposes to cut these lines in two at Artillery. Ile wants
build them. "C" extensions cannot be built before another election Is held
and the people approve. Even then there will not be any public utility bonds to operate east of that point and let the Company have the west side. This
means
one fare to the Company and one to the Mayor to come down town.
available—not even enough to give you needed water main extensions.
Does this appeal to you?
This Is how the mayor's plan crucifies this section of the City now rapidly
Not only are double fares and broken service the part that will come to
building up! The exception Is Charlevoix extension the major portion of
the people under the Couzens plan but there are no additional car lines for
which merely parallels existing lines.
this section.
For this section the D. U. It. proposes tracks on Six-Mile Road from Van
The Central avenue line is a "C" line for which nothing is allowed in the
Dyke to Gratiot; on Harper from Montclair to Alter Road; on Warren $15,000,000 bond issue. "C" lines cannot be constructed without another
(over its own property which it will turn over to the city) to the limits. The vote and there will be any bonds available by that time.
Company also proposes to construct the Charlevoix line not where it isn't
Fully fifty per cent of the Fort traffic is west of Artillery. They'll all
needed but where it is needed—east of St. Jean.
have to pay additional fares.
Nothing in the mayor's plan gives any relief to the users of the Baker,
The Company agrees to extend the one tare to the Seven Nine Road on
Sherman and Michigan lines—except to relieve them of some of their money
Oratlot with transfers.
thtough having to pay DOUBLE FARES.
In view of the fact that the mayor's plan will give the people of this sec-
In view of the fact that the mayor's plan will give the people of this section
tion neither extensions nor service they should vote NO on April 5.
neither extensions nor service they should vote NO on April 5.
One Rate of Fare to the
Eight Mile Road
This offer is made by the Detroit Unites Railway but does not appear in the
Couzens plan.
The Couzens plan makes no provision for serving that part of Detroit be•
tween the Six and the Eight-Mile Roads and Livernois and Van Dyke. Even
worse it threatens to deprive the people of the service they now have by
turning interurbans at the city limits.
The Couzens plan proposes lines on Six-Mile Road, on Livernois north of
the Six-Mlle Road and on the west side of the Eight-Mile Road. But these
are "C" line extensions and no allowance is made for them in the $15,000,.
000 mortgage on the people's homes. They cannot be built until a later bond
issue is voted and by that time the city will have issued all the public utility
bonds the law allows. "C" In this case elands for counterfeit.
In the meantime your money will be building lines in Hamtramck and
Highland Park whose people will fix the fare within their limits.
Under the Couzens plan it will cost one fare to the Six-Mile Road; another
to Baltimore; another to the city hall and a fourth to Belle Isle.
For this section the D. U. R. agrees to one fare to the Eight-Mile Road;
to, build on the Six-Mile Road; on Jos. Campau to the SeveneNtile-Road on
Dequindre to the Eight-Mile Road; on the Eight-Mile Road to Woodward;
on Oakland to Six-Mile Road. It agrees to operate the entire system for
one fare.
In view of the fact that the mayor's plan will give the people of this sec.
Don neither extensions nor service they [should vote NO on April 5.
That Grand Belt Jumble
Under the Couzens Plan
Woodward alone requires a half minute service at times. It is now an
overloaded car lice and might to be relieved of Porno of its burdens but
under the Couzens plan the congestion will be infinitely worse than now.
The Mayor proposes to take over the Grand Belt lines on Milwaukee and
operate from it to the north the John R line, the Hamilton line, the Twelfth
Street line, and the Linwood line. All the passengers from these lines will
transfer to the Grand Belt line and in turn will have to be transferred to
the Woodward line--the only line on the Couzens map that goes from the
north to the heart of the City. Can you imagine this service?
The Company cannot now operate all the cars it would like on Woodward
avenue to properly take care of the service but the Mayor's piece-meal plan
is going to dump a lot more passengers and cars where they cannot now be
carried!
That section of the city north of the Boulevard to the Six-Mlle Road and
between' Brush street and Dexter Boulevard will, under the Couzens plan
be deprived not only of regular service but forced to pay double fares. On
the Hamilton line under the Couzens plan three fares are in sight--one to the
Company from the heart of the City to Hoiden; one to the City to Webb and
another to the Company to points beyond.
In view of the fact that the mayor's plan will give the people of this sec-
tion no extensions except to take John It Street away from other vehicular
traffic and that double fares and unnecessary transferring will follow they
should vote NO on April 5.
Under New Rides At Cost Plan The D. U. R.
Would Provide 350 New Cars Like These At Once
If the $15,000,000 piecemeal, double
fare M. 0. plan is defeated April 6
and the people later approve the sere
able, business like rides-at-cost set-
tlement plan which will be placed be-
fore them at a later election, Detroit
will get 350 new cars of this type-
200 motors and 150 trailers, THIS
N EAR. These cars are of the very
latest design, are roomy and comfort-
able and are of steel construction
BUILDiNG OF NEW CAR
LINES PREVENTED BY
THE CITY OFFICIALS
Company's Offer to Spend Upwards
of $10,000,000 a Year Ago Was
Spurned by Politicians Who Now
Criticize D. U. R. for Lack of See.
vice,
Under date of February 19, 1919,
more than one year ago, President
Frank W. Brooks of the Detroit Unit.
ed Railway wrote to the Board of
Street Railway Commissioners which
was under control of Mayor Couzens
and offered to spend upwards of $10;
000.000 in building new car lines, pro-
viding new cars, car houses, power
houses and other equipment that
would assure the people of Detroit of
satisfactory car service. This offer
was flatly turned down by the railway ;
commission. and now Mayor Couzens
and the Detroit News characterize the
D. U R.'s present offer to build ex-
tensions. etc., as a "dying effort" and
Inquire, "Why wasn't the offer made
several months ago?" Kneeing full ;
well that the company's eedeavor to
Improve its property and give salts; ,
factory service, was killed in the city
ball and the company absolutely block-
ed. the M. 0. propagandists now yell
about "death bed repentances" and
blame the company for not giving
throughout. These care will enable
the company to greatly improve ser-
vice. The company further pledges
itself to provide 100 more motors and
100 more trailers In 1921 and by De.
cember 31, 1923 replace ALL SINGLE
TRUCK CARS WITH DOUBLE
TRUCK CARS OF THE LATEST
TYPE. If the mayor'. 'plan carries
YOU WILL NOT GET THESE CARS;
it would be three or four years before
any service could be given by the M.
HAD YOU THOUGHT
OF THIS?
Under the Couzens plan
you will not be able to go
to Palmer Park without
paying TWO FARES.
This great playground of
the common people will not
be available for those who
are served by the Piece-meal
M. 0. Railway.
Will Mr. Couzens Place
his many pretty limousines
at the disposal of the Com-
mon People so that they
won't have to pay extra
fares to reach the park?
0. line and then only a small portion
of the city would be served. In the
meantime the politicians would pre-
vent the D. U. R. from improving its
service AND YOU, Silt. CAR RIDER,
WOULD GET IT IN THE NECK. If
you want the street car question set•
tied permanently; if you want new
extensions, new cars and immediate
improvement of service vote NO on
the mayor's double fare plan.
er down-town re-routing system for
the relief of the congestion in the
center of the city. And in addition to
provide needed cars, power houses,
car houses, and other facilities. the
cost of all which we estimate as ap-
proximating $10,000,000. In conclusion
I assure you that It is our earnest de-
lire that some arrangement will re-
sult from the pending negotiations
that will assure the people of the city
as satisfactory transportation service
for all the people as can be provided
by an exclusive surface railway sys-
tem."
A week later the street railway com-
mission replied as follows: "We have
also considered your final suggestion
to proceed under an arrangement to
be made to construct the several
extensions and beg to advise that un-
der no circumstances are we willing
to consider any such plan"
Detroit may, if It wishes, place
of the Company wrote to the railway
itself In a position whence its peo-
commission February 19, 1919:
ple will be able to see the end of
"I express my willingness to at once
their street car troubles. But if it
proceed under any roper arrangement
proceeds according to the piece-
to he made to construct the several ex.
meal program at present before the
tensions and new lines admitted to be
voters it will kick over every prom-
greatly needed. For instanee: On
ising prospect To 0. K. the piece-
L nwood ad Twelfth streets: The Joy
meal program will be so disastrous
Road cross Pee from Grand River to
an act that it will be close to a
Jos. Camp: u; the extensions of the
crime against the city's whole fu-
East Warren and Mack lines; on the
ture.—Detroit Free Press.
east site a north and south line; the
cornection or the Nisei( Myrtle lines,
meether with •th • ` • tracks and
Do you want +table fares or a nnl
good service.
fur a prop- fled one for.
railways?
Hers le the letter President Brooks ifecilitles -•
But Subways Are
What We Most Need
The rest selling of some of the
advocates of Mayor Compile' piece-
meal street railway program would
be amusing were it not for the fact
that they are dealing with a sub.
Jett which concerns every dweller
in Detroit.
When Attorney Charles NI. Wil-
kinson, who is also president of the
mayor's street railway commission,
and presumably speaks with author.
icy, Informed the Detroit Real Es-
tate Brokers' association that the
administration was firm in its re-
fusel to develop subways or other
rapid transit facilities as part of
the present traction plan, he made
an assertion that called for effete.
nation, because it was a direct blow
at the cherished hopes of thousands
of citizens who had longed for the
time when they would be able to
get out of the downtown district
and reach their homes in the out-
skirts in something like reasonable
time. And Mr. Wilkinson was
prompt in giving the reason for
this refusal. The city could not
undertake the construction of sub-
ways at this time, he declared, for
it would be necessary to build one
line at a time. Therefore, as the
city cannot build all of them it is
not considered practical to build
any.
That disposes of the subway ques-
tion, and the hordes who of necee.
elty do business in the downtown
stores and Offices will continue to
fight for a rush-hour toe hold, the
while they console themselves with
the knowledge that not being able
to have a whole loaf they are de-
nied even a crust.
This city needs rapid transit
through subways and must have It
at once.—Detroit Free Press.
Ole Hanson Changes His
Municipal Ownership Views
THE COUZENS' PLAN
MEANS DOUBLE FARES
If the $15,000,000 "Pig in a Poke" Scheme is Adopted Detroit
Car Riders Will be Stung
Before going to the polls April 5th, It visiting Mende or In otherwise tray
Is well, MR. and MRS. VOTER, that cling around the city?
you clearly realise that it the $15,000 ;
The bother of frequently changing
000 piecemeal, "Pig in the Poke" M. from city to D. U. It. care and vice
0. railway plan is adopted, you will
have to pay TWO OR THREE FARES
for a single trip.
This is an indisputable fact.
1115 honor, the mayor, his journal's.
tic-political adviser, The Detroit News,
nor any of the other piece-meal rail-
way construction propagandists have
es yet been able to give assurance
that there will be transfer between the
M. 0. system and the Detroit United
Railway lines.
Ills honor ducks the vital question
by saying it is "presumed" that trans-
fers will be exchanged. The Detroit
United Railway, however, flatly and
frankly and honestly says to the pea
pie of Detroit that EXCHANGE OF
TRANSFERS WILL NOT BE POSSI.
BLE.
Here is the statement signed by the
Cotnpany:
"In view of the facts and In the
light of all experiences of the past
the company frankly states it will
not be possible for the people to avoid
paying two or more fares with two
systems operating where one would
be the charge under a unified system."
Have you studied the map and do
you realize what a comparatively
email portion of Detroit's territory
would be served if the 71. 0. line ever
got into operation? Don't you realize
that the D. U. R. would still be in
control of the big majority of the lines
and that you could not avoid using
cars of that railway even if you de.
slred? Have you figured the bother,
inconvenience and extra expense
which would be forced on you and
members of your family by reason of
two conipeting systems. What would
It mean to you in reaching your work,
versa would be hatclerable, to say noth
Mg of the extra fares which you would
have to pay.
Perhaps you beard that the city
would order the D. U. It. to keep its
interurban cars out of the city and
this would cause the company to C011111
to time and agree to an exchange of
transfers. DON'T YOU BELIEVE ITI
THIS IS PURE BLUFF AND 1118
HONOR KNOWS IT. WHY? Because
the company is prepared to bring the
interurbans into the city over private
rights.otway and over streets when
it still holds franchises. NOT A SIN.
GLE INTERURBAN CAR COULD BB
KEPT OUT OF THE CITY and his
honor, and the Detroit News are well
aware of the fact. In addition the
city authorities would not dare bat
the interurbans which yearly bring
hundreds of thousands of people luta
the city and these people spend in the
aggregate a tremendous sum with the
merchants of Detroit. And it is aloe
a tact that thousands of our citizens
patronize these interurban. for trips to
nearby towns, especially during the
summer cottage season.
Mr. and Mrs. Voters, don't be misled.
Demand that his honor give you defb
rite proof that you will not have to
pay two or three fares; demand that
the Si. 0. propagandists produce a
written contract or agreement with
the D. U. R., guaranteeing an exchange
of transfers. The fact is TIIEY CAN'T
GIVE YOU ANY GUARANTY.
Do you want to pay double tares
while the Detroit News bosses and
experiments with a street railway in
which $15,000,000 of your money would
he sunk? Of course, you don't. Thew
vote NO on April 5th.
M. 0. in Actual Practice in Detroit
How Do You Like the Service Furnished By the Lighting
Plant, the Water Works and the Belle Isle Bath House?
The politicians who are tearfuhy
pleading with you to approve a $15,•1
000,000 bond issue at the election
April 6 for a municipal, double fare,
piece-steal railway which the Detroit
News would like to boss, are telling
you that they could efficiently operate
a street railway system.
And yet these politicians are the
ones who have the management of the
public lighting plant, the water works,
the Belle Isle bath house, the sewer
system and other public utilities.
The lighting plant has failed to
keep pace with the growth of the city
and recently the council entered into
three.year contract with the Detroit
Edison Co, for lighting a portion of the
city because the lighting plant couldn't
co it. It is also Interesting to note
also that the mayor says his munici-
pal line will have to depend on the
Edition Co. for which to operate cars.
What kind of municipal ownership
could you call that? It is a brand,
however, that satisfies some of our
present city officials. The last re-
port of the Detroit Edison Co. on file
In the county clerk's office shows the
following among the stockholders:
James Couzens, 70 shares.
Councilman James \'ernor, 700
shares ($10,000 worth.)
Griffith 0. Ellis, member of the
city railway commission, 78
shares.
Our water works system a year ago
was attacked by Mayor Couzens who
In his inaugural address to the coun-
ci!`urged the building of an expensive
filtration plant so that the city might
burn pure water and do away with
"the chlorine high balls with which
Detroit citizens are obliged to refresh
tnemselves." We still have the same
old water plant; no filtration plant has
yet been built and the mayor is now
Twelfth Street and
St. Jean Extensions
Mr. Voter, are you in a district tha
would be benefited by service on the
new St. Jean or Twelfth atret ca
lines now being constructed by the
Detroit United Railway?
If you are you should do your ut-
most to defeat the Couzens plan at
the polls April 6. Why?
BECAUSE THE CITY, UNDER THE
COUZENS PLAN, PROPOSES TO
TAKE OVER THESE LINES UNDER
HE DAY-TO-DAY AGREEMENT
Ole Hanson, who while mayor of AND THE D. U. R. WOULD QUIT
Seattle brought about municipal own.
ALL WORK ON THEM.
crahip and operation of street car lines
The city COULD NOT SECURE
is that city has changed hi, eigws
NEEDED MATERIALS TO COM.
and after a year's operation of the car
PLETE THEM OR OPERATE A
lines by the city declares; "the whole SINGLE CAR OVER THEM in less
thing becomes a political football; low than two or three years from now. The
priced managers put the business D. U. R. Is in position to complete
amounting to millions of dollars into them and begin giving service THIS
the hand. of worn out old men or SUMMER.
young apprentices; labor men consider
DO YOU WANT TO WAIT TWO
the treasury of • street railway a per-
OR THREE YEARS, and possibly
eetual Christmas tree; they who man.
be completed?
age the city business will sell any- longer for these lines to
Vote NO on the Colleens plan and
°. log or promise to build anything
just before election to hold their little these lines will be In operaCnn TIIIS
jobs,"
UNIMER,
praising the water works to the skies
es an example of municipal efficiency.
We still have the "chlorine highballs"
but his honor isn't saying anything
about 'em now.
And our Belle isle bath house! Have
you folks noticed the latest news
about this great municipal institution?
They are going to boost the price of
bathing privileges from 10 to 25 cent
next summer! It seems that the Si. 0.
both house turned up a deficit of $40;
e00 last year and the people will have
to pay the shortage. The increased
price won't assure you of increased
accommodations or improved service.
Not by a long shot. Not a cent has
been provided in this year's cite'
budget for enlarging the bath houst
cr bathing beach so that tato theseavils
of Detrolters who on hot days have
had to line up for hours awaiting a
chance to get into the water, will be
cared for. No, you will again line up
in the boiling sun and have plenty
of time to consider the beauties of
municipal ownership and operation.
And speaking of the boosting of the
Belle Isle bathing beach privilege from
to 25 cents brings up the question
of fares on the proposed municipal
railway. His honor, the mayor, says
that "at the outset" the fare will be
five cents BUT—now listen to Mr.
Couzens own words: "but it it cannot
be done on a five cent fare the fare of
course will have to be raised. WE
MAKE NO GUARANTY; OF COURSE
IT IS OBVIOUS TO YOU WE COULD
NOT MAKE ANY GUARANTY AS TO
WHAT THE FARE WOULD BE."
And there you are! It might be all
cents, eight cents, ten cents or more.
help yourself to a guess.
Nothing is certain about this "catch
RS catch can", "hedge podge" M. 0.
railway plan as the Journal character
Des it.
THE NEWS FLOPS
"Of course there is that alterna-
tive—we can bond for $10,000,000
and start in to build a competing
railway system, finally to crowd the
company off the streets. Maybe
that would save a little money.
Surely It would take a great deal
longer. The company's lines now
occupy the streets best suited to
railway traffic. Questions of dis-
placing them would doubtless lead
to further disputes and lawsuits.
Is that worth this risk?"—Detroit
News in 1919.
And the changing News Is now
advocating piece-meal construction,
the very thing they warned the
people against a year ago!
Mr. Couzens cannot by any process
of law persuasion or force telt: the
74.25 miles of day .today agreement
tracks from the D. U. R. at a flat rate
cf $40,000 per mile because the city of
Detroit has already obligated itself
to take over this mileage at cost.
less depreciation. The cost. therefor*,
would be epproximntely 1Gs,432
per
mile that the mayor so glibly talks
about.