PAGE EIGHT

THE DETROIT JEWISH CHRONICLE

COUZENS' DOUBLE FARE M. 0. PLAN
VIGOROUSLY ASSAILED BY FORMER
CITY RAILWAY COMMISSIONERS

D. U. R. SERVICE AT COST PLAN, ,L-

It Means—
One street car system.
One rate of fare.
Free transfers.
Years of peace and progress in unison with our thrifty and growing city.
$20,000,000 in extensions and equipment NOW when needed; AT ONCE,
not years from now.
Extension of one fare to all the city including territory that may be added.
Service controlled by Common Council and operated by experienced railway
men and engineers.

Wiersrs. Lamed, McMath and Waldon declare it unworkable
and financially unsound; say it would cause traction war;
block new lines and prevent improving of car service

After careful study Abner Lamed, volume of tratllc now concentrated
*Utley Walden and Francis C. Mc. upon the InFulticient mileage of the
Math, who served as Detroit's street D. U. It. It Is our belief that this
railway •commissioners during 1919 extraordinary coneentration upon an
have Issued a signed statement in lasufficient mileage It to quite a de-
which they condemn the Couzens' tree responsible for the D. U. It.'s
piece-meal, double-fare plan and point ability to show a profit on a 5c fare
out In conclusive manner the many in the face of present costs of labor
vital weaknesses of the scheme. They and material and the touch higher
declare emphatically that It will lead rates of fares prevailing in many other
to a prolonged traction war; that it large cities.
will retard the building of new car
To our mind it is inevitable that
lines and the Improving of car serv- such a system under present condi-
ice; that the 61. 0. line could not exist Huns must charge a higher rate of
unless fares from 7 to 10 cents were fare than 5c.
obtained and that car riders would
QUESTION -- ASSU91ING T II E
be forced to pay double fares and
TWO SYSTEMS OF STREET RAIL-
would be "much worse ott" than they
WAY WERE COMPLETE AND IN
are now. They point out the costs
OPERATION TODAY, WOULD TIIE
have been greatly underestimated and
CAR RIDER I1E ellETTER OFF" Olt
,
that glowing campaign promises now
ORS E
F?"
being made are physically impossible
ANSWER — lIE WOULD BE
of fulfillment.
They declare that Mayor Couzens "WORSE OFF"'
It is quite evident from campaign
Is very much mistaken if Ile believes,
as he says, that the only plan that speeches and what has appeared in
can be submitted under the charter is the public press that the mayor's
his piece-meal scheme. They point Plan, it approved by the voters, will

•

cut that the charter permits the sub- hunch Detroit into such a traction
mission of a service at cost plan, such war as engulfed Cleveland for eight
or nine years (under the Toni John-
as the D. U. It. now proposes.
They point out that piece-meal con- son regime) and which resulted in
elruction such as proposed In the both private and municipal lines be.
mayor's plan has been condemned by hag forced tutu practically a
noted engineers, including M. 91. bankrupt condition. Out of that ter.
O'Shaughnessy, of San Francisco, and rifle struggle Cleveland at last ewers-

that Mayor Couzens, himself, was op. en with the Tayler plan, which has
rowed to this plan a year ago as was ( Riven so satisfactory to all parties,
shown In his full page advertisement that after 10 years' trial, the aggree.
went has been renewed. There can
- ti's•—°"7"."—'—'— in -thed"dat,roit News April 3, 1919,
The former. ..commissioners then an- be no question In any one's mind, who
ewer a number of questions asked of ice been familiar with Cleveland con-
(Miens during that traction war, but
them by citizens, as follows:
QUESTION—IF THE PRESENT that our car elders' will be "worse
COUZENS' PLAN SHOULD BE AP. off" if the Couzens' plan carries.
PROVED APRIL 5TH, WOULD THE There Is every evidence that both
CITY BE ABLE TO BUY AND BUILD stiles ( Mayor C0112111a and the D. U.
THE SYSTEM OUTLINED FOR THE It.) are prepared for a finish fight
'and that during its progress there
FIGURES QUOTED?
will be no tran(fer or other mni.
ANSWER—NO.
The engineers engaged by the bees extended by the one system to
former Street Railway Commissioners the other. The D. U. It. has deft.
and retained by our Commission vilely stated over their own signs-

City reserves the right to purchase or lease the property.
All franchises, some perpetual, to be cancelled.
Private rights-of-way to be given to the city without cost.
Company agrees to equip and operate subways and elevateds when constructed.
Separation of city from interurban accounts by forming of new company.
Eliminates politics by making street railway operation one of strict business
conduct.

complished by business men in bust(
ness negotiations.

QUESTION—('AN DETROIT HAVE
"SERVICE AT ONCE" ON THE
PROPOSED NEW LINES UNDER
EITHER THE 9IAYOlt'S Olt THE D.
U. R. PLAN?

ANSWER — A NUMBER OF
MONTIIS MUST ELAPSE BEFORE
EITHER TIIE CITY ()It THE D. U.
it. COULD ADD APPRECIABLY TO
DETRO I 'CS PRESENT SIR E ET CAR
LINES, NEITHER IS JUSTIFIED IN
PROMISING "SERVICE AT ONCE."

Puts an end to the control of the city hall by the millionaire owners of the De-
troit NEWS.

Construction work to begin immediately as the company has materials on hand
and the mayor hasn't and can't get them now.
Taxpayers do not have to dig into their pockets to make up for deficitt.

We are informed that the D. U. R.
are receiving deliveries of rails on
prewar contracts which would be an
even greater advantage than the
mere possession of organization and
facilities for track laying but without
the rails.

COUZENS' HIGH COST PLAN

On the other hand we are Informed
that such has been the (1..111/1811 upon
the mills for this street car rail that
the entire output fur 1920 is either
under contract or optioned to street
usilway companies, whose war-time
requirements had to be postponed
and are only now being satisfied, We
feel sure that the statements of "ser-
vice at once" that are being advanced
In favor of the Consents plan have no
possible justification in fact.

It Means—
Two street car systems.
Double and triple fares.
Duplication of plant for which taxpayers must foot bill.
Fewer cars per mile of track than now.
Years of litigation, the city having no right to take any of the D. U. R. tracks
at its own price.
Delay in building extensions as all bonds must be voted.
$15,000,000 bond issue, if issued, must be guaranteed by the taxpayers, the
city being responsible for all payments of bonds and interest. The $15,000,000 is
the only start of the expenditures.
No fixed rate of fare.
Curtailing water and lighting extensions as such come out of the same public
utility bonds as any city car system. These bonds cannot exceed 2 per cent of the
assessed valuation. Not enough for all three.
Creates dangerous political machine as in Seattle and San Francisco.
Stops all extension work now under way until litigation is ended.
A and B line cannot be equipped for less than $10,000,000 more than bond u•
sue.

QUESTION — DO YOU STILL
STAND in. youR
REPORT AS
STREET RAILWAY CONINIISSION-
ERS AND RECONIMENI) ONLY THE
IZIDES-AT-COST PLAN?

ANSWER—YES, WE FEEL TIIAT
SUCH A PLAN ARRIVED AT BY
JOINT NEGOTIATION OF car AND
COMPANY REPRESENTATIVES
COULD AND SHOULD lIE SUBMIT-
TED wiTiliN SIXTY DAYS.

We still feel that such municipal
ownership and operation obtained by
piecesneal acquisition and construc-
tion is wasteful in the extreme and
detrimental to the car rich-na and tax-
payer's best interest.

We live in the most rapidly grow-
through our term of office, (stimated tore in the public press that there ing city in the United States. There
a year ago that the extensions then can be no exchange of transfers. lieu- in hardly a resident of Detroit who
under construction would cost $75,- ble and treble fares are therefore in. does not believe that this growh Is
substantial and will be continued at
000.00 a mile, when using the very .evitable.
Let us take the case of Woodward an accelerated pace.
complete equipment and facilities of

the D. U. .R for that purpose, and it ave. for Instance. Assume that the
Is certain that the figure would be Couzens' plan is in operation and that
well above $80,000.00 under existing! ell of Woodward. above Grand
prices of labor and material. Belt Gipproxinuitely at the Grand.
This • is approximately twice the' blvd.) remains part of the D. U. It
estimate made by the mayor and srstem. that Woodward Ave. below
without taking into account any; the Grand Belt becomes part of the
ether value that might have to be municipal system and that the Grand
added to the figure by reason of the Pelt and Fort street lines east and
company's Investment In cars, car' west are also a part of the municipal
barns, storage yards, repair shone, s•etens Let us assume also that all
power houses, sub stations, feeder ether connections with Woodward
systems, etc., that go to make these vie. are parts of the I). U. It. What

miles of tracks an integral part of a an intolerable transfer situation is
complete street railway system, s produced while the fight is on!
We believe the Items of $7,1152,000.001 Every lhru passenger passing north
for new lines be constructed by the fir south of the Grand Bolt on
city and $1,000,000.00 for car barns, Woodward avenue most pay an extra
tools, equipment, etc., are entirely too tire. Whenever the car rider is
low under the conditions of today. (bilged to use both systems, one or
It is Important to lay emphasis Detre times in his ride to and from
Isere on the fact, which so few seem d cork he will be confronted by these
to understand, namely, that In the , t xtra fares. Look at the maps and
Mayor's Plan while he allows a map, figure them out for yourself how many

Including all the A, B and C lines as times you will use both systems and
A COMPLETE SYSTEM that THE Ci consequently have to pay extra fares.
LINES AMOUNTING TO 59.7 MILES1 Assuredly the car rider will be
AltE NOT INTENDED TO BE BUILT: worse off if the Couzens plan carries.

OUT OF THE $15,000,000.00, but outl QUESTION — W(IAT 1)0 YOU
OF THE PROPOSAL OF TIIE
of a subsequent bond issue. W'llEN 'num:
AND IF ISSUED. . D. U. It.?
QUESTION—COULD THE CITY' ANSWER—WE REGARD IT AS AN
OPERATE THE PROPOSED MUNI- EARNEST EFFORT TO MEET THE
ITY'S NEEDS. IT PROVES THAT
CIPAL SYSTEM UNDER I'RESENT C
THE CITY ('AN OBTAIN TIIE SER.
CONDITIONS ON A 6c FARE?
ANSWER — NO. THE FARE VICE IT WANTS WITHOUT HAVING

WOULD PROBABLY HAVE TO BE A LEGAL FIGHT FOR IT.
FROM 7 TO 10 CENTS IN ORDER TO We think the proposal of the D. U.
COMPLY WITH THE CHARTER R. justifies the serious consideration
of the voters of Detroit as an indica-
PROVISIONS.
In answering this question, It is lion that It is possible to secure add-
ed street car facilities and improved
necessary to bear In mind that the
majority of the mayor's proposed service without the necessity of go-
Municipal System will consist of new big to war to get it, It is our belief
that nothing can be accomplished by
lines built into new residences and
years of relentless fighting, law suits,
factory districts. The D. U. R. will
injunctions and the intolerable In-
still be serving the most densely
populated areas. The Municipal sys- conveniences of the public (as occur.
red in Cleveland during that city's
tem when completed will not en-
joy on all Its mileage the very heavy traction fight), that cannot be se-

No allowance for C lines which will require another bond issue to be voted on
and years to construct.
No organization to carry on work.
Municipal or governmental control a failure and un-American.

Surface transportation will not be
sufficient for the 500,000 additional
popuint ion that Detroit will gain
within the next seven years. We
should begin now to plan for sub-
ways or some other system of rapid
transit. We cannot wait much long-
er unless we are willing to suffer in-
tolerable conditiens and sties the
growth of our city.

DECEPTIVE AND DISHONEST SAMPLE
BALLOT WILL COST TAXPAYERS $10,000

The structures for tilts rapid tran-
sit system must be built by the city
of Detroit. No private company will
undertake the project.

At a cost exceeding $10,000 raised
by public taxation Mayor Couzens is

circulating some of his piece-meat
propaganda as a part of the sample

It Is quite evident that to exhaust
the bonding power of the city in the
ballots being sent to the electors of
conatruction of surface lines to fight
the City.
the existing company and thus post-
If money is to be taken out of the
pone, If not actually prevent the de-
velopment of a rapid transit system city treasury in the campaign to help
the mayor put over his piecemeal
would be most unwise,
plan the people ought to insist on
ABNER E. EARNED,
soinething approximating the truth be.
FRANCIS C. alcalATII,
tug given when they are paying far
SIDNEY D. WALDON.
it out of taxes.
This city paid propaganda purports
to show in black lines the present De-
What Rate of Fare
troit United Railway system. It does
On the M. 0. Railway? not show all the lines.
The statement is also leads that
"At the outset," says his honor, Dues Nos. 11 to 21 have been taken
over Irom the Detroit United Railway.
the mayor, "the rate of fare on the
This statement it not true but le cal-
municipal railway would be five
celated to mislead :luny people. Not
cents."
a (Ingle foot of Detroit United Rail-
Alt, yes, but then what?
way track has been taken over iy
'sheen to his honor again:
the city and no arrangements have
'BUT if it cannot be done on a
been made to that effect.
five-cent fare the fare, of course, will
The statement is also misleading as
have to be raised. WE MAKE NO
to the financial plans for the so-called
GUARANTY. OF COURSE IT IS
"A" and "B" lines which it is claim-
OBVIOUS TO YOU WE COULD
ed will Coat not more than 315,022,500
?JOT MANE. ANY GUARANTY AS
to build and equip. The undertaking
TO WHAT 'THE FARE WOULD
will cost many millions more than this
BE."
amount and no provision has been
Of course not—who expects a
made for these additional millions
guaranty on anything connected
which, if issued, will stand against
with such a "catch-as-catch-can"
the faith, credit and property of the
plan?
cily and the people.

I

The mayor's estimate on cars alone
is more than two and three quarter
millions too low. His estimates on
tracks Is three and a quarter millions
too low. Ills estimates for real es-
tate, barns, shops, etc., is two millions
too low.
The plan makes no provisions for
power, power houses, substations, un-
derground conduits, transmission and
trolley wires.
The "C" lines are not to be built
but they are shown on the map and
comprise a big part of the display
being paid for out of the taxpayers'
money.
No provision Is made for construc-
tion cars, snow plows sand cars and
other service care and equipment ab-
solutely necessary and at a cost prob-
ably more than 3300,000.
'The passenger car equipment pro-
vided its entirely inadequate to give
the service promised. It will not give
a service anything equal to that being
given by the Detroit United Railway
May.
To carry out his plan, and even with
the purchase of all electrical current
the railway will need valuable electric-
al equipment, the mayor will require
$10,000,000 to be added to the $15,-
000,000 he wants the taxpayers to
guarantee. This is for the "A" and
'IT' lines alone. To build and equip
the "C" lines In the name manner as
the other lines will require $10,000,000
on top of the $25,000,000.

[The Truth About M.
0. In San Francisco

The San Francisco municipal line
after 11 years now consists of 67
miles of single track.

It took three years to build the first
car line after the bond issue had been
approved in December, 1909.

Legal contests delayed the start of
construction work until the summer of
1911.

For the year ending June 30, 1919
the municipal line had a net loss of
$116,806.29.

For the month of January, this
year, the municipal line showed a loss
of $14,524.01.

Transfer exchanging between the
municipal line and the privately own-
ed lines which operate the big part
of the car service has been discon-
tinued with the exception of at two
points. The city system couldn't at-
ford to continue the arrangement and
so the majority of the car riders now
have tp PAY DOUBLE FARES.

City officials have played politics
with the municipal car funds, digging
into the depreciation fund to meet
wage Increases demanded by the car
men. There were no profits out of
which the Increases; could be met so
the city officials, not daring to Increase
car fares above five cents, tapped the
Bind set aside for keeping up the
system.

Needed car line extensions, prom-
ised by the politicians In pre-election
speeches, have not been built be-
cause the M. 0. line's financial con-
dition wouldn't permit IL

MAYOR'S CAR LINES, IN FATTEST EAR, WOULD LOSE AT LEAST $800,000

Figured on the basis of the D U.

R.'s returns for 1919, its biggest

the statements of the D. U. R. in-

dicated the Intention of running its

own lines without regard for the city's

tied over the 280 miles of street car
track, giving an average of around
8e0,000 passengers for each mile

of track.
Mayor Couzens proposes a system
of 156.25 miles. These lines could
have shown a loss of $800,000.
not swell the amount of traffic ap-
It has been the contention of the fers would be Issued and that five.
preciably. They would rather care
mayor, In advocatleg his competing cent fares would be In vogue thru- for the same passengers handled by
system plan of municipal owner- cut the city as they are at present, the D. U. R. In 1919. From the D.
ship of the car lines, that the D. the city could not make necessary U. It. passenger figures, there would
U. R. would be forced to grant uni- expenses.
be 134,000,000 city line riders.
In round numbers the D. U. It.
versal transfers.
The D. U. It. shows that about 86
passenger In
No such word has been received Carried 300.000,000
per cent of its passengers are tr—ns-
from the car company. Rather have 1919. These passengers were car-

year, the income from Mayor Couz-

ens' proposed street car lines would

system,
But granting that universal trans-

ter passengers and that only 66 per to a competing line. This would give
cent are revenue riders. On this a total of about 80,000,000.
basis of comparison and it Is a logi-
The D. U. It. report shows 80 per
cal basis, the Couzens lines would
carry 86,000,000 revenue passengers cent of the gross receipts go for
operating expenses alone, The city
et five cents.

The full paying passengers at five even under ideal conditions, could

cents each on the Couzens lines not better this showing and the
would give an Income of little bet- chances favor an even higher operat-
ter than 34,000,000, to which must be ing expense. Ilut granting a similar
added income from transfer passen- expenditure, the mayors Ilnes would
gers from the D. U. R. system, this show an income, minus operating
latter revenue being contingent on the costa, of $1,000,000.
D. U. R. agreeing to Issue transfer
Out of this $1,000,000 world have to

be paid interest on bonds at five per

cent, of $761,125; retirement of bonds,

$500,000; depreciation at two and one-

half per cent or $375,560.50, and taxes

of around $300,000.

These figure's have been taken from

the best business year In the D. U.
IL's history. They have been approxi-
mated to the mayor's lines. They are
based on the assumption that the car
company and the city would come to
terms on transfers, which is very
doubtful.—From the Detroit Times.

