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Street Railway

Street Railway image
Parent Issue
Day
16
Month
March
Year
1894
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

The committee of the Ann Arbor railway line and the Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti motor line held a joint meeting yesterday afternoon to discuss the plans for consolidating the two roads. They seem to have struck a big snag, however, andconsolidation seems as far off as ever. Both roads are bonded for $6o,ooo, making a total of #120,000 bonds. It was proposed to unite this bonded indebtedness and issue $30,000 new bonds, making the bonded indebtedness $150,000 and to equip both lines with electricity. Estimates of the cost of making the change put it at between $58,000 and $67,000. It was proposed to put in their own power house. The snag came in á clause in the bonds of the Ann Arbor street railway which makes the bonds cover not only the present line of the road but all extensions and acquired lines. This, it was argued at the meeting, would put the bondholders of the Ypsilanti motor line in second place if they agreed to the consolidation. On their part, the motor line contended that it alone was making expenses. The only way in which the matter of a consolidation can be arranged, it was thought, was by refunding the bonds by an issue of $150,000 of bonds, and the bondholders of both roads surrendering their bonds for an equal amóunt of the new issue. The bondholders of the Ann Arbor line are all eastern parties, and it would seem difficult to get them all to go in it. Last evening the directors of both roads that were seen, seemed to despair of consolidation. The motor line is considering the advisability of equiping their line as an electric line, and of asking for a franchise to run their own cars by way of State street to the business part of the city,. This could be done at a cost of $58,000. The matter has gone so far that the location of the power house is talked of, the location either being built near the junction with the Lake Shore road, or at Ypsilanti. It was stated that about 500,000 gallons of water per day would need to be condensed and the water supply was considerable of a problem. A 300-horse power engine and five cars are talked of for the motor line. The estimates of the increased traffic made by the advocates of the electric equipment is that it would increase the number of travellers trom onethird more to doublé the present number. The directors are not united on this point, however, some favoring continuing use of thé present motive power. The Ann Arbor Street railway directors have, as yet, made no move towards reequipping their line, as they have been waiting for the report of the committee on consolidation. They, however, propose now to go ahead and reequip their line. One man who was present at the meeting yesterday says this can be done at a cost of $9,000. They say, however, that they must have five cent fares on the Packard street line to connect with the motor, as the service of connecting with the motor has hitherto cost much more than was realized from it. A hint was thrown out that cars might be running by April first, but how this was to be brought about was not hinted. The consolidation of the two roads would be a grand thing for the city. The reequipment of either or both roads would be a good thing for the city. The city needs these roads and everyonewill welcome the day when they are again running as of old.

Article

Subjects
Ann Arbor Argus
Old News