The Work Is Stopped On The Boland Line

Work on the Boland line between Dexter and Ann Arbor stopped Wednesday. All men and teams were laid off and nothing further will be done this winter.

At least $50,000 has already been put in this line between Ann Arbor and Dexter. The entire right of way has been paid for excepting three parcels, four miles of grading has been done and some of it pretty heavy grading, ties have been strewn along the route for over a year, many poles and much other material are here or along the right of way.

What does the stop mean? No one here seems to have absolutely definite information. Three theories have been advanced and as Mr. Boland is in New York city they cannot be verified today. One theory is that the stop means probable consolidation of the electric line interests between Jackson and Detroit, to stop what might be ruinous competition, the consolidation having been the work of eastern capitalists. There is nothing to base this theory on except abstract reasoning.

Another theory is that work stopped because of lack of cash, just as it stopped a year ago, until after the line west of Jackson was completed and financed, so as to relieve the stress on capital.

The friends of Mr. Boland here give out a third theory, which they back with very plausible reasons. They say that the best that could be done was to secure 30 teams to work on the grading between here and Dexter. that in spite of vigorous efforts this number was not increased, that the grading had been so retarded by this lack of help that now it would be impossible to finish the grading between Ann Arbor and Dexter in 60 days, even if 100 teams were put at work. Hence it has become impossible to have the cars running this winter. This being the case it was not the best business policy to tie up more money in the line so many months before it would become income producing. Hence it is argued that the work will be resumed early in the spring and pushed to completion.

These same friends of the line are of the opinion that the line from Jackson to Dexter will be finished and operated this winter. The track is laid as far as Dexter except the third rail, and that has largely arrived.

The people of Ann Arbor are much interested in having the Boland line finished to Ann Arbor to give electric communication with Dexter. If, however, it is finally determined that this cannot be built, the council has it within its power under the Hawks-Angus franchise of West Huron street, to compel that line to put in a spur to Dexter.

Apropos of this matter, Wallace Franklin, the Michigan manager for Westinghouse, Church, Kerr, & Co., who has been making a trip through Michigan sizing up the traction situation, got back to Detroit yesterday and told the Tribune that no more electric roads will be built in Michigan for some time.

"You can't float the bond for an electric road the way things are now," said Mr. Franklin, "and you could hardly find capitalists to put up the good hard cash. In some cases where men have lots of money invested now, some connecting lines may be put in, and that will be about all.

"A great many men have spent their time and money securing rights of way, and are still doing so., but it is a foolish practice. It is the easiest part of it, so they do that first. The proper method is to get the money to build the road and the franchises will come easy enough afterward. In my opinion there is no travel for north and south roads, anyway. The line between Flint and Saginaw will probably be built in time, because the lines now in operation will furnish feeders at both ends. For the same reason eventually the gap between Jackson and Lansing and from Grand Rapids to St. Johns will be filled in, making a complete line across the state. This will probably require a year at least, and the prospects for any other lines look very remote, indeed."

It may be stated that Mr. Franklin is a man who has been interested with Mr. Hawks, of Hawks-Angus, in some real estate deals.