Paving the whole width of Portage Ave. between Maryland St. and the west city limits would necessitate replacement of two miles of the existing type of streetcar trackage at a cost of $409,000.

C. H. Dahl, Winnipeg Electric Company transportation manager, releasing the figures today, said the money should be spent on improving the transit system in another direction.

Mr. Dahl, agreed that over-all paving of Portage Ave. would improve it from an aesthetic view but warned that the present type of tracks would all have to be replaced with grooved rails, which weren't as efficient as T-type rail and slowed service.

"At the present time streetcars can make pretty good time between Maryland St. and the west city limits, but if tracks were placed in the pavement the area of difficult travel would be increased two miles," he added.

Mr. Dahl thought it wiser to spend money on changing the transit system to one on rubber as the company was doing at the present time. "To spend any large amount of money in reconstructing any portion of the transit system which is scheduled to be changed from rail to rubber in a comparatively short time would be unwise," he continued.

Because of this heavy expenditure to suit the transit system to an overall paved highway and the fact the company would change from streetcars to trolley buses as soon as possible, Mr. Dahl thought the wisest plan would be to add six feet to the paving on either side of the Portage Ave. streetcar tracks, as originally recommended to public works committee.

Estimated cost of working out this proposal is now being determined by City Engineer W. D. Hurst.