Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-09-24
OVERLOOK AGAINST
P. R. R, PLANS FOR
FREIGHT YARD THERE
Residents Say Smoke and
Engines Would Ruin NAL
vem Avenue Homes.
Want Road Electrified.

d, Residents Of Overlook are making
decided stand against the Pennsylvania
Railroad, which purposes the building
of large freight yards in that suburb
and the laying Of n new road which
will be used for freight transportation
from Glenloch and Frazer TO the Penn
sylvania Railroad wharves at the foot
Of Washington avenue, via Overlook
and SD street They say the road as
now planned will ruin the handsome
residential district.
The railroad was granted n franchise
by the city Of Philadelphia for the
carrying out of this plan in 1905 This
expires in 1915. Since the company has
not begun the work II would be i'm.
possible to complete It before the time
limit expires and therefore the com.
pany has applied for an extension on
the permit. The citizens Of Overbrook
represented in the Overlook Associa-
tion and the Overlook Club, have made
such a vigorous protest that the City
Council has informed the railroad that
1t will have to come TO some under
standing with the citizens OF that 10
ealty before the permit will be ex-
tended.
That part of the Pennsylvania Rail-
roads project which is most Objectionable
to residents Of overlook is the fact
that the new incoming line will run 10
the proposed freight yard along NAL
vern avenue, a handsome residential dis
trict which would be ruined by the
smoke of the engines that would con-
stantly be passing along the line The
freight yard will not be electrified. ac-
cording to the plans projected by the
company, and so would ruin, the resi-
dents say, the extensive residential de-
velopments which are being carried on
between Overlook and wynneHeld.
NOT TO ELECTRGFY YARDS
In referring to this point. John ].
Coyle, president OF the Overlook Asso-
citation, said that the city of Philadel-
phia would lose from 10000 to $50 go
annually In taxes alone through the
depreciation in value OF real estate in
that neighborhood, which would prob
ably be at least so per cent He believes
that the companys claim that II would
be impossible to eectrify n freight ward
OF such magnitude as theirs is to be is
untrue, Tor he says that not only the
members of the Overlook Committee
but also representatives of the CITY
Council. have visited the electrified yards
OF other cities and are convinced that
the proposition could not only be handled
here, but that it could be profltably
mana ged.
But rather than electrified lines and
tJEPrbTOOk
would have the railroad extend their
present spur line connecting the Wash
lington street vharves with Newtoyn
Square, via Fernwood, to Glenloch and
Frazer cutting out the Overbrook and
b2d street yards. This. they claim. could
be done at vastly smaller expense and
at Il saving Of considerable mileage and
Incidentally leaving the fashionable resi-
Dental sections ot Overbrook undlsturbed
The railroads plan as 1t now stands is
to extend the sd street Yards 10 over
brook, eventually laying 100 tracks FOR
this purpose. These lines would pass
underneath the Main Line passenger
tracks at Malvern avenue and continue
out that avenue ns low-grade line
toward tn Newtown Square and Fernwop I'd
branch. not joining that road however
but turning north and running directly
to Glenloch and Frazer The only tun-
neling which would be done would be on
between the Main Line and the Blind
Asvlum. There would be no means of
crossing the Pennsylvania lines between
SD street and 59th.
CONDEMNS PLAN OF p. r. r.
In commenting on the situation this
morning, John J. Coyle said: I'VE feel
that the Pennsylvania Railroad has been |
granted greater concessions by her ma
tive State and city than any other rail-
road in the world, and that in return for
these advantages Il has not only failed |
to show It's appreciation, but has shower
ed favors on other cities and States TO |
the exclusion OF Philadelphia and Penn |
sylvania. II has erected a magnificent |
terminal in New York and has electri- !
fied its lines entering that city: but not |
only refuses TO dc as much for Philadel- |
phia, but wishes, on the other hand, 10 |
ruin one of the City's finest suburbs
Yesterday a committee Of Overbrook's |
citizens visited the scene Of the pro- |
posed changes They are 10 report at
meeting 10 be held 10 discuss WAYS |
and means Of bringing the railroad TO
terms