Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-10-24

SOtUed.
DH1LADELPHIANs are mobilizing in
i every section of the city to force the
transit issue to a successful conclusion.
widespread public determination in this re-
spect becomes more emphatic every day.
Let us see just where the municipality
stands in this matter.
on the 27th of May 1912, his Honor Mayor
Blankenburg appointed A. Merritt Taylor as
Transit Commissioner, to diagnose the cty's
transit needs and to prescribe the best meth
DDS of meeting them His report was filed
on the oath of July, 1918
The report outlined in vast detail what
additional facilities are and will be needed
where and how the same should be con-
structed and what the cost will be.
The Transit Commissioner, backed by the
business men and newspapers, secured the
enactment of the necessary State legisla-
tion which clothed the city with the legal
authority financial ability and executive ma
chinery to carry his recommendations into
effect. The most important of this legislation
is embodied in the following acts
An act approved by the Governor on June
II, 1918, authorizing the city to construct,
equip lease and operate subways, elevated
railways and surface railways.
An act approved by the Governor on June
1, 1918. creating the Department OF City iran
sit as a municipal agency to carry out the
terms of the foregoing act.
An act approved by the Governor on June
H. 1918, making personal property taxable
for municipal and county purposes, instead
of for State purposes heretofore. This
act adds s570,Oo0, 900, the assessed valuation
of taxable personal property, to that class OF
taxable property which forms the basis OF
the per cent. borrowing capacity of the
city.
Increased Borrowing Capacity
The borrowing capacity Of the city has
therefore been increased by 7 per cent.
thereon, and the city is thus enabled to bor-
row sSs, 900, 900 for transit development; this
is fact because the Supreme Court has so
decided in opinion filed by Justice Brown
on May 12, 1914, in the case of Mcguire VS..
the city of Philadelphia.
Director Taylor has recommended that the
following rapid transit lines be built by the
city:
% A north and south subway line, which
will extend nearly the entire length of Broad
street, with necessary branches and n de-
livery loop in Arch, Eighth and Locust
streets.
The cost thereof will be sS5OOOOOO
(2) An elevated railway extending from
point of connection with the present Market
street subway elevated line at Front and
Arch streets via Front street to Kensington
avenue, via Kensngton avenue to Frankford
avenue and via Frankford avenue to Bridge
street in Frankford
The cost thereof will be $6,5O0,OOO
C3) An elevated railway extending from a
point of connection with the Market street
elevated line at 30th and Market streets, via
South 3Oth street and private right of way
skirting the easterly boundary line OF the
University of Pennsylvania and of the
Woodland Cemetery to Paschall avenue via
Paschall avenue to Gray's Ferry avenue, via
Grays Ferry avenue to Woodland avenue.
via Woodland avenue and for short dis
tance via private right Of way to Darby
The cost thereof will be $4,000, 900.
C4) A subway elevated line extending from
a connection with the delivery loop at City
Hall Station under the Parkway to North
29th street, thence via North Goth street
to Henry avenue, to RoXborough
The cost thereof will be $500. 900.
He calls attention to the necessity of
preparing for the construction of this line
by the opening OF the Parkway. by tho grad
ing of Henry avenue and by the construction
of the Henry avenue bridge over the valley
OF the Wissahickon.
The construction of this line will have to
be deferred until this preliminary work is
accomplished.
The cost of the first three mentioned
lines will be s45,9OO,OOO.
P.RT's Share
Director Taylor and the management of
the Philadelphia Rapid Transit Company
have agreed upon program for transit de- |
velopment' whereunder the Philadelphia |
Rapid Transit Company assumes to equip
and operate these municipality owned high
speed lines, If and when built, in conjunction |
with the present subway. elevated and sur
face lines of the city in a manner which |
will furnish the people of Philadelphia with |
rapid transit fl tlities between all impor-
tant sections O he city and enable the |
people to travel lIum practically every point |
in the city to every other point in the city, |
quickly conveniently and comfortably, for |
one scent fare by the joint use OF exist |
ing surface and high speed lines In conjunc- |
tion with the municipality owned hgh-speed |
lines.
In securing the Philadelphia Rapid Transit |
cooperation to the extent provided in the |
program, it has been arranged that the Phil |
adelphia Rapid Transit Company shall be |
protected out OF the earnings of the munici- |
paIly owned high-spee lines 10 an extent |
sufficient to offset any loss In it's existing net |
earnings which the Philadelphia Rapid /
Transit Company may suffer by reason OF |
the net diversion OF its existing net income
to the municipality owned high speed lines. |
resulting from participation in the co-opeTa-
tive program. Director Taylor has thus very
properly gone the limit OF fairness.
Exchanges Eliminated