Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-11-27
WORK OF IMPROVING
PARKWAY WILL Be
RUSHED BY MAYOR
80 Buildings Now Being De-
molished and $9O0,O00
Loan Item Will Be Ex-
pended as Soon as Avail
able.

! \ Evidence OF the consistent activity with
which Mayor Blenkenburgs administra-
! tlon has advanced municipal constructive
projects is afforded along the course of
| the Parkway.
Eighty buildings on the route of the
boulevard that ultimately will lead from
| city Hall northwest to Fairmount Park
arc being demolished.
The $4,000 item of the 81, 800, OOO mu-
nlciral loan, approved by the people at
the last election, will be expended in COM
rletiAg the Parkway west of Logan
Square to % street. The structures now
being razed are in that section.
Since the beginning of his administra-
tion, Mayor Blankenburg has bent every
energy toward advancement of parkway
construction. Several hundred buildings
along its course have been condemned
and torn away. All available funds, free
from Councilmanic restriction, have been
put under contract when construction
worl: was feasible.
Councils last July passed an ordinance,
approved by the Mayor, authorizing the
opening of the Parkway between 10Th
and 22d streets and notifying property
owners that the buildings would be re-
0urcd for public use within three months,
Work is now in progress in the section
designated.
Appended to the original bill in COM
mttoc. through the efforts of Harry j,
Trainer, liquor dealer representing the
81 Ward for the Organization i'm Select
Council, Nas the following restrictive
clause: THAT before any action shall
he taken for the physical opening of the
Parkway between the points mentioned,
The licenses for saloon property destroyed
shalt be transferred to other locations
by the License Court OF the Court OF
Quarter Sessions"
Three saloons are located on the Park
way between Logan Square and 22d street.
One license has been transferred by the
court. but the other two are being held
under advisement. Under the present ac-
tivities these saloon properties Will not
be destroyed, in compliance with the re-
strlctions in the ordinance.
The city will obtain about $1,000 from
the contractors who are destroying the 81
buildings and who will retain the ma
teHals. Il is expected that this work
will be completed by April /. when funds
should be available from the $4,000 item
Of the loan for the actual physical de-
Velopmcnt of the Parkway Availability /
of the loan funds by that date depends |
on the legislative activities of Councils.
Start of the building of the roadway
proper on April will provide work for
many of Philadelphia unemployed, al |
though the tie-up OF the loan funds until /
then will prevent beginning OF the work /
during the rigorous winter months, when |
the emplo ment is most needed
When the money finally is available |
there will be no delay in awarding con-
tracts for the work. Assistant Engineer 1
W. +. Taylor of the Bureau OF High !
ways, Is supervising the preparation OF |
plans and specifications for the designated !
portion Of the Parkway, and bids will be /
= assH
the work may be started legally.
Tentative plans, approved by Mayor
and Director Cooke. of the
Department OF Public Works, for the sec
Lion northwest OF Logan Square, provide
for main central driveway so feet wide
with service driveways 2s feet wide on
each side of the central roadbed.
Flanking the drives on either side will
be grass plots, 42 feet wide, extending
TO the sidewalks. which viii be Is feet
N width. Trees and shrubbery viii be
planted in the grass plots and small
walks will be located in the centres Of the
grass areas.
Chief William II. Connell OF the High
way Bureau, said today that the plans
for completing the Parkway include side
walks 80 feet wide on each side of the
central driveway from the plaza at City
Hall to Logan Square.
The temporary driveway now open. par
Auel 10 the line or the PARKWAY, VIII be
Kept open for trafhe until the permanent
'oadbed Is finished
Preliminary work. involving the chang
ng Of sewer lines from beneath the Park
course and the blocking Of sewers IA
.treets intersecting the Parkway. Is nov
icing done under direction Of Mr. Taylor
md Will be completed before the end Of
he year.
II Is estimated that the development OF
he Parkway between Logan Square and | I
"a street win cost approximately 5000
he amount provided 90 the municipal
oan. further expenditure Of from
10000 10 SiQe0aoo1 Is estimated a.
eceesary 10 complete the entire Park
gay from City Hal 10 tha Park