Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-10-23


! poitics-business politics. Some of the very
men who let our water front pass under
| private control are resting on plush cushions
| behind brownstone fronts in actual igno-
rance of the part they played in the betrayal
! of a city. They blame the railroads, for it
/ is SO. easy to blame the railroads Why, it
! is they themselves who are to blame for let
ting Philadelphia be ruled at home and rep
resented abroad year after year by men who
lacked character and vision.
Enough of the past! Fortunately, a pro-
gressive movement is on to repair the dam
age. Director Norris has set the ball rolling.
As he has repeatedly pointed out, first
class port of the present day must have:
Ca). Adequate city-owned wharfage and
moorng facilities.
(b). Mechanical appliances for the prompt
and economical handling of cargo.
(c). Suitable storage and warehouse pro-
vision.
I'D. Facilities for the prompt interchange of
business on equal terms between all docks
and all railroads entering 49, city.
The European war and the opening of the
Panama Canal are two great facts that will
change the entire countenancc of marine
commerce. The seas of the world are now
crowded with vessels seeking new accommo-
dations and new places of future permanent
attachment. Give these saltwater strays
home and who knows but that their very
presence in the Delaware River will usher
in new of American shipbuilding. 1t
does clear that every good citizen
should get behind Director Norris. help him
repair the nets of our harbor and big fish
will he our deep-watcr haul.
Right here 1t might be properly illustrative
to show "the hands at work blocking
waterfront Improvement Philadelphia is
the only seaport of consequence located in
Pennsylvania, and one-third of the total
State poulaton lives in the metropolitan
district of our city. Yet Governor Tener
who never does anything without consulting
his creator, United States Senator Boies
Penrose, cut sl,OOOOOO item for local har-
Dor improvements in the appropriation bills
of the Legislature down to s25OO0O Massa-
aChusetts. in the last few years, has spent
$15,000O00 on harbor improvements of Bos-
ton and is not done.
over two years ago Director Norris had
a mental picture of an attractive Penn
Treaty pier in the Spanish Renaissance style.
and an up-to- date farmers and fishermens
market the site Of the old Neafe &
Levy shipyard along the Delaware River
between Columbia avenue and Palmer street.
His purpose was to throw open water
gateway into the city for farmers from
Pennsylvania and New Jersey trucking dis
tricts, also fishermen with fish, oysters
clans and various foods, from along the
two rivers. They had long wanted to get
their products here by motorboats direct to
consumers Councils was asked to acquire
this strip of valuable waterfront, and the
area of land back of it for this particular
purpose. The land would have cost 100000
less.
Alas for the pier and the market. To go
to Councils in the public interest is fatal.
If the project had been scheme such as
the new Municipal Court, backed by Jim
McNichol and the Wares the reception would
have heen quite different AS it was the
majority Of Councils took the pier and mar
ket project as huge joke-the very idea
of public official being concerned over the
cost of living. What did 1t matter If pre-
liminary arrangements had been concluded
for leasing the pier and market for term
of years on such basis as to make the in
vestment sustaining one!
"Pifle," said these CounCmen strutting
around the wards "Ain't we the people?"
Councils never even degned to consider the
proposition, but just ignored it. A few
months ago private corporation turned up
as the purchaser of the shipyard property.
and the chance Of the city to get il was gone,
like the fash of a match i'm the night
Is it any wonder that a City Solicitor who
runs his public office as an annex to THE
organization" should issue blatant legal
opinion attacking the integrity of Director
Norris who was placed by President Wilson
ON the salaryless hoard Of the local reserve
bank? If "A man seeks In serve the taxpayers
hit him This is Philadelphia under "the
hands,
In contrast, the city Of Hamburg Germany.
NIb is 9ta1 nil ba Of