Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-10-28
OVERLOOK ASKED
TO BACK INQUIRY IN
R. R. YARD DISPUTE
Director Cooke Writes to
Citizens Who Predict
Danger to Property Values
and Smoke Nuisance.

Director Cooke. of the Department of
Public Works, has written to John O.
Sheatz, chairman of the Overlook CIti-
2ens' Committee who are opposing the
proposed plans for locating a Pennsyl-
vania Railroad freight yard between SD
and G3d streets, asking that the citizens
and Councilmen of Overbrook support a
project for complete investigation of the
proposal.
The OverbrooR citizens contend that de-
probation of property values will follow
the establishment of the freight yard,
chiefly on account Of smoke from the loco
motives.
The Pennsylvania Railroad maintains
that the location of :he yard at any other
place would cause heavy additional op-
Grating charges and delay in handling
freights,
Director Cooke points out that II the
contentious of the railroad be we'll
founded the entire public may in the
long run be burdened by additional
freight charges if the yard is located at
another site.
He suggests that Councils appropriate
$1,000 for retaining an expert In railroad
operation 10 investigate thoroughly the
contention of the railroad company and
asks that the Overlook citizens support
the request for the councilmanic appro-
Triation.
Mayor Blankenburg will send a mes
sage 10 Councils asking that no action on
the ordinance for establishment of the
freight yard be taken until a complete
Ia In he int .
the city.
Select Councilman Herbert Maris, OF
the 34th Ward who introduced the ordi-
nance for establishing the freight yard
declared at meeting of Overlook citi-
zens that he would withdraw the meas
ure
Director Cookies letter to the Overlook
citizens in part reads:
The question raised by your resolution
that Of the entire removal of the pro-
posed yard from Overbrook-is a new one
and one in the settlement of which the
whole city is interested and therefore
must be consulted. As long as the dis
cuEsOn hinged on the manner in which
the yard in Overlook was to be built
it was fairly a local question.
I'VE are informed, however, by the
Pennsy sylvania Railroad that the reloca-
tion of this yard at any other point than
the one suggested will involve a heavy
additional annual operating charge, as
well as delays in the handling of large
part of Philadelphia's freight
"Undcr our new conception OF public
service company, It would be a mistake
TO assume that in the long run the addi-
tf0naI operating charges involved will be
borne solely by the stockholders of this
road It would be a fairer statement that
I'm the long run the burden of these addi-
ti0nsl operating charges will be borne
bv the whole Philadelphia public through
Increased freight charges. Again. the
sbfrrers Of the whole city OF Philadelphia,
rather than the citizens OF Overlook,
would be interested in delays in lreiSht
sbipments due TO a relocation OF thls yaId.
I'm ,-lrgy nf these considerations, this
department has asked the FehhsyIVdhla
Flailroad for a detailed report on the rea-
grn which caused them 10 select this
,,ar+fcIllar site for their general classih-
cation ward. We have also asked for an
estimate OF the additional cost. both con-
ztr7iction and operating, which would be
involved in locating this yard either at
some other point within the city limits
ar at some point entirely without the
cit, limits. We have also asked them
10 advise us as to what effect such re-
loration will have upon the whole ques-
tiop of the movement OF freight OF local
origin or destination. As soon as this
report is received By US II will be for
warded to YOU
Until we have decided this broad ques-
tIon as TO the advisability of the relo-
eating OF this yard 1t Is almost useless
to consider questions which have to do
with the possible electrihCation of the
yard in its present location"