Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-09-29


enormous commercial development in that
territory IL inevitable, owing to deep
water transportation facilities IN that dis
trict
He has pointed out the Importance Of
tying this territory, including Chester,
TO Philadelphia commercially TO the emo
that people resident in that district may
have easy access to Philadelphia, and
thus spend their money here. Also that
thousands OF Philadelphians who must
necessarily be drawn on for employment
IN that district can continue to live IN
Philadelphia and go to and from their
home city to their daily work.
Recent developments require us 70
take notice OF these recommendations. IL
we fail to do so, and deny Philadelphians
the privilege OF continuing as residents
OF this city and working in the Darby
Chester district. Philadelphia VIII lose
thousands of residents, who will be forced
TO live in that district near their work
In the absence Of adequate transit facil-
tiles.
Likewise. Philadelphia will lose the
vast trade which will result from the
purchasing power of the tens OF thou
sands OF additional people who will be
employed, particularly at Eddystone and
generally throughout that district, II we
deny them ready access TO our shopping
district.
THE number Of people who will be em-
ployed on January 1 at Eddystone are
as follows:
Baldwin Locomotive Works. ...... 1000
Remington Arms Company. ...... l5OOO
Eddystone Munitions Company. 10000
Total ..................,....... $4,000
Estimating Ave persons 70 a family.
this will represent a population OF 10000
people.
"A large portion of them will be drawn
from Philadelphia
Are we going to enable them to remain
residents of Philadelphia
Are we going to retain their patronage
for our merchants by building the Wood
land Avenue Elevated Line?
Furthermore, In and about Chester
there Is an unprecedented commercial de-
velopment. A new ship-building plant
and a new distillery are being erected in
Chester. The plant of the American
Viscose Company Is being tremendously
enlarged and will employ thousands of
additional hands.
1T is high time that Philadelphians
Immediately the woodland Avenue Ele-
waited Line. which will be nearly self sus-
taining In itself and which will increase
the taxable values within the City to an
extent sufficient to give the City increased
annual tax returns far In excess OF any
decit from its operation.
ut will save the people who will travel
on II Sl5,6S3 hours, worth at the lowest
calculation u5 cents per hour) s1220O per
year.
'It will prevent the material depopula-
ton of Philadelphia.
TT will retain the purchasing power
of the vast army Of employees of the great
industrial plants of the district which
will be penetrated to the merchants of
Philadelphia.
''This item will mean many hundreds
of thousands OF dollars per month
''The city of Philadelphia makes an in
vestment of s4,4O0.00O for the Woodland
Avenue Elevated.
THAT investment will return to the
city and to the citizens an almost incal-
culable annual profit.
"a greater number of those who will
be employed by the great Industries now
building to the south of Philadelphia will
be drawn from the Frankford and Ken
sington districts.
by connecting up the Frankford ele.
waited with the Woodland avenue elevated
through the Market street subway these
residents of Frankford and KensingtoT
can continue to live in their established
homes and go forth to the Eddystone dis
trict daily to work Otherwise they mus
necessarily move to Eddystone, Chester
or that vicinity.
'FranKfOrd ana henSlngtOn meTCnanI'
should wake up to this situation.
Moreover, IL and when the Baldwin
Locomotive Works moves its entire plan
TO Eddystone, Philadelphlans should con
slider whether they are going to drive thu
vast army of employees OF the Baldwin
Locomotive Works and their families t
leave Philadelphia because OF their in
ability to travel quickly between Phila
delphia and their places of employment
'If the Woodland avenue elevated Il
not promptly constructed and made ready
for their service there will certainly b,
a big exodus of residents from Phila
delphia.
"It appears that the new commercial
development south of this city will. be
fore January /, employ some 40. 900 men.
"They will represent. with their fami
lies, over 10 per cent. of the entire popu
lation Of Philadelphia, and they will b,
largely drawn from the population o.
Philadelphia.
I'VE want to build the Woodland ave
nue. elevated line and thus permit then
to continue to reside here and to go t,
their daily work.
"By reason of our familiarity with tn,
conditions existing in the Southwestern
section of West Philadelphia and the dis
trict between ours and Chester we brinI
this matter to your attention, as II Il
one which affects the welfare OF the city
as n whole.
1--WE earnestly urge you to indorse thii
! important enterprise and to cooperate II
securing the immediate construction o.
the Woodland avenue elevated line"