Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-09-29
CITIZENS DEMAND
CONSTRUCTION OF
WOODLAND LINE
Call Issued to Councils for
100000 Appropriation
for Elevated
TAYLoR'S HELP SOUGHT

A city-wide publicity campaign. to DEM
onstrate the Importance OF the proposed
woodland avenue elevated line. as planned
bv Transit Director A. Merritt Taylor.
an TO force Councils to make provision
IN & next municipal loan for the prompt
beginning OF work on this spur OF Phila-
deiphia's high-speed transit system, was
h begun today by the Woodland Avenue
3 Business Mems Association.
:. John T. Pedlow, president and j. J.
f,ehan. secretary, OF the association, ac-
companied by a committee OF members
cnIled upon Director Taylor In his Office
this morning and urged the necessity for
the immediate building of the Woodland
avenue elevated line.
A resolution adopted at a special meet
ing OF the board OF directors Of the as
eociation last night, was submitted to the
Director, Accompanying the resolution
was a lengthy statement. showing the
present inadequacy Of transit service in
the woodland avenue district and setting
forth particular reasons why prompt ac-
zion should be taken. Director Taylor as
suredf the delegation that he would
operate with them in any effort to bring
the matter before the citizens OF Phila-
delphia and before Councils
The resolution calls upon Councils to
include a s40oO0oo appropriation, the cost
n of the proposed line, in the next loan
n - 4gotiated by the city. The failure of
<Eouncils to recognize the Woodland ele-
4sted in all transit legislation enacted up
The great Importance Of prompt action
nd this time, the statement sets forth, is
. due to the fact that on January 1, 1916,
there will be 5000 persons employed at
Fddystone by the Baldwin Locomotive
Ia Works the Remington Arms Company
IN and the Eddystone Munitions Company.
n Thousands of these will be Philadel-
phians. and II no rapid transit system
Y is provided for these men to go to and
Il come from their work, they will move
II from this city. and Philadelphia will lose
N the vast trade which their residence here
A means.
!, The woodland avenue line, which could
serve these men, would be little more
than flve miles In length. II would
4 serve as a spur of the present Market
street elevated. running from SOth and
Market streets south, partly over 30th
street and partly over privately owned
territory to Gray's Ferry avenue. thence
10 woodland avenue, to 49th street, thence
over woodland avenue to Darby.
The resolution presented by the delega-
tion follows:
whereas, The ordinance passed by
Councils authorizing the commence
ment of work on the Broad street sub
&J way and Frankford elevated lines
omitted from its provisions the Wood
land avenue elevated spur; and
Whereas. The looping Off of this
line has materially interfered with the
value and usefulness of the two lines
now under construction; and
whereas, The Woodland avenue ele-
waited line would cost less to con-
[X struct and would be practically self
XX sustaining from its completion, and
further. would prove valuable in
come-producing asset to the city Of
Philadelphia. Now be II
Resolved by the board Of directors
of the Woodland Avenue Business
M Mems Association that we forward
herewith to Director A Merritt Tay-
lor a statement of facts showing the
XX necessity for the immediate building
3 - - NuNA do. aln nNaA fwra-
4U provement as planned by his depart
~ ment and solicit his earnest efforts
~ to assist us to that end; and be 1t
M further
II Resolved That copies of this reso-
tuition be sent to the various improve
~ ment and business associations inter
III /ested in the welfare of our city and
also to the present candidates for
Mayor and members of Councils in
order that the 100000 necessary for
IM the completion of the work be included
FH In the next loan negotiated by the
vi city.
IA WOODLAND AVENUE BUSINESS
81 MEMS ASSOCIATION.
~ THE statement designed to awaken pub
oeFW fc interest and to set forth the i'm
= sectortance OF prompt councilmanic action
Hnjoy foIlows:
Sngef "At a special meeting of the board oi
- NJ directors of the Woodland Avenue Bust
n ri hess Mems Association, held September
/fs, the officers of this association were
3 II IA ters which we believe to be of vital i'm.
q II portance to the commercial welfare oi
'E III Philadelphia.
4 "The woodland avenue elevated wai
y n projected to extend as branch of tht
/JI present Market street subway-elevated
U~{ line at 30th and Market streets, south
F-f wardly partly over S0th street and partly
over private right-of-way to Grays Ferry
avenue. thence over Grays Ferry avenue
10 Woodland avenue to 49th street. thence
over Woodland avenue to Darby, termin'
ating there private right-of-way.
THE length of the Woodland avenue
Aelevated line will be 54 miles
XDirector Taylor has reported with 70
(tion thereto as follows:
IFirst The Woodland avenue elevated
be will cost. exclusive Of equipment
thin $4.400.000.
(1second. There Is ample capacity on thu
ifsent Market street subway elevated
Xe to provide space for the operation o.
ID Woodland avenue elevated trains ove
ID Market street elevated and through
I|k present Market street subway, conse
tently with a small expenditure this lin'
ID be established, as there are alread!
deqrate terminal facilities for SOM
Hears to come.
X'Third When the present Market stree
Ubway elevated line becomes congestet
the future relief subway can be bull
cath Chestnut street connecting VI
"a woodland avenue elevated line an'
Ihe Frankford avenue elevated line ant
khe Camden Tube, IL necessary. at cos
|tef within ts.5Q0.0Oo.
Y Fourth. The fxed charge which the cit
build incur, including interest and sink
1g fund payments on bonds, In estaD
bhinR the Woodland avenue eievate
= Eould be only t2S5. 900 per year. including
/ 81 Is aforesaid, the sinking fund payment
~ 10 pay of the entire debt In 30 years.
Fifth. The Woodland avenue elevate
10 would be nearly self-sustaining fron
. start and would prove valuable In
I|me-producing asset TO the city.
Sixth. II will cave passengers whie
will serve In the district penetrate
/Wlb6a5 hours per year, which. calculates
xRz.O0O
||'Seventh. II Will open up a wide are
"a undeveloped land for development an
81 Hereby largely increase the annual tar
Pie values and the consequent increas
tax revenue 10 the City Treasury.