Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-09-08
PICKS DRILL CONCRETE
OF CITY HALL PLAZA
FOR SUBWAY WORK
Preparations Made for Cere-
mony in Which Mayor Will
Turn First Spadeful
of Earth
COMMENCE GRANDsTAND

Twenty workmen employed by the Key
stone State Construction Company drove
picks and crowbsrs into the concrete
pavement OF the northwest plaza OF city
Hall today. in preparation for the turn
ing Of the first spadeful Of earth by
Mayor Biankenburg on Saturday after
noon. as the start Of the Broad street
subway.
The pavement. which will be torn up
Saturday. will reveal swath as wide
as the subway, extending from the curb
near the Broad street station 20 the
door at the northwest corner OF City
Hall.
Some time during the day other work.
men will begin preparations for the erec-
tion Of a great derrick in City Hall court
yard. The machine. which will be sur
rounded by protective fence. will be
used for raising and lowering heavy
machinery into the subway excavation.
The first construction work on the
Frankford elevated line was begun late
this afternoon by Contractor James g.
Dornev. who started at Front street and
Girard avenue by digging the pit in which
the concrete pillar foundations will rest.
From this point he viii continue on down
Front street, According to the contract
Dorney was given until next Monday to
start but as his machinery was all as
sembled he decided TO get the big Job
under way Immediately.
Activity may be seen already on every
hand in preparation for tho formal open
ing Of work on the great program Of
hiRh-speed transit lines for Philadelphia.
A largR tnOlhOfige the vacant LOT
from the City Hall plaza is almost COM
pleted two-story frame office building
to be used by the engineers Of the con-
struction company has also been begun
on the lot. and before the end of tho
week an ornamental fence will enclose
the entire lot
Two shafts will be sunk simultaneously
for the section OF the subway beneath
City Hall. One Of these will be within
the City Hall courtyard and the other
at the northwest corner of the plaza,
where Mayor BlenkenburE will turn the
first spadeful Of earth at the public cere-
monies Both Will be made ready so that
digging can be begun I'm earnest Satur-
day after the formal opening.
Work has already been started on
Is by 80 feet. which will be
erected at the corner of the City Hall
plaza, just east of McClellan's statue
From this platfrom the Mayor will de-
liver the address of the occasion Satur-
day. Members of the Mayors cabinet and
also will occupy the platform
during the ceremonies.
Scores of business and civic organiza-
tions already have signified their inten-
ton of attending the exercises. Hundreds
Of workmen from the League Island Navy
Yard and other places will be present and
Il is also believed that many prominent
men from other cities will be on hand to
see Philadelphia start on the road to a
broader development
A. feature OF the event the Municipal
Band Will furnish special music. Promptly
at 2:SO O'Clock Mayor Blankenburg will
push specially prepared spade into the
earth. After he has thrown out the first
spadeful OF clay, he will pass the spade
TO Director Taylor Addresses will then
follow by both the Mayor and the Transit
Director.