Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-12-31
BETTER, RICHER CITY,
BLANKENBURG LEGACY
TO INCOMING OFFICERS
Despite Parsimony of Adverse
Councils, improvements of
Vast Magnitude Have
Been Made
SOUTH SECTION HELPED

When MAYOR Blankenburg on Monday
rurrenders the reins of office TO his sue
cessor Il will be with satisfaction result
ing from the knowledge that. despite the
psrsimony OF an adverse Councils. he and
the members of his cabinet have achieved
more in the nature Of permanent munich
pal improvements than any previous city
administration
The closing year OF his administration
marked the start Of the great rapid tran
sit Improvement. which when completed
viii place i hiladeiphla In the forefront OF
American cities in so far as transit facii-
Ties are concerned This undertaking. be-
cause of its immensity. stands out promi-
nently. but II is by no means the only
municipal project started In the last IL
months that will result In lasting and far
reaching benefits to the more than mil
lion and half residents of Philadelphia
AIDS SOUTH SECTION
The section Of the city that perhaps will
benefit more directly than any other
through work done In 1915 is South Phila-
delphia The start of work on the elimi-
nation OF grade crossings. work on the
Southern boulevard, League Island Park
and the work OF extending the city's wa
ter supply tend to make living conditions
south of Market street more bearable.
The achievements of the Blankenburg
Administration during 1918 are so closely
years OF the administration that IL Is
difficult intelligently to separate those
that BY reason OF their magnitude overlap
q number of years. This fact Is instanced
when the practical budget system In use
4, all departments at the present time Is
taken into consideration. The regular
system has been operative for some time,
but its efficiency was never more clearly
shown than during the present year. The
same is true of the system of speciffca-
tions for receiving and awarding bids.
which makes collusion between ofhctals
and contractors next to impossible.
One noteworthy piece of legislation to
become effective this year was the bill
forcing an increase in interest payments
by banks on city deposits. Already this
piece of legislation. enacted last March. Is
being attacked by members of Councils,
who are working to have the lower rate
restored.
The paving of South street and Chestnut
street with wood block was completed
comparatively recently. and important
progress has been made on parkway
work. Development work. Is under way at
Cobbs Creek Park. the Northeast Boule-
ward, the Southern Boulevard, League
Island Park and in many less important
public projects.
The elimination OF grade crossings In
South Philadelphia and In Northeast Phil
adelphia is n certainty In the near future
by reason OF agreements now becoming
effective between the city and the rail-
road corporations.
Recently the fine municipal pier at Dock
street was completed. and work is under
way on the Moyamensing piers. Other
waterfront improvements planned during
the year are left to be completed by the
incoming administration.
A new sedimentation basin at the Tor
resdale water plant has bee, planned.
while the water system has been extended
and nOdernized to n point little dreamed
,of by the men In charge of this branch
OF the city's government few years ago.
A new water pipe system has been laid in
West Philadelphia and In South Phlladel
phia. and the pipes for the subway in the
centre of the city have been relocated.
The new housing code and reforms in
treatment of congested districts have be- |
come effective The Municipal Hospital /
for contagious disease and general care |
of the INDECENT has been reorganized and |
other impr emen:s have resulted from |
the administration nearing it's end.
AS n legacy to the incoming officials. |
Mayor Blankenburg and the members of |,
his cabinet leave number OF uncom- |
pieted projects and plans for improve |
ments made impossible up until this time !
through the lack OF Councils co-opera-
ton.