Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1915-02-23
TAYLOR REPLIES TO
GRANDSTAND MAYOR
TContinucd from First Pagc.J

At the last meeting OF Council the
Mayor submitted wnat he called a
"plan," merely repetition of what
had been discussed by the councilmen
prior to the session. However, he de-
clared that he had no information on
the subject and ironically added that
neither he nor Mr.. Gorgas were mind
readers"
In replying to the Mayors letter of
inquiry Mr.. Taylor says:
Honorable John K. Royal, and Fellow
Members of Council,
Harrisburg, Penna.:
Gentlemen-In- response to your let
ter of inquiry regarding the work of
this department ! beg to say that we
have always stood ready to cheerfully
furnish, whenever requested, full in
formation concerning it's past work
and its plans for the future. We are
especially glad to do so in this pres
ent instance, since we have no desire
to accuse you of being mind readers -
In this connection / feel compelled
to remark. however. that in my opinion
the quickest and most accurate way in
which to begin securing an answer to
a problem is to frankly seek the
opinion of the persons charged with
the conduct OF the work in question.
This seems far better-not to say more
courteous-than to first publish a So
luton to the problem and to then seek
the information upon which to base
the answer.
You have inquired regarding the
construction work which this depart
ment plans to do during this year, and
the manner in which 1t is to be done.
The main piece of. construction, and
the only one of any magnitude, is the
opening of the Parkway road from it's
present terminus to Reservoir Park.
In addition to this there will be. the
grading of the river banks, the in
stallation of two lighting systems, the
construction of q concrete arch bridge
and golf club house, and the grading
OF the Sycamore playground. There
VIII, of course, be a number of other
small constructions, such as the build
ing of few fountains. some small foot
bridges, the rebuilding of tennis courts,
and many other minor works. These
latter are so small, and will be done at
such odd times as our summers work
permits, that they need scarcely be
considered, in connection with your
present question, especially as none of
them can be begun at this time.
And now Just few words regarding
the first mentioned works, and the
reasons for not beginning them at this
season of the year. Contracts for the
golf club house and the concrete
bridge were both awarded last Decem-
ber; thus these works are in the hands
VI Nilt iSoBtCllNG CODlTdClOTS, VINO are
at liberty to begin at any time. The
fact that they have not begun to date
Is merely an evidence of their good
judgment and common sense. Both
OF these contracts were awarded at
Vow price, ana neither contractor
would be warranted in prosecuting the
work, except under favorable con-
dltions, nor could we compel their
beginning at this time. In addition,
both contractors have their own or
ganizations, and neither work will re-
quire more than u few men. Indeed
the cost for materials in both cases
form the large part of the contract
price.
The above remarks apply with even
more force to the installation of the
lighting systems. These contracts
were let at actual cost, and what labor
is involved will be readily handled by
the contractors present organization,
Moreover, to attempt this work under
the present weather conditions would
be to ruin the parks.
In the case of the Sycamore play
ground, the amount of grading to be
done this year is less than you evi-
IDENTIFY assume to be necessary. 1t is
essentially a case of making shallow
cuts and fills, and we have every con-
fidence in our own opinion when we
say this is NOT time to do light
grading.
There remains the Parkway road
and the river bank grading. This lat
ter we expect to do with our own force
of men, because the greatly Varying
conditions obtaining along the river
front, and the fact that the work will
be mainly the fine grading and plant
ing OF the slopes, make this the cheap
est and the only satisfactory way of
obtaining the desired results. 1t seems
almost too superfluous to say that no
such grading as that contemplated can
be done while the river banks are
either solid with frost or muddy with
surface edawlng.
The statement has been made that
we have already done grading along
these banks. This is true, and we did
it for the very sufficient reason that
we could lat that time, get the fill for
nothing. 1t was a good business
proposition for the city, but only he
cause the fill was free and because we
attempted nothing but rough grading.
which has long since been completed.
If you wish to see the effect of gradinr,
steep slopes while the slopes and the
fill are in frozen condition, we sug-
geSt that YOU examine the above work
The fill north of "Hardscrabblo" ia
being placed by contract, under terms
especially advantageous to the cItv.
The control of the labor on this work.
VI IoulSs, lies WIN the contractor.
mere glance at the banks in this sec
ton should show anyone whether or
not fine grading would be feasible at
this time of the year.
In my report for last year I stated
that the land necessary for the Park
way was practically" all acquired
We are especially deslrous of openinp
the road this year. and we EXPECT To
accomplish this. There is. however n
small piece of land of about one-third
of an acre to which we must get title.
This has been partially promised. but
has not as yet been acquired. Yet this
small tract controls the passing of the
title (Which title has been definitelv
promised) or that piece of land unon
which nearly all of the heavy work Of
road grading will be done. / mention
these facts to answer your question
concerning the legal status of these
lands. 1T is possible that were It de-
sirable. some arrangement might he
made whereby the road construction
might be started. but this would be
far from desirable.
The construction of this road will
constitute what is known as light
grading, by which it is meant that the
excavations will be comparativeIy
shallow and the fills rather low, and
hot I.ef f.fn a..1.