Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-12-07

products turned out by the tens OF thou
sands in the great Industrial 1tate Of
Pennsylvania should move through the
port Of Philadelphia when the plans OF
the new Director Of the Department of
wharves, Docks and Ferries are consum
mated.
George s Webster. now chief OF the
Survey Bureau in the Department OF Pub
lie Works, is the man named by Mayor
elect Thomas II. Smith to direct the eN-
penditure Of the Ss,OO00O) provided for in
the 800. 900 loan for port and harbor
improvements and other great sums that
viii be appropriated,
The vision Of the new port seen by Mr.,
Webster is a glowing one, but there Is
nothing new or recent In II to him, The
vision has been expanding with the port
for few months less than rs years,
which is the length of time Chief Webster
has spent in the service of the city. In
all that time he has been in but one
bureau
IL Is said by those who know at city
Hall that he has had some important
part in virtually every great public inn
provcment made within the last Is or 90
years. His appointment as Director OF
Wharvcs, Docks and Ferries was hailed
a surprise by the politicians only
Those who know of his record in the De-
partment of Public Works. where eight
Mayors of all shades of political belief
have approved his work, were not even
mildly surprised.
n his present post Mr. Webster has had
much to do with the plans for the South
Philadelphia grade crossing removals, He
Is IN direct touch with nearly every inn
provement planned for the whole water
front, and what is being done in South |
Philadelphia with what will be done, Is
at his finger ends. In many ways the |
Departments of Public Works and of
Wharves Docks and Ferries are inter
ra1a bod Th.. int, 10 nj 80
has existed between them should be |
stronger than ever under the Smith ad- !
ministration.
This is the golden opportunity for the |
port of Philadelphia" said Mr.. Webster |
today. Never in the history of the city |
has there been such a chance for it to
take the place 1t should hold among the '
other great ports of the Atlantic sea- |
board. Before the term Of my appoint- !
ment runs out l expect to see this port |
firmly established as the outlet for all |
the great industries of Pennsylvania. II !
is now the natural outlet. and only the |
lack of facilities. a lack that is soon to
be remedied, prevents 1t from handling |
an enormously increased volume of busi-
ness"
Chief Webster reached into a file and
produced the ordinance covering the
South Philadelphia agreement between
the city and the railroads He pointed
out the clause which provides that the
Belt Line Railroad shall he open not only
to all roads now entering this city, but
10 7thers that may establish connections
here.
Iis alone" he said, means that Phil
adephia must and will provide ever in
creasns facilities for export. II means
TINT every railroad here now, and those |
that may come, may instantly he put in
touch with any part Of the city 8 long
river front The Belt Line now has
,Iyg a.. nj,
as Bridesburg. Every pier along the Del
aware may be reached by it, and event
ually large part of the Schuylkill River
water front
81 am for greater port for Phila-
delphla. have been for II all my life.
1t Is great port now. but 1t is to be
greater than ever l do not agree with
those who contend that there are too
many difficulties in the way OF the inn
provements already planned and those
contemplated or proposed. There is every
reason why the port should develop.
STATE AND NATION CONCERNED.
''I believe the State should realize that
II is to the interest OF the whole Com
monwealth to develop Philadelphia as the
great port of Pennsylvania. There Is
every reason why the industries of this
State should ship through this city when
adequate facilities are provided, And in
my opinion there will he no difficulty
whatsoever in getting the business once
we have the facilities now being estab-
lished.
1.-The Federal Government is beginning
10 realize that more should be done for
the Delaware. Philadelphia as a port ,
will be helped by the preparedness propa-
ganda. 1t will not be long before the Del
aware is dredged TO a depth of s. feet.
We then can provide for the largest ves-
sells. Two piers of the great Moyamensing
group are completed. Work has been
started on another. The grade crossings
are being removed in South Philadelphia.
Along the whole stretch of river front
there Is increased activity"
Almost colncident with this statement
by the new Director dispatches from ,
set forth that appropriations
totaling s. i65sOOO for the Delaware had
been requested in the report OF Secretary |
submitted to Congress. Should
this program go through it will mean
that improvements by the Federal Gov
ernment and the city will keep pace If :
II should not go through Philadelphias .
work in the development of the port will
forge ahead OF the Governments.
NEW DIRECTOR ON THIS WORK
The records and personality Of the new
Director of Wharyes. Docks and Ferries
are OF interest TO all Philadelphians in
view OF the work he Is 10 be called on to
supervise. He Is an engineer who has
i 4
as an engineer, not as a political leader, |
that he got the appointment from Mayor
elect Smith
Since he was p years old Mr. Webster
has been in the employ of the city. He
was born in this city October 10. 1876, and
at Friends Select School and /
the University of Pennsylvania. The !
University has twice hOnored him with |
the degree OF bachelor of science and |
doctor of science. His first appointment |
was TO a position In the Bureau of sur
veys, in which bureau he has remained |
ever since. This was In January OF 1877. |
On May |. 1850, he was elected surveyor
and regulator OF the 10th survey district.
Twelve years later, on February l. 1892, | .
he became principal assistant engineer
In the bureau. After three months ne
was appointed acting chief engineer and
he was confirmed as chief of the bureau
February l. 1888. He has supervised the
construction Of $50 miles OF sewers, OF
the sewage treatment plant at Torres
dale and the design and construction Of
the great concrete arch bridge over the
Wissahiekon at Walnut lane. the Falls,
Gray's Ferry and Passyunk avenue
bridges over the Sehuylkill
IN conjunction with HIS assistant.
George f. Datesman, who has been ap-
pointed by Aayor-elect Smith the Direc-
tor Of The Department Of Public Works. |
Mr.. Webster wrote the YoIuminous report |
a.. i