Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1915-08-04
TAYLOR DECLARES FOR
9-M|EL TAX RATE AND
ALL MOTOR APPARATUS
Principal Planks in Park Com
missioner's Campaign For Re-
election to City Council
ANNOUNCES CANDIDACYTODAY
Briefly Reviews Work and Says
People May Judge as to Whether
He Should Serve Again

City Commissioner NJ. Harvey Tay-
| lor, superintendent of parks and pub
| lie property, to-day formally an
nounced his candidacy for reelection
to Council.
The continuance of the 9-mill tax
rate for 1916, if further reduction be
impossible, and the complete motor
ization of the city's fire apparatus are
the principal planks Commissioner
| Taylor declares for in his campaign
! platform.
| Mr.. Taylor. with City Commissioners
| Lynch and Bowman, were entirely re-
! sponsible for the reduction of the mill
| rate from ~ to mills for the pres
ent year, although it was pointed out
/ by the other two commissioners
Messrs. Gorgas and Royal, that the
! half mill would nave TO be added in
! 1916.
MFR. TayIor's Announcement
Commissioner Taylor's formal an
| ncuncement to-day definitely settled
| the reports as to whether or not he
would run again. as 1t had been gen
orally known that he was considering
definite offer to return to private
| business activities.
In making known his intention to
| let the people of the city decide as to
whether or not be should be a COM
missioner for another two years Mr.
| Taylor issued this statement:
1 have decided to be candi-
date for reelection as City
| Councilman. The public must re-
view my work of the past and fit
ness for reelection should be
| measured by my record. Let the
people Judge.
When elected I sacrificed my pri-
| vate business to devote my entire
| time to public duties and have
| performed these duties honestly
and to the very best of my ability
Many Improvements
feel that not only in my coun-
cilmanic business but in my de-
partmental work,I havemade con-
siderable progress, and many per-
manent and valuable improve
ments have been accomplished for
the city. Whatever work has
been accomplished in this depart
ment under the circumstances of
the past two years, can, 1 feel
| sure, be very much improved upon
under normal conditions. The
| experience and knowledge gained
would be of great value if the
| people should decide to permit me
| to continue the work entrusted
| to my care.
That the motorizing of Harrisburg's
entire fire department will be one of
the goals at which he aims was indi-
Gated by Mr.. Taylor when asked as to
| the probable time of the arrival of the
additional motor driven apparatus al
! ready ordered for the city. Greater
| efficiency and greater economy COM
! bine to make the nhotorizing of the
| fire department superior to the horse
drawn method. the commissioner
| pointed out.
More Motor Apparatus
Within the next ten days." said he,
! we will have seven pieces of motor
| driven apparatus and comparative
| statement for June shows that the
| horse-drawn combination wagon cost
| the city $38, while the Friendship
motor-driven combination cost but
| Sl.10 and the Good Will but $1.19.
| That is the reason why, If I'm re-
! elected" said the fire commissioner, II
| will advocate and work for the COM
plete motorizing of all of Harrisburg's
| fire apparatus"
Throughout his administration Mr..
Taylor has worked consistently with
| Messrs. Bowman and Lynch for the
| improvement of the city, while in his
| own department he has accomplished
an extensive program of permanent
| improvements costing approximately
$4,000 in the past year. the money for
| these, by the way, was paid for by
| saving from the previous years main
| tenance This estimate was the same,
practically. as the year previous.
| Under his jurisdiction the ground
was obtained through which the city's
great encircling park driveway is be-
ing constructed. or this 1855 acres
was secured by gift and $3.50 was
! purchased at an average cost of S2S5
per acre. This includes the section
from the present terminus of Cameron
parkway to Reservoir. This week the
commissioner will begin negotiations
| to acquire what is needed to continue
the roadway through to Wildwood and
| Reservoir.
Is This Progress?
Thousands of yards of new park
| along the river front have been re-
claimed by filling out and perma-
nently treating and planting the slope
ramps have been puilt to afford easy
| access to the river front walk, pre-
liminary steps incident to the construc-
/ ton of the roadway from the end of
the lower River Front park to Cam
| eron's have been taken, permanent
lighting has been installed on the city
owned Twelfth street Fairgrounds and
on the lower River Front park, the
new Sycamore street and the Emerald
| street Fairgrounds have been bought
| for the city, a new shelter at Reser-
voir. tennis and golf clubhouses in the
| same park have been erected, the
| tennis courts have been reconstructed.
new bridges, both concrete and rustic.
have been built in Wildwood, and
new concrete and rubble masonry
| bridge has been constructed in Cam
eron parkway, thus eliminating the
dangerous curve caused by the old
| frame viaduct.
Mr.. Taylor. with Messrs Lynch and
| Bowman, has consistently advocated
and urged the completion of the river
wall gap at Market street.