Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1915-12-09

Il a,rartments, appointed by Mayor-eiect
saith. on their plans for n greater
Philadelphia
r,r,s or four days after his appoint
IAN, as the new Director OF the Depart
.snt Of Public Works, George F.. Dates
,r now first assistant engineer in the
pnrsau of Surveys has a grasp on his
r.v lob that affords good idea of what
,.,,d ~ n director he will be. In a half
S.,r conversation for which he had made
4 ,ronaratIon, Mr.. Datesman touched
..,.av on every one of the six bureaus in
~, department he will head under the
Smith administration
Nr Daiesman, with his present chief,
csorpe :. Webster is proof OF the state
.,ont that the nppointive lightning struck
It, In tho same place. Like that of
NJ webster his appointment is conceded
rarsrallv to be non-political. Through
out the country engineers are hailing
,bsse two appointments by the Mayor
sect as the most signal recognition ever
si,pn technical men in the history of the
city.
Tho Department of Public Works will
Nc the biggest job in Philadelphia within
the next four years. with the possible
syception of Rapid Transit. 1t will con-
troll the expenditure of large part OF
,he ,9OOOOOOO loan and other loans that
viii be made later. Mr.. Datesman's ideas
NJ the work to be done are set forth in
n statement to the EVENING LEDGER. He
s not in touch with the action of the city
against the Philadelphia Electric Com
many and hence does not discuss that
phase of the activities of the Department
Of Public Safety.
SETS FORTH HIS VIEWS.
That the suit will go on, however, is
Indicated by Mr. Datesman's suggestion
hat in its present state 1t will take care
q itself. He looks upon his future policy
h regard to Philadelphia electric as some
hing to be decided when he dclves into
the problem after assuming office. The
natement on other matters follows:
II am placed somewhat at disadvan-
tage in speaking of the accomplishments
hoped for i'm the Department of Pbulc
Works during the coming administration
. In that there remain many very i'm
portant matters for consultation and de-
termination before the present admins
tration retires. assignments which will
engage my most earnest effort on be-
half Of Morris l.. Cooke, the present Di-
rector.
I'VE live in a metropolis which during
the last few years has been rapidly ad-
vanclng from the formative to the pro-
gressive stage. When the people grasp
the value and benefits to be derived from
the sO-called luxurious in municipal life.
they will be most nsistent in their de-
mands for a broader outreach to satisfy
their appreciation of civic Improvement
In the way of better street developments,
IN N
public buildings, rcctitied and sanitary
rivers, hRrbor improvements, superfne
water supply, transit facilities and every
thing which makes for a better municipal
life.
development plans have been pro-
gressve according to present-day IDEAS
but with the expansion in the municipal
loan proposed, and the greater borrowing
capacity new and enlarged plans for de-
velopment will be required.
PROBLEMS TO FACE.
"ln the Department of Public Works
the Director must cope not only with the
problem of providing enlarged water sup
ply but year by year :he problem of
maintaining and renewing large pumping
units Is more insistent.
New and improved pavements made
necessary by the great increase in auto
mobile traffic. especially heavy trucking,
are being brought out and tried to meet
these new conditions. The extension of
improved street pavements. renewal of
DID, are classed as one of the greatest of
the public works, because with them the |
whole public comes in contact. Efficiency |
In the collection OF garbage, ashes and in |
street cleaning must be maintained be-
cause the people consider that the de-
partment In this regard is the servant of |
the Individual.
comprehensive plans for the develop |
meht OF the city plan upon lines which |
ootaln In many foreign cities have been |
formulated and demands are now being |
made Tor contamination, as a campaign |
OF education has convinced a number oC |
progressive builders that 1t will be not
only artistic, but also profitable to oper-
ate on these new wide streets.
The parkway and bouIevards' must be
.oinpleted with a rush. New avenues for
transportation must be opened up through |
sne ouiit-up portions of the city. The
sohnhenent s, OF the main traffic north and
sollh 10 one avenue (Broad street, Is an
am anomaly that would not be tolerated in
ne centres OF any of the worlds great
ttall.ols' New and wide avenues for this
s'easeu traffic must be opened up at |
"a eApehse which may appear to be, at /
,is. sh slght, prohibitive, but which will,
s,Is Ish opened, by reason of increased tax
ca". return to the city not only the first
sOss put handsome profit for all time.
ny s..s'ued they are financed in accordance |
easa, ,n ,he plans which have been so sue
arui abroad and In some of our other
han hsf'cah cities under benehcent legisla-
,n me city has built and is building a
oer sa- OF permanent artistic bridges,
e OF great magnitude sought after
Ma nOues by other municipalities, but
H. ,s are on foot and demand is made
msn,a me building OF other even more monu-
othss bridges than those now built in
tonoa.A american cities under comparable
biographical conditions.
So. EXPANSION IN BUILDING.
ness 10 expansion in the building busi-
eons,s,h "hlsh must even precede the actual
Nil, 'ruetlon OF the rapid transit lines,
'efy much increase the activity in
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