Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-03-29

cnaracteristics of growth and mast b,s-
eoiy earnestly wish to see Philadelpbia
/ pIont Dy the errors and mistakes made nv
| vtner cities, and not spend money reclt-
lSssly ana without regard to the carving
otnIts to svs, SIMPLY because the city has suffi-
c'eht borrowing capacity available.
second do not advocate the city going
| INTO OF committing itself to an eXtensive
construction program in advance of tbo
question OF operation Of the lines being
oennitely settled; in other words. until n
is definitely known whether these lines
VIII be operated by the PHILADELPHIA Rapid
transit Company or by an Independents
Vbe' ~ @ alor, rms question Is vital one, and
Ine commercial success of the systen, de-
pends largely on the method of operation
anu tne terms of the lease. The discus.
SION OF this matter elsewhere should make
| clear my contention that this question ~
the lease should be definitely settled before
s,,y siS wy commits itself to program af.
iectihg its welfare for generations TO come
Third. To carry out this construction
| program at the present time, in this ara of
| high prices, will doubtless nearly-if not
entirely-exhaust the city's credit. II NAV
| De good political move to do this. hut
III my judgment 1t Is not good business
and my observation has been that any
political position not founded on sound
basis is an error in the long run. Pollt-
ical theories are often wrecked by eco
nomic facts The citizens as a whole
should realize that any warranted i'm
provements benefiting one part of the CITY
reacts beneticially on the entire city.
four-track subway under the west
ern side of City Hall with a great island
station connecting directly with the
present Market street subway, as planned
by former Transit Director Taylor is
held 'inexpedient" in the report Of the
commission.
The Mayor, in announcing the report
of the commission, remarked that all the
members were unanimous in their decision.
When told of this Chief Engineer Quimby,
of the Transit Department, who testified
before the Public Service Commission that
1t would be safe to construct the tube
under City Hall, showed evident surprise.
Did the Mayor really say that?" he
asked. When assured that the Mayor
had made such a statement, Mr.. Qulrnby
replied graphically:
We'll, 1 have nothing TO say"
The report of the commission of en-
gineers, supporters of the Taylor plan de.
clare, Is only another step to shatter
the comprehensive program Of the former
transit director The Mayor. it was
pointed out, only appointed the commits.
sion after he had made up his mind to
change the plans under City Hall and
after he had virtually declared that he
was determined to proceed under the re-
Communications of Director Twining. Tho
appointment OF the commission is gen.
orally regarded as move to bolster by
expert opinion the earlier decision of the
Mayor.
The Taylor plan providing for the con-
struction OF n subway station under City
Hall. was indorsed as feasible and prac-
ttcable by some of the most notable en-
gineers in the United States. They were
virtually unanimous Ii the opinion that
the work would not be a difficult engi-
neering feat, and could be done safely
without the slightest damage to City
Hall.
One of the engineers who inspected the
plans carefully and declared that the pro-
ject was easily practicable, was Joseph T.
Richards, one of the board of three con-
sulting engineers who supervised the con-
struction of the Pennsylvania Railroad
tunnel under the Hudson River Mr..
Richards fame as an engineer Is inter-
national. His advice has been sought in
some of the biggest engineering projects
ever undertaken in this country.
Director Twining himself indorsed the
project, as did Henry II. Quimby, chief
engineer of the Department of Transit
The Taylor plan for a station under City
Hall was declared to be practicable and
construction companies which bid on the
work. Each of these companies an
nounced their readiness In case they OBJ
tanned the work of filing a bond for
S1,000,000 as surety against any damage
to the City Hall property.
The bidders, in addition to the keystone
Construction Company. which was award.
ed the contract, were the Foundation
Company, 233 Broadway, New York:
Arthur II. McMullen & Co.. 149 Broadway
New York; Frederick Fl. Crawford, Inc,
and Smith, Hauser and McIsaacs. Main
street and Broadway, New York the New
York and New Jersey Construction Com
pany. 80 East i2d street, New York. and
Snare and Triest Company, Pier 40, South
Wharves, Philadelphia. All of these com
panies employ competent engineers who
have inspected important engineering prof
ects in all parts of the United States.
Before the Keystone State Construction
Company was awarded the contract. 1t Is
on excellent authority, Senator
James p. McNichol, head of the concern.
called to his aid a celebrated New York
subway engineer who is versed in all de-
tails of subway construction. This man
had supervised some Of the most delicate
parts of New York subway construction,
and he gave his unqualified Endorsement
NJ tI1a CitV Hall DrOiapt