Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-06-28

Dut the al men must De WohueiihS VI
whom the joke is Apparently Philadel
phis can do asleep what most cities have
to stay up nights TO do.
But there is more than Joke In the
thought of sleeping Philadelphia. There
is truth in it. The eterpal truth Is that
sleeping men have dreams, and, waking
make those dreams real There is the
sleep of sloth and the sleep which pre-
cedes an outburst of creative energy,
Our guests have come little too early
to see for themselves the tangible results
Of Philadelphia's slumber.
TNHBY need to know what every Phila-
i delphian knows Of the loans recently
authorized and of the work which is
under way. Last May the voters of the
city overwhelmingly instructed their
Councils to borrow nearly $i15OOO,OOO
| The greater part of the loan provides
for a network of subways and elevated
systems which will, under a proposed
universal transfer system, make the city
unit, go that those who live at Its
farthest confines will be close to it's CEN
tire in time and convenience. The demands
| of the port are met, sewer systems are
improved, grade crossings eliminated,
boulevards extended, the city's institu-
tlons enriched. Beyond this, appropria-
ton was made for completing from City
Hall to Fairmount Park a generous boule.
vard the Parkway, around which the
civic and artistic life of the community
Is to centre. municipal Art Museum
|
for which the city is famous; new
Library and a Convention Hall of splen-
did proportions are included. These are
parts of the city. The city thinks of them
as realities, and the visitor who is not in
the city's traditions must be made con-
scious of them.
They must know that the real Philadel-
phia is hidden under veil. Beneath the
streets on which they pass and repass
there is another city which Is slowly but
inevitably pushing it's way upward. Under
the paving stones there is the substantial
fabric of what was once dream and is
now a reality. The street cars which take
delegates from City Hall to the University
are but forerunners of the swift and GER
tain carriers which are even now being
prepared. The dingy and insufficient
buildings are relics of another time, and
already their successors are shaking the
old foundations. The whole city Is like
picture on the magic screen, fading into
brighter and more beautiful city OF the
future.
TNHE future is not distant. 1t is around
L tIa pd ha rif 10 oIr ay of
the end of the old street. The projects of
quarter of a century were made realities
within two years. The iron bonds of OBJ
struction melted in the fires fed by un.
sparing publicity Advertising of the
citys needs, advertising of the city's op-
portunities, advertising of purposes, hon.
est and dishonest; advertising which was
eagerly sought and which did not spare
those who sought chiefly to avoid it, was
the force which made the new city posi-.
BILE.
The old city turned toward the centre. |
Its life was around City Hall. The new
city will radiate from the centre. Its life
will be in the whole circle.
At one point there is growing the new
port OF Philadelphia. In the appropria-
tions triumphantly voted by the city
there is an item giving s1O.00O,OOO to this
work, but the spirit which has determined
that Philadelphia shall have port worthy
OF her industry is priceless. This year,
crowded and huddled as 1t must be, ships
from 20 nations registered at the port in
five days. The city is making such a
registry normal.
At another point a whole city will be |
Joined to Philadelphia Frankford is |
technically a part Of Philadelphia, but It |
has been separated from the city by |
magnificent distances" Spiritually It |
dwelt apart, and its comings and goings |
were barbaric hardships. Today the pill |
lars and girders for the Frankford L |
are rising. The city's faith is the rock |
upon which they rest 1t is a faith in
progress which has never faltered or
failed. Every pillar is a sign that the
city will not deny TO any citizen the COM
forts of life. 1t is an advertisement
In iron and steel of Philadelphia's pur-
pose to make life clean and clear and
joyful for its people
In South Philadelphia the process of
transformation is visible. but the traveller
who motors down Broad street to League
Island can let his imagination listen to
the rumble OF subway trains beneath him.
for before he returns the trains will be
there, No section OF the city has been
denied its share. In fact, there have been
no sections.
HNHERE Is an idea that material things
i can be seen and the higher" things
are invisible, II is an answer to that ana
a striking indication OF the new Philadel-
phia spirit that the transit and port loan
and the loan for civic improvements. for
a Library ana a Municipal Art Museum,
for the Parkway and Convention Hall,
were passed on the same day. They were
thought OF as two parts OF the same
thing, each complete in itself. 1t was as
absurd - speak Of subway without an
art uuseum to visit az a muaeunn with