Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-12-29
9TH ST. URGED AS
TRAFFIC CIRCUIT
Widening Instead of Eighth
Backed as Attrac-
tive Plan
ADVANTAGES EXPLAINED
Subcommittee of Comprehensive
Plans Committee Hears
Bankers and Others

DdlhtIS anu ONiltIS
The widening Of Seventh street instead OF
Eighth, IN creating central surface traffic
circuit, was urged az netting Of the sub
committee of the Comprehensive Plans Com
mIttee In the office Of Chief Albright, Of the
Survey Bureau, City Hall A
Among those who spoke In favor OF the
change were Efingham - Morris, president
Of the Glrard Trust Company q. G. Purves,
president OF the Philadelphia Saving Fund
Society. and Cyrus II. X. Curtis.
II was explained that the widening Of
Seventh street would cost less than that OF
Eighth street. that II would present more
attractive view and that there were many
other reasons why Il should be selected.
The plans for the trafrlc circuit provide for
The widening OF sixteenth, Locust. Eighth
and Race streets, but Mr.. Morris presented a
series OF reasons which he had previously
ewbodied In circular letter. why Seventh
street should be substituted for II ghth.
While Eighth street follows the line OF the
subway loop, he said, along other sections
OF the routes the surface and underground
traffic lines we're not Identical, so there
was no reason that score why Seventh
street should not be widened.
LITTLE FEAR OF CONGESTION
Engineers OF the Department Of city
Transit say that the subway can be con-
Htructed under Eighth street without It's
being wdencd. according 10 Mr. Morris, and
that the only place where there might be
trafiic congestion Mt a subway station II
Seventh street were substituted, ls at
Eighth and Market streets. He said this
congestion is not likely to be serious, in
Wow OF the fact that the stores already
have wide street In Market for the ac-
eommodation OF trafflc.
Congestion could be avoided altogether
Afr. Morris explained. by the creation OF
an open plaza through the condemnation
and removal OF buildings at the southeast
corner OF Eighth and Market streets Re-
npecting this he said
This could be done at a fraction of
the expense to the city involved by the
widening of Eighth street By condemn
Ing all the buildings on the east side
between Locust and Race for depth
of 100 feet The station at Locust
street would have the Increased width
OF that street In which TO take care OF
congestion II any, at that point
FAvoRs STREET ENLARGEMENT
In general way, Mr.. Morris continued
The wide traffic streets should be based on
Washington and Franklin squares. This
could be effected by widening Seventh street
and II would not necessarily encroach upon
washington square. The foot pavement on
the western side he considered unnecessarlly
broad, 80 that II might readily be reduced
TO permit the enlargement OF the street. Mr..
Morris added
These squares are the natural bases
for the purpose. and to locate a wldened
highway Just west of them upon Eighth
street is to ignore their evident posslbill-
ties for adding to the beauty OF tho
city
Seventh street is now interrupted by
jogs or breaks In It's continuous line at
both OF these squares, and all that In
necessary is to take the west sido of
Seventh street from Walnut to Race
and thus make "A Wide continuous pros
pect between the two squares whereas
II the present plan of widening Eighth
street upon It's east side is adhered to
there will be n narrow fringe OF build
inBs remaining between Eighth street
and washington square, which VIII be
most unfortunate In It's effect.
WOULD GIVE FINE VISTA
BY baslng the wldened street on WASH
ington Square. added Mr.. Norris there
would be a fine vista afforded OF Inde-
pendence Square and the magnificent build
ings fronting on 1t, on the other hand
he said, II Eighth street were widened on
its east side. the Philadelphia Saving Fund
Society would be prevented from extending
its building westward. as will ho necessary
In future. He continued:
AS this society now has 100000 de-
poaitors. II means that one person In
every six OF the present population of
Philadelphia Ia interested in transact
ing business there, and suitable accom-
modaton must be provided for It's regu-
lar future growth as II is quasi
public institution.
The subcommittee was told by Mr. Curtis
OF plans for the improvement OF Chestnut
street by the erection OF the LEDGER news
paper plant between Sixth and Seventh
streets, to include large auditorium in
which would be placed the finest organ In
America. Thus the auditorium would af-
ford music OF the highest class for people
OF moderate means
In supporting the argument of Mr. Morris
and Mr. Curtis for the widening OF Seventh
street, Mr. Purves suggested that Eight
eenth street should be substituted for Six
teenth street on the west. IL this were
done, he pointed out. the surface circuit
would be based on Rlttenhouse and Logan
squares, as well as Washington and Frank. |
lin
The change from Sixteenth 10 Eighteenth |
street would mean that the western side |
or the trRffic circuit would pass directly |
in front OF the Cathedral, opposite Logan |
Square. AS thousands OF persons visit the |
Cathedral some days, the improved thor |
oughfare az that point would be particu- |
larly appreciated.
Another meeting OF the subcommittee, OF !
which John Hall Rankin is chairman, viii |
be held next Thursday morning. after which |
Il Is probable that meeting OF tho entire |
Comprehensive Plans Committee VIII be |
called to consider the proposed change.