Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-03-30
consinuea from Psre on.

tons for the extensions OF the high-speed
transit system and the suggestion that the
fare be increased to 5 ia or 5% cents were
voiced today by the leaders in business
and civic organizations and others wno
have been active for months in the hght
for the adoption of the Taylor transit
plan.
While the entire program of Director
Twfning was denounced as being only an
ernasculated bobtail substitute Tor the
comprehensive system worked out by lot.
n1ef Director Taylor, the local tax ana
the fare Increase phases OF the Iwihing
Man were condemned in particular
4 The tendency I'm every large city In the
oo,intry Is to reduce fares 1t was pointed
cut while II is proposed for Philadelphia
10 make n substantial increase Tor per
Iod OF "A years The special local tax Tor
locai improvements was characterized as
Tcass legislation"
CALLED BREACH OF FAITH.
The proposal to construct only the trunk
Hines al the present time and to postpone
building all the spurs until some inden-
nite future was condemned as breach
Of faith with the people OF those sections
who voted for the s6O00OO0 transit loan
last year in the belief that they were 10
be directly benefited.
The very complexity of the Twining
report with its maze of technical prob
lens, it was admitted by all, would post
none direct criticism until careful study
could be given to the various details OF
the new proposals. Councils flhahce
Committee will meet again tomorrow TO
consider the transit item i'm the municipal
loan. and the leading supporters of the
original Taylor plan believe that pubic
sentiment will be definitely crystallized
against the Twinng notifications by that
time
TRANSIT LEAGUE AROUSED.
The AlI-Philadephia Rapid Transit
League. which was organized two months
ago. when II was first hinted that the
smith administration intended to tear to
pieces the Taylor plan, announced today
through Horace V. MacFadyen. the presi-
dent that 1t would take stand inalter-
ably opposed to the Twning proposals. "A
meeting of the Executive Committee of the
league will be held tonight or tomorrow
to consider a course of action.
The statement made by Mayor Smith
at the flower show dinner at horticultural
Hail. last night that Broad street VIII be
tunneled from end to end and the city |
will spend $50, 900. 900 on rapid transit in |
the next four years. occasoned wide |
spread speculation in transit circles today. |
To reconcile the statement of the Mayor /
with the report of Director Twining, 1t was
admitted. was practically impossible.
The entire report of Director Twtning |
shows fundamental departures from the |
Taylor plan. They are:
First Construction by a series OF
progressive steps from the centre of
the city toward the suburbs.
Second. Local assessments for the
construction of the spurs beyond n
2k-minute street zone from City
Hail.
Third. Cost of high-Speed lines and
their support until profit-producing to
be borne by direct tax on the car
riders, instead Of an indirect tax on
This would
fare above 8 cents until 1860, under
the estimate of Director TwininE.
Fourth. Specific changes in the
construction program, including the
change from n four-tracl< to n two
track subway at City Han. the reloca-
tion of the station there, the substitu-
tisn of the Ridge avenue leg of the
loop for the Arch street leg, minor
changes the southern leg of the
loop. and u radical change In location
of the Darby elevated line.
SUGGESTIONS BY TwINtNG.
The report urges the following:
The immediate construction of the bob (
tail subway in Broad street from Spruce
street to Erie avenue or Pike street This
section. Twining estimates, will cost SlS,-
400, 900 and can be in operation by 1920
II work be begun promptly. The tube
would contain four tracks south TO Ridge
avenue and two tracks from there TO
Spruce street.
The immediate construction of a two
track loop from Broad street and Ridge
avenue, down Ridge avenue TO sth street,
on Sth street to Walnut street, on Walnut
street to 10th street. This section is esti-
mated to cost s7,2OO,00O and can be in op-
Grafton in 1920.
The immediate completion of the Frank
ford elevated from Front and Arch streets |
TO Bridge street. at a cost of $4,000, 600, |
and to be in operation early in 1918
Immediate steps to work out an agree |
ment with the Philadelphia Rapid Transit |
Company, in order 20 determine how the |
new lines will be operated before any |
additional work is undertaken.
An item of S35, 900 900 for transit in |
the new municipal loan about TO be |
foated. The first two steps of the con- |
struction program will cost only S25,OOO,- |
600, In addition to the 100000 900 already |
available. Director Twining, however is |
asking for the additional Ss,400,OO0 with !
view to beginning the construction OF
the other branches before another NUM- |
eipal loan is fioated.
That the city decide at once whether |
IL will handle the transit question on |
political or a business basis. The city |
has come 10 the parting Of the ways, the !
Director declares, and the decision must |
be made at once.
That board OF capable and locally dis /
Interested men be appoiVted 10 gV'de |
Councils in the transit question, should the |
present report be rejected.
That all citizens drop personal preju- |
dice in connection with the transit prob |
lem, and that the burdens which will be |
in proportion to the benefits be assumed !
willingly
That the publc's inslstenee upon a |
straight five-eent fare be temporarily |
abandoned. and that arrangements be |
worked out for new fare system in 1927, |
with seven tickets for 40 cents, and sub |
saquentiy nine tickets for so cents, and |
q gradually increasing scale of fare |
charges until the ideal of a universal |
fge-eent fare is at last realized.
The report points out that the Taylor |
plan can be adopted in full Immediately |
II the people OF Philadelphia are willing |
70 accept an average fare estimated not |