Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-05-11

i LIZA IL ~ II 7 n a. II
was entered into between the oficiaIs OF
the Philadelphia Rapid Transit Company
on the one part, subject TO ratification by
the Union Traction Company, and the
Director OF the Department Of City
Transit on the other part subject TO rati-
hcetion by City Councils.
THAT agreement provided for the oper-
alton Of the city-ownedt high-speed lines
by the Philadelphia Rapid Transit Com
pany. in conjunction with the existing
system, in a manner which would enable
passenger to ride on surface car to the
nearest station on the high-speed system,
there transfer free over the high.speed
system to any other section of the city,
and upon leaving the highspeed system
to transfer free again, II necessary. on q
surface car to destination, all for one D.
cent fare.
THAT agreement also provided for the
elimination of the discriminatory and IL
legal exchange ticket and the substitution
of free transfers therefor, and for fair
protection to the Philadelphia Rapid
Transit Company in consideration of its
cooperation.
ALL IN AGREEMENT.
Both parties to that tentative agree
ment engaged to use their best efforts TO
secure its ratification. '....
Several special reports were made
from time TO time to the Mayor and City
Councils.
The public demand for real rapid
transit In Philadelphia became so insist
ent that City Councils called special
election for the purpose of authorizing an
Increase In the city's debt, In the amount
of SO, 6,000,000 to be used toward the con-
struction of the Broad street subway and
the Frankford elevated
"This special election was held on April
20, 1915. and the increase of debt was
approved by a vote of nearly 10 to 1.
"By this vote the people of Philadel-
phia committed the city to the construc-
tlon of a high-speed system.
"CHy Councils in July, 1915, appropri-
ated s3,600,O00 toward the construction
of the Broad street subway and $1,000
toward the construction of the Franltford
elevated, and directed the Department of
| city Transit to proceed with the work.
"The department proceeded to award
contracts Caggregating about S3,ooo,ooo
for about one.half of the material and
work involved in the construction of the
Frankford elevated
END OF PRESENT FUNDS.
Those contracts will be virtually COM
pleted and the appropriation will be ex-
hausted this year.
"By December 1, the Frankford ele.
waited will be only about half completed
| and idle unless you provide for its COM
pletion by passing the transit and port
loan bill
Most of the material for its construc-
tion has already been fabricated, and the
structure Is being erdcted rapidly on
! Front street
THE Department also awarded a con-
tract for the construction of City Hall
station section of the Broad street subway,
involving the expenditure of not over
q r1,to fe
as rapidly as conditions will permit.
"City Councils have authorized an cleo
tion to enable the people of Philadelphia
| to vote either for or against an increase
| in the city's indebtedness in the amount
| Of $67,100,000, S10,000,000 of which Is for
port development and S57,000,0o0 of which
| is to provide for the completion of the
| Frankford elevated, the completion of the
! Broad street subway, branches and de-
livery loon and the construction of sub-
| way-elevated lines from City Hall sta
| tion beneath the Parkway and over North
| goth street and Henry street to Roxbor-
| ough, and the construction of the Wood
| land avenue elevated from S0th and Mar
! lket streets to Darby.
TT also provides for the construction of
| a surface line which Will relieve the iso-
| lation of the 35th Ward, and funds toward
| the construction of Chestnut street sub
| way, IL IL Is needed to connect up the
| Frankford elevated with the Woodland
| avenue elevated, provided the Philadelphia
| Rapid Transit Company will not afford
! connection for these two lines by way of
| the present Market street subway under
| a fair agreement
sa. WHAT YOUR VOTE MEANS.
"Fellow citizens in voting for the tran
sit and port loan you will vote either for
or against the establishment of splen.
did high-speed transportation system in
PHILADELPHIA which will connect up every
section with every other section for one
scent fare; which will eliminate the intol'
erable overcrowding of surface cars dur
ing the rush hours when the working peo-
ple of necessity are required to travel;
which will save the citizens of Philadel-
phia nearly one-haf the time now re-
uuired to travel between various sections
of the city that saving in time, calculated
at 15 cents per hour. would be worth to
you more than S1,93s,000 per year, which
will enable the city to carry out the 'Tay-
lor plan and eliminate the discriminatory
and illegal exchange ticket, for which you
nav a penalty of more than 100000 each
wear. and which will enable every family
in philadelphia to establish a permanent
home and go forth from that home to
places of amusement or recreation and OF
education in any section of the city quick
Iy comfortably and for cents"
ST want to warn you,' he declared.
"Flrst that the transit and port loan will
not increase tax rates"
'You citizens have, by your vote at