Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-07-27
MAYOR PLANS TO RUSH
MUNICIPAL PROJECTS;
SALE OF BONDS LATER
Advertisements Will Ask Bids on
Convention Hall, Art Palace,
Bridge and Sewer
Work
LET CONTRACTS IN FALL

with the hope of expedltng work on sew
eral munlc pal undertakings Mayor Smith
and the members of his Cabinet have de-
cided not to wait until bonds have been sold
from the sl14525, 900 loans before advertis-
Ing for estimates for the construction OF
Convention Hail. the Art Palace and bridge
and sewer construction work.
Follow ng the approval of the loans by
the voters and anticipating favorable action
by Councils Directors Twining, Webster.
Datesman and Krusen have completed pre-
liminary work on many undertakings and
are ready to advertise for estimates The
advert sing and awarding os contracts Will
be a late summer and early fall task, and
IL present plans are carried out ground
will be broken before the winter months for
several of the more important undertakings.
TIL first seven months of the Smith
admit ."raton have been given over to the
preparation of Improvement plans and
the long fight over the Taylor Transit
plan took up the time and attention of
the Mayor and Director Twinng for sew
eral months almost to the exclusion of
all other phases of the comprehensive
scheme of municipal work. The preparation
of new rapid transit plan occupied the
attention of the Transit Department for six
weeks almost to the exclusion of other pro-
Bressve work and in commenting on this
fact Select Councilman Harry ]. Trainer
proposed that the field and Office force should
not be paid for this period from transit
loan moneys. His suggestion was not
acted upon in the Finance Committee of
Councils.
~ TRANSIT CONTROVERSY.
While the transit controversy was under
way Directors Datesman and Webster were
at work on bridge and sewer work and on
port improvements such as piers and bulk
heads and new river front lines. The
L.. ,l,a
and the Art Palace work have completed
their work and Mayor Smith Is anxious that
, proposals for estimates be asked for at once.
Under the present administration no new
municipal undertakings have been started.
but work has progressed favorably upon
the Broad street subway and the FranSford
Elevated line. Work has also progressed
upon city piers and the river front structures
IS are fast nearing completion. Because of
this condition Mayor Smith has not been
called upon so far to approve disapprove
any municipal contracts of any considerable
size.
s5,0oo,o00 FOR DEFICIENCY BILLS.
The bond sale. which has been tenta-
lively fixed for early in September. will be
for approximately Sl5,0OO.O 600. and included
will be neariy $4,000. 900 for maintenance
and deficiency bills. A snil'r sum is like
ly to be offered for the acquisition of land
along the Parkway and the tearing away
of structures purchased by the city. Just
how much will be allowed for transit i'm
provements has not been determined
There is still $4,000 900 of the Sc 600, 900
transit loan authorized last year that has
not been sold. and this balance Is likely to
be disposed of before other funds are sought
for transit. Director Twining, besides hav-
ing complete plans for the Broad street
subway and the Franltford elevated. has a
corps OF engineers and craftsmen at work
on section plans for lines TO be built in
other parts of the city. At this time it is
understood that plans not complete for
any one of the lines designed to relieve
congestion in outlying sections of the city
Work has progressed to n point where II
is possible for the Director TO lay before
Mayor Smith an intelligent outline of his
activities for the next two years.