The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-12-30
w. Leon Pepperman of New York on Visit to Rela-
 tive Here
TRANSPORTATION OF
 PEOPLE BIG PROBLEM
Is Delighted With the Beauties of the Residential Section IIere-Has Most Varied and In-
 teresting Career

w Leon Pepperman, vice president of the Interborough Rapid Transit company of New York, financier and the right-hand man of Theodore P. Shonts, president of the Interborough company is in the city. MT. Pepper man is a guest at the home of his brother, B. A Pepperman He will leave for New York tonight.
 He called at the city hall yesterday in company with his brother to visit Commissioner Ward, an old friend of his
 MT. Pepperman is q native of Ala bama. He was born in Montgomery. He left there in the fall of 1893 to ac- cept position with the government in Washington. Today he is regarded as one of the keenest financiers and executives in New York.
 PRAISES CITY
 papers," said Mr Pepperman, when approached by the reporter. But if I must talk 1 will say that Birming- ham is one of the most beautiful cities l have ever visited" and he glanced Ut George Ward. who smiled broadly at the mention of "city beautiful"
 How about the personal side of your career?" asked the reporter
 That amounts to nothing. Don't say anything about 1t. I much prefer talking about the climate, the city and the com mission" He glanced toward MT. Ward once more.
 When he was told that the papers all over the country had carried stories about the immense expenditures now being car ried on by the Interborough company in building additional subway lines, he warmed up."
 MILLIONS FOR SUBWAYS
 The Interborough Rapid Transit com pany is now spending approximately s325, = 00O000 on new subways to take care of the transporta tion problem in New York" he said This work will be completed in 1918 and when finished will almost double the rapid transit facilities. About 6,000 = 600 ride the electric lines in New York each day. The greatest problem facing New York today Is the various methods of transportation.
 Owing to the peculiarity of the loca- tion of New York, which means the whole of Manhattan Isle, the problem of trans porting people and freight is serious one. Incidentally l might add that the enormous cost of transportation of com modities for New York people is one of the main reasons for the high cost of living in this city For instance, a truck load of stuff sent out of the heart of New York to the Battery or the Bronx, which is the two extreme sections of the island, will take probably day to be de- livered This is caused by the great con- gestion, due mainly to vehicular traffic. It may be plainly seen that the haulage cost by truck is enormous.
 ''Is it possible that subways are thought of as a means of remedying the traffic conditions on the streets?" he was asked.
 "Yes. This plan has been talked of quite bit and it is possible that the problem will be solved in this manner
 During his career he has served the government in many capacities. At one time he was recorder of the civil ser vice commission in the Philippines. During the administration of Theo- dore P. Shonts the executive head of the canal zone, MT. Pepperman held the important commission of chief of administration on the Panama canal. This was in 1907. It was here that an Intimacy sprung up between he and MT. Shonts which eventually led him to the vice presidency of the Interbor- ough Rapid Transit company. He has been in that capacity since 1911.