Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-12-15
AY0HRG SETS DATE
70 TALK TRANSIT
fesaed, He Fixes Monday
Or Tuesday for Confer
ence on Lease
DELAY OF ONE MONTH

Following the publication Of story
EH6wInK the repeated delays IN calling the
nsHch-discussed first conference between
Representatives. Of the city and oiiioiala OF
xbs pniladelphia Rapid Transit Company
ee TIE proposed transit lease, Mayor Smith
made announcement of tho date OF the con-
fzfence. According 20 the Mayors latest
nfomlsa, the meeting IL TO be held on Mon
day os Tuesday OF next week
AEonday is exactly month from the date
Sic Transit Company's directors appointed
Edward n stotesbury, chairman OF the
exenutive committee, and Thomas u. Nit
i'm. president, TO represent tho company
II the conferences The only evidence Of
any progress during these four weeks has
been frequent promises from the Mayor
that the irst conference would be held
Withir a few days.
on December Just before Mayor Smith
left on his hunting trip no announced that
he had arranged with Mr. Mitten TO have
plrector TwininR get together with Chief
Engineer Drum 10 work out some OF the
nnElnearinE details In order that tho first
conferenco might be held as Roon as he
returned from his trip.
The meetings between Director Twinng
and Mr.. Drum. however, ended about nH
abruptly as they began. on December
tlte two met for about three quarters OF an
hour in the offices Of the Transit Depart.
tnane In The Bourae on the following day
they had similar meeting. though more
brief
II developed at these two meetings that
tho engineering details which the Mayor
planned TO have "all arranged" before the
big conference In reality depended upon
the financial terms of tho agreement and
that tho Mayors program, therefore. was
placing the cart before the horse"
DEPENDS FRANKFoRD PLAN
Closely following the Mayors latest
.HM. W.a.IN ~ 49,
Twining issued a formal statement defend
ing the cessation OF work on the Frank
ford II" during the winter. which was
the cause OF an attack by tho Frankford
Board OF Trade earlier in tho week and
which Mayor Smith promised yesterday to
inveatigate.
Mr. Twlning laid stress on the fact that
this most important factor In tho transit
situation at the present time was the rati-
ncatlon Of an agreement for tho operation
OF the Frankford IL" and other lines IL
win require eighteen months, no estimates,
for the IL" to be put into operation after
the lease IN signed. Therefore, no argues.
the cessation OF work during the winter
cannot defer tho operation OF the limo be-
cause the section delayed can be completed
irrespective Of tho haltB by juno /. next
year, and this will bo long before the limo
can be operated.
TwININgs REASONS
Citing the specific reasons for the delay
the statement continues;
The section through Frankford being
Of center post design whore the steel
column supporting the structure will
be erected In the center of Frankford
avenue, involves tho spreading OF the
tracks of the Philadelphia Rapid Tran
nis Company before tho foundations
can be completed. II also involves tho
reconstruction OF curves and special
work at Orthodox and Arrott streets.
Up until the present time the Pha-
delphia Rapid Transit Company has
found II impossible to obtain tho neceH-
nary men and materials for the carry
Ing out OF It's work. and 10 start work
now would mean keeping Frankford
ayenua in n deplorable condition for
practically It's entire width through the
business section during tho whole OF
the winter without In any way
celebrating the operation OF the line.
IT was also reported at the Transit De- |,
aarttnant that the protest against the delay Il
vns lnrRely tho work OF real estate dealers
Director Twining announced today that
se was preparing an ordinance to be intro
ineed In Councils next Thursday giving
he department authority to purchase the
necessary real estate for the stations OF
he Frankford lines.