Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-03-10

on the proeram resulting from the alb
normal Initiation Of prices then occurrine'
MIR. Taylor replied by stating that his esu-
mates were prepared to cover thls ~ %
tngency Now, however. he views inc
present high prices with alarm although
they were forecast twelve months ago w
the report then issued and he now adNo-
Gates the delay which he vigorously OPP
posed at that time.
"Mr. Taylor might do well to be more
consistent He has repeatedly ana very
recently insisted that the entire construc-
ton program be hastened and contracts
let Now ne insists that II would be OBJ
viously against the public interest TO 90 So
The letter made public again by Mr.
Taylor this morning. which ne oHereu us
proof that the present transit officials gave
their approval to the 1915 cost estimates,
November If. 1915.
Mr.. A. NJ. Taylor. Director, Department
of City Transit Bourse Buildlng
Philadelphia.
Sir-Referrng - the contemplated pro-
vision to be made through loan for the
construction Of the proposed high-speed
transit lines In the city, | have again
gone over the department estimates OF
cost i'm the light of the bids received Tor
the subway and elevated work recently,
placed under contract, and am OF the
oripion basel on the present prices OF
oo0 900 added to the S6,000,00O already
rroyided for, will be sufficient for the
ro-onIetion Of the structure and stations
for the Frankford Elevated Railway
from Front and Arch streets to Frank.
ford avenue and Rhawn street and OF
the Broad street subway from League
Island to Olney avenue, including fhe
delivery loop IN Locust, Eight aud Arch
streets, together with the recommended
elevated branch to the northeast and
northwest elevated branch from Logan
70 Germantown. the line between Eli
bert street and Ridge avenue to he so
located as to permit the construction Of
a subway alongside by the Pennsylvania
Railroad Company. Also to build COM
p'ctc the structure and stations of the
recommended Woodland avenue elevated
line and the Roxborough line ms subway
under the Parkway ana as elevated in
North Twenty-ninth. street and Henry
avenue.
our estimates include engineering and
other overhead expenses with interest and
sinking fund charges during construction,
which are Intended to be met from the
loan fund. also the cost of the required
real estate easements.
Respectfully submitted,
HENRY II. QUIMBY.
Chief Engineer.
Approved:
VIM. s. Twining,
J. A. Emery.
Consulting Engineers.
ACCOUNTS FOR DIFFERENCES
Although declaring that the 1915 esti-
mates are now a matter Of history and the
real question Is what the system is now
going TO cost. the director commented upon
the letter as follows:
"Lcstfalse inference he drawn from thrh
letter, as 1t has been used that all Of tho
work as now authorized can he done at
the 1915 estimate. and that therefore the
present estimates are wrong, ! will say that
the difference may be accounted for APP
proXimately MS follows:
Addition Of Byherry line .......... 81 200. 900
Inderpinning CITY Hall ...,....... SOU. O0O
Changes In Broad street neUpssttHtrd
ny rulings of the Survey Bureau. 1nO, 0OH
Interest and sinking fund during first
year Of construction ............. i,3oO,o0o
Total ...............,........ 81, 900. 0OO
"In addition to this amount the city must
build the Chestnut street subway before
July l. 1924, according to the estimates
of the department made during Mr.. Tay
lor's term OF Office. This will add approx