Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-12-28
SHIPYARD MEN
SEEK CITY'S AID
Representatives Call at
Mayors Office in Behalf
of Hog Island Colony
INTERVIEW PLAN FAILS

Representatives OF the Emergency
Fleet Corporation called at the office of
Mayor Smith late this afternoon for
finsl promise from him as to what in
Guccments Philadelphia would offer for
the 1000 or 5000 homes TO be erected for
iiok Island shlpyard workmen In the
Fortleth Ward or IN New Jersey
The Mayor was not in his office. lie
was said TO be out of tho city.
Tho shpbulding experts. visiby dis
appointed by tho Mayors sbscr &C, had
wanted n confirmation from the chief
executive of his subordnstes promises
before making the official report OF what
advantages this city would offer TO the
wortmcn The report is to be made inl-
mediately. ard will include recommcn-
dstions based upon the extent of street
and sewer extensions and lighting ard
water facilities that are promised.
Failig to see the Mayor. the reprcsen-
tativcs. owen Brainsrd. J. Rogers FlaL-
merry. T.. II. Bender and three other en-
gineers of the American International
Shipbuilding Corporation, conferred with
Joseph c. Smith, the Mayors secretary
brother; Director Datcsmar, OF the De-
partment of Public Works: Director
Webster. of the Department Of Whsvcs.
Docks ard Ferries and chief Albright
of the Bureau Of Surveys
What effect the failure to ccc the
Mayor will have upon tho city's chances
to get the new houses could not be estl-
mated this afternoon. The proposed sites
In the Fortieth Ward lie between Elm
wood avenue and Island road, a section
which. according 10 Thomas T.. Mitten.
president OF tho Philadelphia Rapid
Transit Company, would have new trans
portstion facilities by the laying OF troll
ley tracks parallel tn the river and lead
ing direct to the big shipysrd.
The principal fact that city officials
must combat In order TO overthrow the
early plan to erect between 1000 and
5000 homes on the site Of Old Washing.
ton Park, in Gloucester County, on the
New Jersey side OF the Delaware River,
is that this proposition Is complete in
that plans made by a manufacturing
concern for model town on the park
site are already available for Govern
mcnt use
Several years ago the park was pur-
chased as a model town site and as II
lies directly across the Delaware River
from Hog Island the availability of Il
for present needs has been quickly rcccg-
nzed.
Director Datesman. Of the Deps srtncnt
Of Public Works, has prepared and sub
mitted to tho fleet engineers plans for n
town site In the Forte,h Ward between
Elmwood avenue and Island Road. The
engineers have been assured that Phila =
delphia will do as. much or more than
the owners Of the South Jersey land TO
make things comfortable and living con-
dtions better for the workmen and their
families.
Many plans to better traffic facilities
in the southern section of the city are
under way and the most important ques-
ton TO be decided is new transit facilities
for the wcrkmen.
Started TO aid the Government in the
conduct of the war. all of the work of
improving the Penrose Ferry Bridge
over the Schuylkill River in the extreme
southwestern section OF the city has
been completed. A report to this effect
was filed this morning with Director
Datesman. OF the Department Of Public
Works. by chief Dunlap Of the Bureau
of Highways, under whose supervision
the work was done The Improvement
means that the bridge viii be nfty PEI
cent stronger than II WIS previously and
thoroughly capable Of carrying the tire.
'nendous traffic which has developed in
.e southwestern section OF the city on
account of the war.