Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-07-26
TRANSIT PROGRESS NOW
UP TO CONTRACTORS
Director Twining Expects Deci-
sion on Acceptance at Old
Prices Within Few Days

Transit Director Twining expects to have
definite word within n day or two from the
three firms which were awarded the Broad
street tube and the delivery loop contracts,
whether or not they will he willing to under
take the work upon prices given In their
bids of six months ago.
1t will be necessary for these concerns to
make known their intentions when they are
| called upon to sign the contracts awarded
to them yesterday. The city Solicitors De-
partment today began preparing the con-
tracts in legal form. and as soon as they are
completed they will be given to the three
| firms to sign. If they sign without protest
the work on both the Broad street tube and
the loop will begin as soon as materials
can be obtained.
A. l.. Drum, chief engineer for the Phila-
delphia Rapid Transit Company, and Direc-
tor Twning will continue their confer
ences on the transit lease today. and this
afternoon William Draper Lewis, legal tran
sit adviser for the administration, will meet
the transit director. No particular confer
ences, however, are scheduled for today.
Mr.. Lewis does not expect to return to
Maine. where he IL spending the summer,
until all the points OF the new lease have
been agreed upon and It is ready to be put
into legal form. According to the present
| pans of the Transit Department Mr.. Lewis
will take rough draft of the lease back 20
Maine with him and there put It into final
shape for presentation to City Solicitor Con-
nelly for the latters formal approval
The hign record revenues and profits
shown in the annual report of the transit
| company. which was submitted to the di-
rectors yesterday, is expected to have but
| little influence upon the lease negotiations.
! The regular monthly reports had shown in
| advance the consistent increase I'm the COM
| pany's gross earnings, and the annual re-
| port only gave the summary for the year.
| In brief review Of the lease negotiations
| the report contains the following paragraph,
| which liz significant I'm view of the fnct that
the basis for a new lease. eliminating the 5
'The position taken by the Stotesbury
| management has always been that the com.
| pany should contribute its utmost to the
| joint undertaking, but II the burden which
| the city desired to IMPOSE upon the COM
| pany was too great, then the company
| would be unable to join with the city in
| carrying out the clty's plans. Speaking
| for this management, Mr.. Stotesbury has
| said that II the terms offered by the city
| as finality should preclude Il reasonable
return to the stockholders. he would not
feel justified in recommending its accep-
tAnce"
| Director Twining today awarded to the
! Keystone State Construction Company the
contract for the concrete floor of the
| Frankford a. between Callowhill and
Dyre streets. This firm, which is Senator
| McNichoPs concern, was the sole bidder
for the work, the figure being S907 400 The
| work is to be completed nine months from
the time the department orders 1t to begin.
This makes Ave contracts awarded tc
McNichol out of seven in the last two days