Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-05-07
TRADE BODIES TO PUSH
PROJECT ON BELT LINE
Committee Plans Delegation to
Seek Legislative En-
abling Act

The joint committee of the trade bodies
Of Philadelphia to promote commerce Via
Philadelphia" got back Of the belt line
proposition AT q meeting in the Bourse
this afternoon, when it was decided to send
a large committee to Harrisburg to urge
passage of the enabling bill recently intro
duced.
Philip Cooley. fourth vice president of
the Chamber Of Commerce. chairman of
the subcommittee in charge Of the belt line,
reported on the legislative act, which is
AN amendment of the traction act of 1913
After the report had been accepted George
T.. Bartol president Of the Bourse. who Is
chairman of the joint committee, was cm-
powered to make arrangements with each
Of the tWenty-sevcn trade ORGANIZATIONS rep
resented in the COmmttec to send n repre-
sentative to Harrisburg to exert influence
in behalf OF the passage of the bin.
II is estimated that the three railroads.
th" Baltimore and Ohio, the Reading and
IN" Pennsylvania. and the Belt Line COM
pauy, have invested about $500 OOO in the
present belt line. Several members Of the
committee said that not more than l,3O0.-
600 would be necessary to provide AN ade-
Quatr belt line to take care Of all of the
business of the city
The proposed act merely enables the city
to provide for a belt line. After it is passed
it viii he necessary for the city to work
out the most advantageous plan, which may
provide either for a belt line owned by the
city or for one controlled by the city. If
the line owned by the city We're formed
from the existing lines and additional ones
which would be built. it is suggested that IL
would more than likely not be necessary
to appropriate additional funds. Several
members Of the committee believe that
sufficient money to take care Of the line
could be diverted from appropriations al
ready made for dock and wharf purposes
At tins afternoons meeting the question
Of charging for shipping over the belt line
was discussed briefly. 1t was indicated that
the charge for shipping probably would not
exceed SO per car and that it might come
below that figure.
In pointing out the value of the pro.
posed line Mr.. BartOl reported that New
orleans had owneh line for eight years
and that II had grown in importance until
more than 10000 cars were handled an
nually.
The following organizations are repre-
scntcd in the joint committee: Philadelphia
BOurac. Philadelphia Maritime Exchange.
Philadelphia Commercial Museum, Morocco
Manufacturers National Association Cloth
iorS' Association Of Philadelphia, Philadel-
phia Wool and Textile Association. Cotton
Yarn Merchants Association, Paper Trade
Association Of Philadelphia, Philadelphia
Board Of Trade, GrOcerS' aud Importers
Exchange, Master Builders Exchange Nes-
sci owners and Captains Association,
Delaware River Transportation Association.
Wholesale Dry Goods, Notions and Millinery
Association, Philadelphia Chamber of Com
merce, Philadelphia Drug Exchange, Lum-
bermen's Exchange. Philadelphia Wholesale
Lumber Dealers Association, Philadelphia
Foundrymens Association, Paint Manufac-
| turers' Club Of Philadelphia, United Busi-
| ness Mems Association, Commercial Ex-
| change of Philadelphia, Manufacturers
club Philadelphia Produce Exchange, Phil
adephia Statiopers' Association Paper Box
Manufacturers Association, Philadelphia
Lager Beer Brewers Association.