Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-07-25
TRANSIT POLICY
DECIDED TODAY
Agreement Believed Reached
at Council Of Mayor
and Advisers
HIGH PRICES OBSTACLE
Completion of Frankford IL"
Said to Be Regarded as
Imperative
HIGH PRICES OBSTACLE

The policy OF the city In regard to tha
construction of the various lines of the
high-speed system during the present perioa
of high prices was discussed and probable
agreed upon at conference today between
Mayor Smith and Transit Director Twining
Following the conference, the Mayor dis.
cussed transit with William Draper Lewis
the legal adviser on transit of the ad.
ministration.
The Mayor is determined to push ths
Frankford Il" to an early completion ana
to have it operated as soon as possibie
Likewise is he anxious to have the work
begun on the subway delivery loon ana
upon that part of the Broad street subwav
between South and Stiles streets. But
whether any other parts of the high-snes6
system should be placed under contract
now In consideration of the scarcity Of
labor and the high prices of all materials
is question of grave doubt
Several months ago the Mayor announced
that he favored deferring practically nj, N.
construction work until prices dropped or
conditions changed. Before committing tina
city definitely to such policy, however, ths
Mayor today will discuss the entire ouas.
tion with his official advisers.
TO AWARD CONTRACTS
Director Twining will award the con.
tracts for the entire subway delivery loon
and for three sections Of the Broad street
"A
soon as the certificates of convenience ar.
| rive from Harrisburg. These are expected
| in the mail some time today. Last night
at the direction Of the Mayor, the Transit
Director advised each Of the contractor,
| over the telephone that they would be
awarded the contracts. The total of the ak
| contracts will amount to about SIS, ,000
Whether or not the contractors will agree
| to do the work at the prices named In the
| bids submitted six months ago is very doubt.
| full. President Louchheim, Of the Keystone
State Construction Company, Senator Nc
| Nichols firm, which holds four of the six
| contracts, explained that the real question
| will have to be settled by the sub-contrac.
tors from whom options were obtained on
| steel, cement and other materials
II the contracts were readvertised now
and new bids were received he said IL In
| likely that these bids would range between
$20.000,000 and $4,000 900. The Keystone
Company however, is anxious, according TO
Mr. Louchheim, to proceed with the work II
| it is any way possible.
THE MAYORS VIEW
When asked if he thought the contrao.
tors could be held to their original pro.
| posals in spite of the time elapsed since
the bids were received Mayor Smith said:
Il believe so, and l shall press the obIi.
CATION upon them if necessary II Is q
|
| money at this time on transit construction
and that responsibility falls upon me- but
| am an optimist on Philadelphia. This
| city is growing fast; shipyards and other
industries are being established and tho
| city must see that there are adequate tram
sit facilities.
II think we should proceed carefully, but
still go ahead first with the central lines,
which take longest and are most dificult 10
| build. The others can wait whi,e hays
| director Twining to advise with, some
| time ago talked this over with A, Merritt
| Taylor, whom know well enough to confer
| win freely, and such was then his advice
lie also Is an optmist upon Philadelphia"
LEWIS AND TWINING TO CONFER
William Draper Lewis, retained by tho
| Mayor as legal transit adviser of the city
| VIII confer with Director Twining today
over the new lease which is being prepared
| by the Transit Department. Mr. Lewis re-.
turned from Maine, where he is spending
tne summer yesterday, and will go to the
| Office OF the Director some time this after.
noon to talk over the progress made on
the new lease draft
| under the present plans Director Twin
ing hopes to have the new lease virtually
completed by the first week in August. when
ne Is planning to go on his vacation II
WIN then be put into legal form by Mr..
Lewis, and submitted to City Solicitor
Connolly for his approval. .t
Mr Connolly will also draw the ordinance
by which the lease will be presented to
councils. If present plans mature the
lease should be in shape for presentation te
Councils the middle of next month. But II
has not been definitely determined as YET
whether to call a special session at that
time or to wait until the first regular SEES
sion, September 90