Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-09-11
|VO MORE SUBWAY.
ONTRACTS SIGNED
McNichol Concern to Build
Arch and Locust Streets
, Delivery Loop
s1o,ooo,ooo UNDERTAKING
Wares Undecided on Purpose.
Smiths Ward Hits Tran
sit Agreement

While Senator Ware Is still debating with
his engineers whether II win be safe to risk
accepting the one Broad street subway con-
tract awarded to his concern several weeks
axo. Senator MoNichol's firm, the Key
stone state Construction Company, has
signed the last two Of the four big con-
tracts awarded to IL by the city at the
same time.
Tho action Of the Keystone state Con-
= strlction Company CMcNichol's CONCERN was
made known today. Tho four new con-
tracts now held By the Keystone Company
total more than s10.00o.0oo. The one cons
tract awarded to the Philadelphia subway
Construction Company. and which Senator
Ware ts stil undecided about, amounts TO
'e2.sS5,sH
President Jerome II. Louchheim. OF the
keystone Company. signed the first two
contracts last Friday. These which are
for the Arch and Locust streets legs OF
the subway delivery loop, were delivered
70 the City Solicitor yesterday and will be
signed by tho Mayor within a day or two.
The other two contracts will not be
turned over TO the City Solicitor, Mr..
Louchheim said today. until work can be
started. In this way the company can save
several thousand dollars In premiums OH
the penal and surety bonds for the work.
pointed out. to have the contracts complete
~ executed and begin paying these bond
premiums long before there Is any possi-
bility of beginning the work
The fact that the Keystone state Con-
structon Company has signed the con-
tracts, however. makes 1t obligatory upon
II to. begin work upon them as soon as
possible. President Louchheim assured
Mayor Smith that this will be done.
would be begun on the two delivery loop
contracts before october I. Just how rap
Idly they will be carried forward, however.
will then depend upon the promptness of
the delivery of the materials which have
been contracted for. More than 100000
feet Of lumber alone have been purchased
since last Friday. when the contracts were
signed Mr.. Louchheim said.
Mayor Smiths attitude upon the transit
lease question was denounced and the posi-
tion Of former Transit Director A. Merritt
Taylor was approved by Republicans In the
Mayors home ward last night at a meeting
In the headquarters of the Twenty-eighth
Ward Republican Club.
Announcement was made that il the
Mayor does not accept the challenge is
sued yesterday, when he was called upon
to answer In public debate charges re-
Gently made that he had sacrificed the
workers OF the ward to the interests OF
members Of his family, further statements
affecting his administration and political
career will be submitted. These are to bo
submitted a. public meeting in hired
hall next Saturday night, should the
Mayor fail TO answer.
DR.. Marcus l.. Polak. DR.. John J. Fin
ney and Dr. II. i. Leus addressed the meet
ing After criticlzing the administration,
each condemned the alleged police inter
ference with the rights of the citizens Of
the Fifth Ward. Mayor Smith and Director
Wilson were held accountable for conditions,
declared to call for popular rebuke.