Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-02-01
BILL FOR BRIDGE OVER
DELAWARE UNDER WAY
John o. Sheath Says Carefully
Drafted Measure Will Be Of
! fered in Legislature

No one on the Pennsylvania side IL block
ing the Delaware River bridge movement:
IN fact, Philadelphia will benefit even moro
than Camden by the span, and hundreds OF
local business men know It, according TO
John o. Sheath, former State Treasurer,
who today announced that within tho next
few weeks a carefully drawn bill will be
presented to the Legislature which will
legally sanction the building of the bridge
from the Pennsylvania side.
81 hope by the latter part OF tho week
to have committee in session drafting the
bill. Much care has to be used in wording
the act to make II certain to hold water. I
fear that the resolution presented by the
Chamber of Commerce at Harrisburg the
other day and shelved by the Legislature
was rather inopportune. Great care should
be used in the wording Of this bill"
Mr.. Sheath secuted the idea that the big
politicians of this State are apathetic In
regard to the project. He said that. as a
matter OF fact, both Senator Ware and Sem
ator Penrose favored the bridge as well as
q tunnel
How could any politician who says he
favors community progress hang back on
question like this?" he asked. Let one
start the ball rolling and tho rest will
come along quickly"
when this bill goes through as I am
certain 1t will. the matter will be squarely
UP to this city. The Brooklyn bridge paid
for itself in several years. But should the
city be slow in the matter then we could
at least seek the construction through an
other channel"
1t was suggested TO Mr.. Sheath that the
proposed legislation relative to Iie erection
of bridge from Pennsgrove, n. j., to Cor
don Heights, Del. would be serious blow
to the project in Philadelphia
81 can't see that quite" said Mr.. Sheath
"But / will say that to people who have
millions in back of them such a building
Is not impossible"
Director Webster OF the ,wharves, Docks
and Ferries Department, laughed merrily
when told of the proposed bridge down In
Delaware Direct Webster Is at the head
of a committee of three which Is reporting
upon the feasibility of the proposed bridge
or tunnel
ct don't know of a more impracticable
scheme than the erection of bridge from
Pennsgrove across the river. The project
here demands enough time and money out
down there it Is almost Impossible.
Director Webster said that what the
citizens of Philadelphia needed was cam
paign Of education in the matter OF bridge
erection.
"But don't you think" he was asked,
'that the people are educated enough now
and what they want is action?
.I don't know" said Director webster.
I'VE have no appropriation from Coun-
cils to carry on our work, sald Dlrector
Datesman, of the Public Works Department
who Is one or the three on ,he coiiiii'.ec'
"What time we have we give to inVesti-
CATION. Our work has not to do with the
necessity of the bridge, for l am certain
that a tunnel is out OF the question. but with
the feasibility of the structure
When asked whether or not he knew that
the political leaders in this town had
expressed themselves in favor OF the pro-
iect Director Datesman said:
"Oh, it's a very attractive project-a very
pretty project
The Mayor was approached and asked
about the report from Delaware.
'In your opinion, would not the proposed
bridge from Pennsgrove to Gordon Heisn,s'
= DeI.' tap the adjoining regions and make
Wilmington a serious contender with Phil
sdelphia for lots of Jersey trade, providing
that by that time this city has done moth
ing In the way of bridge?"
'what bridge?" said Mayor Smith, pass
ing into his private office.