Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-06-08
OVEFOR TRACK
ON CHESTER PIKE
Governor and Service Com
mission Asked to Com
pei Laying
WAR wORKMEN SUFFER
Present Conditions Hold Up
Industries and Hamper
Transportation, Is Charge

Governor Brumbaugh and the Public
service Commission were appealed TO
this afternoon to take immediate action
- compel the Telford Road Company.
owners Of Chester pike to permit the
1Aying of additional trolley tracks to
9acilitate transportation of war workers
efnployed in munitions and shipyard
plants at Chester, Eddystone and Es-
6ington.
Refusal Of the company to permit the
laying OF double tracks along the entire
length Of the pike makes IT impossible
Tor war industries In that section to OBJ
tain adequate labor. Workmen will not
put up with the transportation inconven-
fences caused by the present single
track. 1t is declared
The action of the company in refusing
to permit the tracks to be laid is an
out and out case OF profteering. accord
ing to Major W. A. Garrett. assistant
general manager of the Mtdvale Steel
and Ordnance Companys rife plant at
Eddystone.
workmen Fatten Toll Company
Under the present arrangement. Major
Garrett said. workmen are forced in
many instances to use private convey
ances, for which they are taxed" twenty
cents toll for six miles-approximately
three cents a mile.
So prosperous Is this business con-
Quoted by the Telford Company. the
n1jor said. that 1t Is realizing nearly
100 per cent profit on the original in
vestment. According to Major Garrett
the paid in capital is s47,5OO and the
company has made SAG, 900.
Following his announcement Of these
charges, Major Garrett took immediate
steps to have the proper authority
granted to force the company to permit
the laying Of the tracks. The single track
operated by the Southern Pennsylvania
Traction Company, and the improve
ments are to be financed by the Govern
msnt.
Taylor Joins in Appeal
He enlisted the support of A. Mer-
ritt Taylor director of the passenger
transportation and housing division Of
the Emergency Fleet Corporation. Fol-
1owing a conference. Director Taylor this
4 Afternoon sent a telegram to Governor
rBrumbaugh, urging cooperation of the
State in removing the Construction" that
: ID seriously delaying Government work.
Cotncident with the telegram to the
Governor Major Garrett sent similar
message to the Public Service Commits
soion. This telegram pointed out that
there are 10000 men employed In war
Industries In that section, 10000 of whom
use the trolley route.
"Due to the infrequent service the EN-
Z ployes Of the Midvale Steel and Ord
nance Company, the Sun Shipbuilding
Company, and the Westinghouse Elec-
\ tric Company at Essington. are forced
- use automobiles, jitneys and other
- oonveyances," the telegram read. Pend
Ing the double tracking of the electric
railroad (the Southern Pennsylvania
traction Company to Chester, between
Darby and Essington. employees protest
&iA.nst the high toll charges. amount.
ing to twenty cents for six miles
After thus explaining the situation
he urged the commission TO take steps
TO compel the Telford Company to nc
longer delay in granting the permit.
Garrett Charges ProHteerinr
a Although Director Taylor had littl,
.comment to make regarding the com
pany's refusal further than to admi
The had enlisted the aid of Governor
Brumbaugh, Major Garrett made known
the plans that are under consideration
sby Director Taylor for making tn,
service entirely adequate.
Instead Of the present schedule of on.
trolley every seven minutes. Director
Taylor proposes to operate one car ever!
forty seconds during rush hours, whei
the new tracks are laid. This service
would care for $500 persons every flfteei
minutes.
~ II am as mad as blazes about this,
Major Garrett said, and | want to sa!
fstt that this Is one OF the worst cases o
sprofiteering that has come to my atten
4 tfon during the whole of the war. IT
easy to see why they're holding up tn,
smunitions plants and shipyards' reques
tfor another track-s46.000 on an invest
!; ment of S47,500. Just imagine that :"