Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-07-06
MAJOR mitchell
LAST HERE IN 1915
Former Mayor of New York
Greatly Admired in
This City
ID E A T H IS DEPLORED
While in Philadelphia Gave
Valuable Advice on Tran.
sit Subject
ID E A T H Is DEPLORED

Former Mayor John Purroy Mitchell
of New York, who was killed today in
an airplane accident. made his last
official visit to Philadelphia in Novem-
ber 1915 when he attended a con-
ference of Mayors at Witherspoon Hall
The conference was called by the
late Mayor Blankenburg for a general
interchange of suggestions regarding
municipal management.
Chief executives of many cities of the
United States attended. as well as other
officials of prominence. 1t was generally
agreed at the time that the address of
Mayor Mitchell was the most construc-
tive, forceful and Illuminating of any
delivered at the meeting. =
Mr.. Mitchell was then at the very
height of his popularity, as a result of
his achievements in New York city and
his absolute fearessness in carrying out
plans which he believed to he for the
best interest of the people
When he reached this city he was be-
sieged by many persons of prominence
who were desirous of extending hOspi-
tality to the progressive Mayor.
Beset by Admirers
There were score of invitations. in
Guiding those by representatives, of va
rlous organizations, who wanted the
Mayor TO address them.
Mr.. Mitchell was surrounded by nearly
a dozen admirers on his way to an au-
tomobile, when an EVENING LEDGER
reporter sought to interview him on the
transit question, which was then the
SUBJECT of much public discussion.
with about seven minutes to set the
tram at Broad street station. and mem
~ IA. Il.
in his automobile. Mr.. Mitchell hurriedly
expressed his views on the matter, and
In the course Of two or three minutes,
explained how the elevated and subway
lines of New York city had doomed
the communities they entered, and added
TO the comfort Of the people and gen.
eral efficiency of business enterprises
He told how progress followed the lines
OF hlgh speed, but cautioned against the
invasion Of territory which was beyond
the hope of progressive revival.
The tragic death of former Mayor
Mitchell is a. great shock and a distinct
loss to tho cause of aviation" said
Joseph a. Steinmetz, president of the
Aero Club of Pennsylvania. this after
noon
Boosted Aviation
Mayor Mitchell always saw the great
iutuie Ol aviation ana uld much TO
promote its development. He realized
the future of aviation before the war
started. In July. 1914, he appointed a
committee on aviation in New York to
arrange plans for flight up the Hudson,
with Governors Island as returning
point
Il was member of the committee.
and | distinctly remember that Mr..
Mitchell was one of the most enthusiastic
of the group of men who saw the flight
on July. IA from a point on Governor S
Island During that flight a young
aviator named Heinrich flew a machine
of his own make. While Heinrich was
flying down over the river he followed
the German ship Amerika which was
steaming in the same direction.
1T was remarked by the group Of men
at the time how easy it would have been
for Heinrich to drop a bomb on the ship
and destroy it, Two weeks later the
war in Europe started"