Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-02-05
City Officials Plan
to Spend Millions
Continued from Page One

Smith administration has been ex-
hausted, and for this reason the de-
partment viii have to look to Councils
for further financial help.
Highway improvements will be made
according to schedule agreed upon be-
tween Director Datesman, Chief Dun
lap and Assistant Chief Neeson, of
the Bureau of Highways. and will in
clude not only improvements to city
streets, but improvements TO country
roads within the boundaries of the city.
The estimated cost of paving planned
is s2,250, ,00O0-for grading. $3.50, 900;
improvement of country reads. $780,
900 repairs to asphalt streets, $75o,OO0:
extension of the Bensalem avenue
branch of the Northeast Boulevard,
81, 100000, and improvements of the
Parkway, 100000.
Neglected Streets to he Improved
The $2.250,00o allotted to repaving is
expected TO improve many miles CT
streets that have long been neglected
and TO put an end to the numberless
complaints that have reached the de-
partment during the present adminis-
tration. This repaving is also counted
upon to result in a great saving to the
city through the prevention of accidents
and consequent jury verdicts awarded
injured persons.
The mandamus system has grown by
leaps and bounds in recent years until
It has reached point where almost
every municipal loan must include an
item to satisfy court orders issued as
the result of accidents. the result of
land condemnation and for salaries not
authorized by Councils The many cost
ly accident cases that have resulted from
the partial neglect Of bridges. road
ways and municipality owned structures
will be lessened IL roadways, ETC., are
made safe for the travelling public, 1t
is pointed out
Delays in completing roadway con-
struction have greatly hindered building
operations in outlying sections TIE
grading plans have been formulated with
a view to remedying this condition and
making building along newly opened
roadways popular with large building
interests Thus the expenditure of $780,
900 in this way is expected to result
in building booms in many sections
where such activities have been at
standstill for several years past.
$3.50, 900 Thought Enough for Grading
Grading is the preliminary step in the
development of new streets and roads
and the money asked for IL calculated
to be sufficient to provide for miles of
new streets in outlying and suburban
sections. 1t Is estimated that the ex-
penditure of quarter of a million
dollars will grade most streets on which
building operations are contemplated
during 1919.
The 5000, 900 needed for the Parkway
will be used in work from point west
of what is known as the crescent to
Twenty-fifth street. and will include the
construction of central driveway eighty
feet in width. two service drives
twenty-eight feet in width as well as
the laying OF water pipe. grading, paving
and construction Of footwavs. etc.
Sewers in congested portions Of the
city are provided for in the 1919 plans
as we'll as the continuation of main
sewers in the southern section of the
city and the further completion of the
sewage disposal plant in Frankford
For much Of this work there Is pro-
vision in the enexpended balance of the
s42, 900, 900 loan authorization,
To Comp'ete League Island Park
Plans also have been drawn Ia the De-
partment of Public Works for the further
completion of League Island Park and
for the construction of Government ave-
nue. and other projects which, when
completed, will form a line of drive
WAYS and parks along the banks of the
Schuylkill River from Fairmount Park
10 League Island.
The general loan fund includes money
for new bridges.
The proposed bridges are: South
street over the Schuylkill River; on the
line of Forty-ninth street, over the Phil
adelphia, Baltimore and Wilmington
Railroad; Ashburner street, over the
Philadelphia and Trenton Railroad: Lin
den avenue, over the Philadelphia and
Trenton Railroad; Convent lane, over
the Philadelphia and Trenton Railroad;
Harvey street, under the Philadelphia
Germantown and Norristown Railroad
Mount Airy avenue. over the Chestnut
Hill branch of the Philadelphia and
Reading Railway; Thirty-fourth street
over the Schuylkill River near Grays
Ferry avenue; two bridges over Cobbs
Creek Parkway.
Although there is no possibility of all
the vast undertakings planned by the
Department of Public Works heing
hopes TO complete his term of office
with many of the contracts let and work
under way With but eleven months
left in which to open work, he is ex-
pected to follow the example of former
heads of the department and leave to
the incoming administration many un-
completed contracts.