Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-05-05
NEW STREETS THE ONLY CURE
FOR THIS clTY'S TRAFFIC JAM
Renakina Checkerboard Philadelphia on
Modern Lines Is Huge job,
but Il Must Be Tackled

Modern Lines Is a Huge Job,
but It Must Be Tackled
THE steady stream of vehicles pouring
up the Parkway and into the East
River Drive these spring days is but an
illusory index of the temperament, Gus
toms and resources of Phladelphians.
1t would be delightful to deduce that so
many thousands of our citizens had quail
fled for hours of leisure and recreation IN
one of the loveicst pleasure grounds in
the world.
Investigation. however, has a way of
blurring some engaging fancies. Fur
ther inquiry into the course of these
wheeled professions would reveal the
fact that traffic is travelling much too
fast for easeful communion with nature
beauties. The average automobile saun-
terS little and hats rarely. either in the
Parkway or in Farmount. DisdainfuI of
the Stevensonian opinion that "it is bet
ter to travel than to arrive" these multi
tudinous motors are primarily intent on
destinations
They whz to get somewhere. and with
this proSacally practical object in view
they utilize one of the few effective out
lets from one of the most traffic jammed
cities on earth.
Broad street is discouraging huddle
of vehicles. The volume of travel would
wear out the most durable type of con-
crete paving ever devised. The archaic
narrowness of our checkerboard thor
oughfares has rendered imperative a pro-
fusion of traffic regulations positively
Gripping in their effect on municipal
Transportation. There would be chaos
without them. Yet there is qualification
with them.
The third city on the continent is
cabined. cribbed. confined. Eagerly it
wants to move, for necessity, spurred by
prodigious economic and industrial de-
velopment, cXerts a terrific pressure.
Yet the legitimate traffic of the town can
scarcely bulge.
For the Parkway is no panacea. In
deed, the very isolation Of its merit is
well-nigh pathetic. Such relief as it
affords is potently suggestive of the still
greater relief which is needed and which
can only be had by complete revolution
in Philadeiphias way of handling Phila-
delphia's growing problems. Pcayune
methods must go if the town is really to
live the life that is now stirring within it.
Lamentation over initial handicaps
leads US only to an impasse. The un-
palatable truth must be faced that the
plan of this city of which Penn was so
proud is now one of the worst conceiv-
able. 1t was admirable in 1852, when
European communities were labyrinths
of twisting lanes. 1t remained superior
for several generations, but when the
change did come abroad it was drastic.
Not only did handsome broad streets
replace outmoded thoroughfares, but
they were constructed with an eye to
transit conditions and the making of
short cuts. In almost every instance
fearful howls of protest were voiced
Legal complications were raised and the
ancient cry of "wasteful extravaganza"
sprang to the lips of the short-sighted
pullback.
Baron Haussmanns sweeping reforma-
tion of the plan of Paris was called an
act of grandiose folly. Time has brought
justification. Modern Paris is probably
the least congested of any large Euro
pean metropolis. The foresight of the
competent city architect must be at least
of a half-century range. ANY narrower
vision is certain to be costly as progress
outruns its environment.
And So while Philadelphia stands in it's
e ;of L l.
conditions, it is nonsense to gasp at plans
which look far ahead From time to time
these have been advanced, and always
their magnitude has appalled, the myopic
critic. He has shuddered at the expense
and quailed before prospects of increased
taxation in total disregard of the fact
that he is a partner in the municipality
and will inevitably share in the pros
perity that must come in any place alive
to its opportunities.
Poverty is most prevalent in those
| which have the smallest budget. Phla-
delphia doesn't envy Bagdad but log,
! ically our citizens should if they hesitate
| over development plans considered in a
big way.
Ever since Charles L'Enfant achieved
his triumph in Washington, the benefits
of which are still being realized-anc
particularly just now in the improve
ments between the Capitol and the Unior
Station-city planning has been distinc
science The specific remedies for condi
tions in Philadelphia must therefore nee
essarily be left to experts.
None the less, there are certain broaC
principles of reform which are patent t.
the layman. He can readily see that a
an antidote for our clumsy rectangula
shackles some system of radiatinI
streets, wide enough to accommodate tn
traffic and constructed with the value o