Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-02-08

The Department OF CITY transit mas
s57,424,45s in loans 10 spend on the
citys high-speed lines and possible
borrowing capacity Of s14,9oo,oOo. This
is moro than the combined resources of
all the other city departments.
Director Twlning's present plans call
for the completion OF section OF the
Frankford elevated line during the
Smith administration Proposals for
parts OF the work between Arch and
Bridge streets will be asked for in the
near future. The department already
has completed field work and plans for
undertakings that will keep an army Of
employees busy for this and several years
10 come.
The Transit department Jared best in
loan authorizations under the present
administration. It was first given
SO, 900 for section OF the Broad
street subway and part of the Frank
ford elevated. In 1916 II was allotted
s57,lo0,oO0 for the completion Of the
Broad street subway and the construc-
tion of high-speed lines running through
suburban sections.
War Hsits Work started
When tho world war started the de-
rartment had Just gotten work under
way on the City Hall section OF the
subway and preliminary work on the
Frankford elevated. Contracts let be-
fore this country entered the war in
cluded the Arch and Locust streets sec
tons and the Thompson street sewer.
Two sections of the Broad street sub
way were also let. but In some instances
contractors refused to enter into the con-
tracts. Others entered into and just
begun we're annulled by City Councils
and tho Mayor.
In one way or another the department
encountered many delays in getting work
/. under contract. Even after work had
been let engineering difficulties arose that
resulted in more delay and in the in
stance OF the City Hall subway con-
tract held by the Keystone State Con-
struction Company, caused the price to
nearly double.
Hardly had the Keystone Company
been granted a contract for tho work at
*1,157,S20 than the discovery was made
that the foundations of City Hall would
not serve with so great an excavation
beneath them.
Foundations Had to he Underpinned
Work was stopped and engineering
experts made exhaustive examinations
and decided that the massive founda-
tions would have to undergo a process
OF underpinning. This caused addi-
ticnal cost and already s2,s30,0O0 has
been paid to the contractor doing the
combined work of subway construction
and underpinning
This work Is the only large municipal
undertaking that has been pressed with
anything like top speed throughout the
sixteen months this country was an ac-
tive participant in the war It is ex-
pected that when completed IL will have
cost the city in excess of $4,000 900. 1t
is now more than rs per cent complete,
but will require many months TO finish.
A total of s7,400.000 has been set
aside by Councils for the construction
of the Frankford elevated from Arch
to Rhawn street, but the department
now estimates that this sum only will
put in operating shape a section as far
as Bridge street, leaving the remaining
three-and-one-half miles for completion
when more loan funds are provided for
the purpose.
S8.3ss.o.a Already Paid Out
Already s3.336,o72 has been paid out
on the construction item. The engineer
cost
sf21,S03 and the remaining $4,000, 900
will be eaten UP in contracts that will
be let this spring and summer.
In addition to the money already
spent on the Frankford elevato5 and on
the Broad street subway under the pub.
lie buildings the department has maid
out 100000 for work done on ths
Thompson street sewer; 100000 in in.
terest charges on borrowed money and
S1,100,000 on the loop upon which work
was stopped when the contractors and
Tire city reached an amicable agreement
of settlement last year.
Estimated Cost Many Millions sboYt
The actual cost of completing tbs
city's high-speed system as agreed rnor
under enabling acts Of Councils and con.
frrned by the items in the large transi,
loan authorization has been variousIy
estimated at different times during the
prevalence of high prices but every esti.
mate differs from those that preceded it
1t Is known, however, that at existins
prices tie possible s72 1000, 900 OF loan,
authorized and loans possible under the
latest borrowing power will be man,
millions short Of the grand total
In illustrating the curtailment brouRh
about by existing prices OF steel ant
other materials, officials of the depart
rnent today pointed out the fact tha
the S25,000,o00 already authorized h,
= Councils to build the Broad street sub
way the length of the city's main thor
oughfare, will be hardly enough to con
struct a subway from oregon avenu
north to City Hall, leaving the create
northern stretch Of the street rnpro
vided for. Price fluctuations in tn
years following the war are counte,
upon to modify this situation.
Loan items for transit provide for tn
lines included in the Taylor plan, name
for A. Merritt Taylor. under whose ad
fninistration the Department of Transi
evolved a system OF high speed facili
ties 70 fHrnish quick transportation 1
and from al loutlying sections.
How Money Was Appropriated
The first money appropriated include
$4,000 900 for the Broad street subws
and S3,000.0o0 for the Frankford ele
waited. The big blanket loan contains tn
Following items. most Of which as we
+ remain untouched:
e25,oo0.000 for a Broad street sui
\ way from League Island TO Olney ave
nue with four-track capacity betwee
McFerran and Spruce streets.
54,4oo.00o toward construction {
Frsnkford elevated
31.20o.ooo for "a surface line throus
the Thirty-fifth Ward to Byberry.
81 $4,000, 900 for elevated TO Darby.
37.bo0.000 subway beneath the ParI
way and an elevated road connectin
with n and running north with an e,
tension to Roxborough
17.e0o.0o0 for a subway delivery loo
IN Arch. Locust and Eighth streets.
oS.ooo.ooo for Chestnut street sui
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