Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-09-11
STATE REFUSES TO
ACCEPT DELAYS IN
BUILDING VIADUCT
Memorial Bridge Plans to Be Pushed
Ahead With All Possible Speed By
Public Service Commission
COST OF BIG STRUCTURE TO
BE APPORTIONED IN FUTURE


S. Killing, who sat to-day to hear
the application of the Board of Pub
lie Grounds and Buildings for
certificate of convenience for the
Commonwealth to build the Mem
orial bridge in the Capitol Park eX-
tension system, stated at the con-
clusion of the hearing that he would
recommend immediate action by the
Commission at its meeting Monday
and that the Pennsylvania Railroad
and other utility companies would
be given opportunity later to present
such requests for alterations in
plans as they deemed desirable. The
question of apportionment of costs
will await the opening of bids. MIR.
Killing stated that the Board would
open bids on September % and that
prompt approval of plans was neces-
sary. The proceeding was the first
wherein one branch of the State
Government asked approval of an
other for a State project. The prob
abilities are that the certificate will
be issued next week, sentiment at
the Capitol being against any delay
whatever in the undertaking.
Considering the immensely of the
proposition, the proceedings were
very brief and attracted little at
tention. The bridge will be one of
the most beautiful in the country
and of vast effect upon the future
establishment of the State Capitol,
being a component part of the Brun-
ner comprehensive plans to make
this city the civic center of the Com
monwealth. Mr.. Killings ruling that
the utilities could submit plans for
alterations later came as result
of Pennsylvania Railroad officials
contention that they desired more
time to study the problems. a posi-
ton which surprised the State Of
ficials inasmuch as there have been
several conferences on the subject.
Engineers Present
L. G. Krause, assistant engineer
of the Public Service Commission,
sat with Mr.. Killing and Engineer
]. e. Perring appeared for the Board
when William NJ. largest deputy
Attorney General of the State. asked
the approval of the application on
behalf of the Board of Public
Grounds and Buildings. The city
was not represented, but William
Elmer, superintendent of the Phila-
delphia Division, Horace Booz, cor
porate engineer, and others appeared
for the Pennsylvania; John T. Brady,
solicitor and Mr.. Chambers, real
estate officer, appeared for the Read
ing, and Frank b. Musser, president;
Charles L. Bailey, Jr., solicitor. and
others connected with the Harris
burg Railways were present together
with men interested in the bridge
from various standpoints. Mr..
Brady at once asked that the pro-
ceedings as far as they related to
the Reading be dismissed as that
company does not own any property
under the bridge and Mr.. Bailey
aI Go c1a nd pf
what was planned in regard to the
street railway, its relation to ap-
proaches and other details of the
bridge.
Mr. Hargest called attention to
the fact that the proceeding had
been carried out as in the case of
every application although in this
instance the Commonwealth was the
applicant. He read service notice
on interested parties and said there
were no objections. He also said
that the State wanted action and that
when bids were received and total
cost could be estimated problems of
apportionment of costs could be
taken up, but that just now it was
desired most of all to go ahead.
The railroad and traction people
pointed out that in not objecting to
the plans they did not waive any
rights IN regard to costs. Mr.. Elmer
said that he could not see any OBJ
lection to approving plans if certain
details could be worked out later
and suggested approval up to the
railroad right of way. Mr.. Booz
surprised the State officials by say
ing that the plans had only reached
his office a few days ago and that
there had not been opportunity for
extended study. He also suggested
some conference on the subject in
which other representatives of utili-
ties joined, to which Mr.. Hargest
said he saw no objection if the
matter was not delayed, remarking
that the Pennsylvania division en-
gineers had been given plans and
that the negotiations between the
State and the company had gone Il
long ways, even so far as to the sale
of strips of land to straighten lines,
location of piers, and the like.
Commissioner Killing said that the
plans could be approved and details
taken up later, but was quite posi-
tive against any delay. Changes, he
remarked, could be suggested and
conferences held later, but for him
self he would recommend action and
felt that the Commission was in
clined to approve the application
owing to the Importance of the work
and the proximity of the time of
opening the bids.