Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-05-25

or to put the new plans into operation
regardless of the attitude of that com
pauy.
Some timid men have argued that the
city ought not to invest its money in
the North Broad street subway because
there was no immediate prospect of the
profitable operation Of this new fast
line. 1t has even been urged that such
q line is inexpedent In Philadelphia
because it can be made profitable only
when it taps a district OF congested pop
ulatiou aud because we do not wish any
such district to be developed here.
But it is the lack Of high speed lines
running tn tho outskirts of the city
thar is forcing congestion N the older
districts. People have to get to business
in tho morning and return home at
night The surface ears are now so
crowded that riding in them during tho
rush hours is strain on nerves and
good nature. Bft apartment houses and
family hotels are taking the place of the
, private residences in the older parts of
the city for the simple reason that
people who can afford the rents will not
consent to travel in the surface cars
under present conditions. And to pro
vide accommodations for the unhou Sed
many private residences in all parts Of
the city are being turned into apart
mcnts. still further increasing the con
gestion in the built -up districts.
No one expects the North Broad
street line to pay all its expenses at
first. Neither is it expected that the
Frankford line will pay at once. and it
would be several years before the pro-
posed Woodland avenue Darby line
would earn the interest on the bonds
issued TO pay for il. And the South
Broad street line TO League Island
would also be losing venture in the
beginning. But no one who has anv
knowledge of the increase 10 urban
population in the United States or anv
belief in the certainty that this CITY is
to continue to grow in the future as II
has p the past has any doubts about
the ultimate profitableness of every new
line laid our with an appreciation Of
the possibilities of the district TO be-
tapped and built with reasonable econ
Omy,
The city may be compelled to nav a
deficit for several wears, but even so il
would he in no worse condition than
that which confrontS every owner of
,arge business when he invests mil
lions in expanding his plant and in
putting up buildings for it's acrommo
dation II he does not invest his mil
lions he must be content with standing
still, or with doing a larger business
without proper facilities But he knows
that what may seem extravaganza 10 his
less onterprising and less courageous
competitor is frequently tho wisest
economy The bugaboo or deficit
ought not to frighten either the Mavor
or any Of his present or future ad
viSers
The city has money enough available
TO 60 ahead with AZ least one of the prO
posed lines And ms soon as that line
vas in opcration It would begin to earn
money above the cost Of running the
trains. This surpns would pay the in
tprpSt on part Of the loan and rpleasp
that amount for building other lines
And when the new line was built il
would he possible N adjust the rate of
fare in such way as the financial sir
nation made advisable. 4 seven cent
fare would bc paid by passengers on n
high speed lin" on Broad street who
now refuse to ride on the slow surface
cars and are compelled TO pay much
higher fare on the steam lines. A ton
cent fare was charged on the first ole d.