Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-12-15
FRANKFORT 81" ROAD MUST BE
MADE TO SERVE TO THE UTMOST
No Plan Of p. r. T. Operation 10 De-
fensIbie Which omIts Provision for
Transfer From intersectIna
curfane Ipes

Surface Lines
THE point to be kept continually in mind
by the representatives of the city In any
negotiations with the L. X. I. Company
for the operation Of the Frankford elevated
line is the Importance of making that line
serve the greatest possible number OF people.
The line was built to give rapid transit
to- the residents of the northeastern section
of the city. 1t had been the general under
standing that It was to be operated by the
+. Il. T. Company as part Of its general
system.
So long as this company has II monopoly
of existing street car franchises the new
lines cannot do the most good unless they
nrr co-ordinatcd with the old lines 1t
would be n mistake to make any permanent
arrangements which do not provide for such
co. ordination.
Last spring Mr.. Mittcn offered 10 operate
the line in connection with the Market street
subway and elevated system and to give
transfers to and from the nterscCtIng service
lines on the same plan that is followed In
West Philadelphia. This is exactly the
plan that would have been adopted If the
TO develop business in the district. Under
such n plan the Market street line has be-
come profitable Business has been created
where there was none before. In the same
way business would be created in the north
eastern section Of the city.
When it is possible TO get from Frank
ford to the ccntcr of the town In twenty
minutes instead of forty five minutes. travel
from that part of the city will incr"nS" with
amazing rapidty. And if the east and west
lines crossing the elevated line can transfer
their passengers to the high speed line. the
number of people served by 1t will be in
creased two or three fold
The plans which the city is making to
operate the line as an independent unit are
justified only because of the failure of tho
efforts to come to an agreement with the
T. X. T. There should b" no stopping of the
plans, for the line should be put in operation
without further delay. II we cannot have
it connected with the Market street line We
should get what service can from 1t.
There Is business enough in sight to pay
the operating expenses, and as it develops it
will Yield a surplus which can he used toward
paying the interest on the money borrowed
to pay for it's construction and equipment.
II the worst comes and the l.. X. I.
stands out for impossible terms, it will be
feasible for the city to operate notorious
lines ns feeders for the elevated and let the
l.. Il. 7. do the best it can with the busi-
ness Of carrying short riders on the parallel
surface lines.
If the committee appointed to expminC
Mr. Mittcn'S latest plan considers it on its
merits it will insist that such notifications
as are suggested above be made in it before
its adoption by CITY Council Is recommended.
There is the possibility. however. that a
deal has been made under the terms of which
the new offer is tosbe accepted. The ap-
pointmcnt of Controller liadlcy and Mr..
W"g,cIn to sit in the committe" with city
Solicitor Smyth and Director of Transit
Twining and three representatives. Of the
Rapid Transit Company gives the Job Com
hnc and the i X. L. n majority Of three,
with the vote standing two for tn" rX"Cu-
tive. department Of the city to iv" for the
job Combine and the +. II, T.
Mr.. IIadlcy's political affiliations are
known and it is known under whnt influence
he was nominated. an intu"nc" directly in
tcrcStrd in protecting the profits of the un-
| deriving transit companies. And Mr.. Veg
| lcin has played the gam" Of the job Com
| bin" whenever il has needed his vote" That
| Combine iS in close relation 10 the same
| Influence.
1t is not surprising, therefore. that the
| Mayor calls attention to the ignoring of the
rights of thc city in the latest Mitt"n pro.
| p"Sals.
However eager the FrHnkford people may
be to get the new line in operntion at the
earliest possible moment, they should not
allow themselves to ignore the necessity of
| protecting the rights Of the city in any
| agreement which may hc made