Pueblo chieftain., 1921-09-11
BY FREDERIC j. HAsK1N

py IlASniN
Philadelphia, Pa, Sept. s.-Accc.d-
ing to statements issued by civic au-
thorities of the Quaker city, work
has been begun on the longest suspsn-
sion bridge in the world.
This is the new bridge planned TO
span the Delaware river from Phils-
delpha to Camden. The plans show
the span length near the Philadelphia
terminus to be a distance OF l,750 feet
between towers. The main span of
the Hrooklyn bridge II only 1895 feet.
and that of the Wililsmsours bridge
l,seo feet in length. Tho height pro-
posed for the east main river tower Ia
$50 feet above the river. The bridge
In Its entirety will exceed any other
suspension bridge In the world for
length by 1ao feet. II the present plans
are adhered TO,
This bridge. the cost of which has
both relief and the fulfillment of 4
lons-cheriuhsd dedre 10 business men
of the city. II IL, according to aur
thorities at the City Hail,one OF those
things the necessity and practicability
of which has long been acknowledged
by citisens on both sides of the Della
ware river, hut which has been de-
lAyed by circumstances.
Now that definite action ha. been
taken and arrangements for the pro-
greA Of the work made, Camdenites
and FhilAdelphians ara signing with
relief and sakins each other, why
didn't We do IL long Axo"
The state OF Psnnaylvania and the
city Of Philadelphia will each pay
ing tho bridge and the state of New
jersey has appropriated Si:,a:I,ooo.
There was much discussion over the
locAtien of the Philadelphia terminus
Of the bridge. Finally. after an un.
uSualiy hectic meeting Of Psnnsyivania
commissioners on July Goth. = vote
was taken resulting in the selection Of
the Franklin Souar-PArl street site
The New Jersey commissioners voted
solidly in favor bf tho site which vas
At length selected.
SAVED THE CHURCH
The Franklin square Plaza is ideally
aituated In the osnter of the arteries OF
PHILADELPHIA traffic, so that direct
routes from that end Of the bridge
will lead into all parts OF the city.
The fate Of one structure with . known
historical or sentimental value waR in
volved In the original plans. rs,. was
81. Georges Methodist Epie,opal
church. The Venerable sdifice, called
by many the shrine Of Methodism, IL
located 90 the site Of oae Of the road
nav bridge. The early sugVestiohs
were IN favor Of mevins the chuvch TO
= location more srtislcally fitted TO
display Its quaint charm. Later, how
| ever. other plans were dawn up
changing the Apprcach to the bridge
| and thus eliminating the necessity for
removing the old church.
In Camden, fortunately there WA
| no property In tho path OF the psc-
posed bridge. and it, auxiliary road
ways. which was OF h!stcricAi value
and interest. The site chosen for the
Camden terminus OF the bridge sesns
TO have proved an unusually happy
choice. The r~novations necessary to
| direct the great tide OF human bcinGs
bridge into the city Of Camden will
involve neither the forcing of traffic
thru that city's busiest streets nor
long, awkward de,ours-
| The deep enthusiaNr which the
state Of New Jersey feels toward this
project IL e1prsssed in = mos, practical
mann~ by the fact that the is.oco 600
| bond issus ~as heavily over-subscribed
AZ Trenton. when the bids ~crc first
opened there on June :sth by tho New
Jersey State HOUSE commission.
Ralph Mcdjeska. internationally
known for his great list OF successes
in civil engineering. was unanimously
appointed to the position OF chief
| bridge engineer George :. Webster
and rA~rence A. B.ii are o,he, mem
bc,. appointed to tho bosrd OF snEt-
nccrs for the construction OF the Deis-
ware bridge.
Mr.. Modjeaks IL a rather unusual
person. Born at Craco~. Poland. In
1851. with tho original terrible s-urnsm.
Of Mcdrejewski. he came to the United
state. with his mother. Helena Mod
NAhr ts~t tVa
dicnno. in 1875. The modification in
| tn, Modjeska surname was made at
tho time American naturalization pa
pors were applied for. Mr.. McdJcsks
was graduated from the College dss
Fonts ct Chausseos OF Paris at the
head OF his class and with special
hororn. He received the Doctor Of
Engineering degree from the univer-
si,y of Illinois In 1911. He has en-
RACED In many important undertakings
| while pursuing his chosen profession
| and Is nov head OF his own finn Ia
Chicago a. well as prominent In many
| organizations and societies In the
| country.
Mr.. Modjo~ka will rcreiv. a salary
| of $3.50, q month and II 10 devote near
lv onc-hair Of his time to tho designing
| and construction OF tho great work.
lie will he in full charge Of all details
regar,iinx the structure. and will have
a fully organized staff TO carry out
his instructions. Mr. Wcbs,~ and MIR.
Bail viii each receive monthly sal
AIRY of 1900.
TO CARRY GREAT TRAFFIC.
Among the most important, things
planned for the Delaware Bridge by
the engineers of the Bridge commits
| kon arc Gx roadways, four trolley
lines, two for hish-spe-d scrvice).
and two ren-foct walks for pedestrians.
In this way. all kinds OF traffic can
he readily served. The xrimy. pokey
old forry-boat beswcen these two
cities seems to he doomed.
What would George Washington
think could he but know what -
planned ar the twontieth csntury
msthod of crossing the Delaware -