Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-08-04
ACCEPT THE INEVITABLE

A SSCME that years have passed Never
n mind how many, since it is not easy to
determine how far obstructionism in Phila-
delphia can 60. Most things have an end'
and 1t Is safe to assume that some day the
Frankford elevated will either be In ruins
or else in operation Under the management
Of the Rapid Transit Company.
The prospects are perhaps not the only
ones that can be fancicd, but they are all
that can be matcrialized. While it may be
shocking to interpret all the maneuvering,
all the wrauglng over the lease, all the
long succession of dilatory tactics, in purely
cynical terms, the problem must be viewed
realistically or 1t recedes into hopeless fog.
In the history Of public improvements
throughout the globe there can be few, II
any, parallels to the vexatious tale of the
Frankford L negotiations. The road has
been we'll planned and admirably con
structcd. 1t has tangible existence and
not a spark of life.
Imagine the Panama Canal completed to
within a few yards of the Pacific Ocean and
the opening of the waterway postponed by
purleys and palavcrs, by lawyers and COM
missions. by politicians and financicrs!
That picture is inconceivable. 1t stag
gers the imagination.
Realization OF the plight OF the Frank
ford elevated however, involves no strain
upon the fancy. The sorry facts are all too
papable.
The road cannot be joined with the transit
system of Philadelphia until lease specify
ing the terms upon which that physical con
ncction can be made is adopted by the in
terestcd parties.
Director Twining has announced thatfhe
high speed line, duly linked with the Mar
ket street subway elevated can be put in
,titL ftar yho mn
Of the lease.
As the vital point is the adoption OF
definite compact, that forecast is not par
ticularly specific. The famous Shark
chasing ship Of Lewis Carroll sailed help
lessly backward. because the excellent rule
mo one shall speak to the man at the
wheel was supplemented by the stern in
junction land the man at the wheel shall
speak to no one"
Transit problems in Philadelphia continue
to drift backward so long as the sham
hypothesis of the operation of the Frnnkford
elevated by the municipality is entertained
Such feat might be desirable, but the
formidable fact is that the L. Il. I. main
taihs strangle- hold upon the situation.
Mr.. Mttcn and his organization are not
morally roprehensible. In a business world
they are playing a business hand. and their
present object is naturally to take over the
operation of the road upon the very best
terms available.
The city, as was also proper. has been
cndcavorng to safeguard its interests.
Numerous valid objections have been found
to the lease in its present form.
But there are limits to what the weaker
party in q controversy can accomplish. The
extreme mprobability of the discovery by
the city of any competing organization to
which the line could be turned over reduces
the case to its elements. Since the p. r. T..
is virtually bound in the end to be the
operator. why not now?
The pretcnse of protecting the diverse
interests involved has gone far enough. Th"
city is losing about 500. 600 year on it's
investment while the road stands idle.
Neither side can get all il wishes. Is it not
preferable to accept som" compromise and
get the public Improvement?
The sooner the lease can be executed and
the Frankford elevated placed in running
order the sooner will the citizens of Phila .
delphia gain n trifc of what is due them.
Since. no matter what happens. grand
triumph Of virtue is unlikely to be staged,
the expectation thereof is something very
like either Hypocrisy or childishncss.
PhilRdelphianS want the new l. line
opened and th" ludcrous gap between the
two systems filled aS soon as possible. They
are Injured to apparently incscapabIc barter
ing. What chafes and CXaSperates them now
is protractcd backing and filling, which re-
tard the inevitable, if by no means ideal
outcome.