Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-04-02
COLONEL w. p. BARBA
n Sesauicentenniai Transportation

A NEW survey of the transit situation
"A with the problems involved should be
made at once, not only to cover present .uny
requirements. but to prepare for IN" dlfh-
culticS attendant upon transporting millions
of visitors during the SeSquicrntCnnla "cl"-
bration in the city in 1926. in the opinion
of Colonel W. p Barba a transit expert
Of this city.
"By reason Of an enforced study of the
clements of the transportation system IN
Philadelphia, says Colonel BarbA, 'Cov'r-
ing the Philadelphia Rapid Transit system
nS we'll as the projected city lines, such as
the Frankford elevated, etc. it becomes in
CrcaSingly evident to mo that changes brought
nhOut by the years since the plans OF y.
Merritt Taylor were adopted by the ritv re-
QuirC that now survey of tho situation br
made, and that plans he formulated that
cover the present day requirements.
"Thc war has introduced elements lnt0
this problem which did not exist when the
Taylor plans worc laid down. and the growth
of certain sections of the city has probably
been found different from that which was
projected as the basis for tho Taylor plans.
Moreover, there have been other changes III
TRANSFORMATION methods and ideas which call
for new survey TO meet the known present
conditions.
Vital for 1926 Exposition
This same recommendation was carried
by the report of the Mayors transit cons
mittcr dated May -, 1920. and 50 far no
evidence has appeared which shows that this
recommendation is by way of being followed.
"1hc onrOming SCsQuiccntcnnial. which
was determined upon for the year 1926, in
troduccs again another and very vita clr-
| mrnt in the trans >p"rtatiOn problem, already
| very acute in this city. and renders the morc
| necessary the survey which this latter again
| suggests and plcnd, for immediate action.
| ''Whcrcvcr tn" lit" for the centennial OF
| 1926 shall be fixed. there will be created n
| new and difficult transportation problem in
| thc bringing Of the many millions of visitors
| from all sections of tn" city TO the site oi
| tho exposition. To contemplate the transit
situation MS it will be in 1925. if this matter
be nlloWcd to drift along until the last pos
ebc War, would bring a lasting rcproGcl
upon the arumcn and intelligence Of those
| citizens and officials Of Philadelphia who
| should be charged with this aS well az other
| large duties i'll connection with the cen
| tCnnal.
Time Presses Hard
"TO develop roncrotcy the fact that time
| presses it IS necessary to consider that after
all plans are completed it will require a
least two and ono half years to effect tho
| necessary construction alone. 50 that th
uses up the whole Of the years 1924 HnC
| 1929.
"Artcr tho main features of the exposition
! shall have been decided upon it will require
NJ least ono year to complete the designs t'
the point of the commencement of cOnStruc
tiOn, and this uses up the year 1923. Hence
we have before us the year 1922 and the TO
maindcr of 1921 In which to complete nj
tn" preliminnriCS, secure the necessary lCgiS
lNtiOn and make all the arrangements lead
ing UP to the commencement of engineering
| drawings.
Thus will appear clearly the fact tina
no time is to be lost after the site shall hnv
been determined upon in making the arrange
mcnts necessary for the TRANSPORTATION q
the millions of visitors who will attend tn
exposition daily.
"Tndcr the Taylor plans the money vote
by tho city for its high speed transit line
was nllocatcd to the several projects by act q
the State Legislature and by vote of tn
people of Philadelphia, and this none
cannot be diverted from the divisions thu
determined upon except by vote Of III
people and further by state legislation.
Transit Survey Timely
"Thcrcrorc it is timely at this moment t
press for II study of tho intimate rclatio
which must exist between the plans for In
exposition and the city's future permanen
transit problem.
1T is the suggestion of this letter. there
fore, that all of the transportation mad
necessary by the exposition be Il part of IN
permanent transportation system Of the cit
of Philadelphia.
"In order to make effective the foregoin
recommendation, it il the more ncccssar
| that Il permanent system be SURVEYED
studied and determined upon now, wit6ou
! further lapse of time 1t is also essentiJ
that everything required Of transportatio
, | by the exposition be made a part of Mi
permanent transit plan, excepting, Of Sours,