Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-06-11
THROUGH TRANSIT FACILITIES
ALONE WILL JUSTIFY BRIDGE
Shuttle Trains Would Mock the struo-
ture Primarily Designed to Effect a
Complete Revolution In Inter-
state Communication

| COMPREHENSIVE ana convincing designs OF
the Delaware River span shrinks suddenly
In contact with a significant little sentence
| oil the commissions report. Beneath draw
ings illustrating existing transit lines and
| their possibilities runs this legend:
| IT IS proposed at first to operate bridge
| shuttle cars only.'
The public. without in the least descending
| into the mood of ungracious criticism, since
! the engineers forecast much larger develop
| ments, possesses an unqualified right to
| question even suspicion of makeshift
| methods in treatment of the major problem
which the bridge is devised to solve. Through
transportation routes are Indispensable to
| the utility of the structure.
Direct transportation, without vexatious
| changes. is quite as necessary to the success
of the monumental enterprise as are ele-
vators to an Office building, wheels to
| motorcar or covers to book.
There should not be the slightest valid
reason why the disquieting word tempo
| rary" should be injected into consideration
| of the case. The operation of the bridge
must be made commensurate with it's dignity,
with the wealth of mental and monetary
| resources to be devoted to its erection and
| with its immense potential usefulness
The shuttle train idea is childish and
tenth rate 1t is imperative that not a
moment be lost in organizing all the various
transportation interests involved in n Wig
OrOuS and public spirited effort to devise the
best and most practicable system of com
munications capable of being inaugurated
on the first day the span is open to traffic
That obstacles will be encountered may be
taken for granted. Apart from purely selfish
interests inherited traditions prcjudices and
sentimental debris inevitably appear to d-
vert. If possible. the march of true progress
on large scale.
But co operative, cordial resolution can
demoish these conventional barriers. Not
one argument that may be raised against the
dispatch of through cars from central Phila-
dclphia and beyond to central Camden and
the outlying districts is really insuperablc.
Moreover, the engineers, whose detailed
report is so refreshing in breadth of vision.
have outlined a variety of means by which
the Rapid Transit Company, the New Jersey
Public Service Corporation and the railroads
can merge their material assets in working
agreements redounding effectively to their
own advantage and that of the public.
A projection of the future Arch Eighth
Locust delivery loop is proposed to be con-
neCted with the underground station at the
bridge plaza. or, declares the report, rapid
transit trains could be sent direct from all
parts of Philadelphia over the bridge into
Camden. In Camden the proposed loop line
of bridge surface cars will make connections
with the present New Jersey traction system
and through it with the Reading Railway
and the Pennsylvania Railroad at its Broad
way station
Obviously, however. the problem. although
carefully considered by the commission, is
not one which this body will eventually be
called upon to solve. Actual work must be
done by the cities of Philadelphia and Cam
den and by the transportation companies en-
dowed with the power to make the bridge
worth while.
There is every indication that the span
can be completed by July 4, 1926, on
schedule time. Within the same space of
years the most generous and far seeing at
tcntion should be given to the necessity of
linking up the interstate transit facilities
The shuttle train expedient would typify
weak and shallow trifng
If the subway plans are not brought to
frution there is nothing save tCchnicalties,
which represent no real difficulty, to pre-
vent the diversion of several main trolley
routes from this city over the bridge to New
Jersey.
Transfers Of passengers at the bridge plaza
would provide few advantages over the
present ferry Inconvenience 1t is the
changes, the delay and the consequent crowds
that render transit by the steam vessels so
Objectionable. The method of propulsion
itself is n minor matter.
Philadclphians and Camdenitos cannot
begin too quickly to accustom themselves to
the idea of a complete revolution in the
interstate transit situation. They must aim
high and insist on the realization of a per-
tectly tangible goal.
Imagination may be given benefcialy full
play. There has long been too little regard
for its creative worth in this community.
The picture, for instance, Of Pennsylvania
Railroad electric trains departing from City
Hall Square for Atlantic City and coast
resorts is by no means abSurdly fantastic.
The present line from the New Jersey ter
minal is operated through parts of Camden
on the trolley system. What is to forbid
such trains from proceeding across the bridge
and on the Market street surface tracks to
the Public Buildings where loop could be
made before starting in the return direction?
All that is ncedful is the spirit of en-.
thusiastic harmony, which could make light
of present legal cntanglemcnts by establish
ing new legal sanctions. 1t is possible in
many Western cities to enjoy through cleo
trio communication with far distant points
If the public and the corporations win
adjust themselves to their splendid OppOr-
tunities, distractions will vanish.
Granted the capacity of the bridge engi-
neers and architects, who have already so
magnifcently justified the authority imposed
on them-granted the continuance Of lcgis-
lative interest in the proiect--the ultimate
success Of the bridge resolves itself into a
matter Of temperament.
"Boldness, again boldness and ever bold
ness" counseled Danton, who had revO-
luton on his hands. SO have we. To the
metaphorical guillotine with pullbacks. re-
actionaries and the tinorous exponents Of
an Outmoded cant
The bridge, for all its foreshadowed mai
esty, is simply a means to a practical end
modern, swift transportation in one Of the
most populous districts of the continent.
Persistent enthusiasm, energy and compre-
hensiveness OF insight can perform in four
years what was once timidly regarded as
| little short of q miracle.
Pull together for through cars!
MCyINAM Dbl ITINAI pDEI IINEC