Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-01-14
.TACONY Wants FAIR
ON BOULEVARD SITE
Kern Dodge Points Out Availa-
bility of Roosevelt Boulevard
as Place for Exposition
READY WITH ARGUMENTS

Kern Dodge, vice president of the
Tacony Manufacturers Association, 20
day pointed out what he considered 10 De
the advantages Of the upper Rooseveit
boulevard site, suggested by the asso'
citation for the Sesqui- Centennial Ex'
position in 1926.
Henry Disston & Sons, Inc. tho
Quaker City Rubber Company; GiIiindeT
& Sons. Inc, the Erben Harding Com;
pany, the L, III. Gilmer Company ami
the L. II. Filter Company are among
the manufacturers represented by tho
association.
The site includes about 1000 acres,
half of which is in Pennypack Park.
The rest Is n tract of farm land ad-
joining the park on the southwest,
bounded on the northwest by Castor
avenue, the southwest by Cottman street
and the southeast by Roosevelt boule-
ward.
"Our site has been submitted said
Mr.. Dodge. "as a practical solution OF
the problem Of selecting a suitable loca
ton for the Sesqui- Centennial EXPOSE
tion. .,
Against "Theory Sites"
There have been too much theory and
too little practice reflected i'll the sites
previously submitted.
"We have borne in mind certain gen
. eral factors and our suggestions arc
made with sufficient flexfbility in scope
to cover comparatively wide range OF
requirements, as, for instance the
actual area required for the entire cX-
position. which figures It is not possible
to definitely determine.
: '"The plan, without altering the baslc
principles involved. can be contracted
or expanded sufficiently TO harmonize
with any conceivable requirement. INC
1000 acres we have assumed could be
decreased to 300. less than the minimum
requirement. and increased up to 2ooo'
greater than the maximum requirement..
THE land IL readily adaptable to tn"
immediate construction Of buildings. as
It is high, level ground. largely vacant.
The few farm buildings now on, the
!, site can be removed with slight condcm-
nation and demolition costs:
y The site. he said, is accessible both by
= highway and railroad. The RooseveIt
a boulevard, he says, is the main vein ot
, :, traffic to the tract and good roads from
every direction lead into It.
Easy to Get To
II Transportation problems arc sim
plified." he said. "due to the fact that
r spurs from the Pennsylvania and Read
Ing Railroads from the West could be
run right into the grounds. and spur
,r from the Pennsylvania Bustleton line
,f could be run in from the north. lr
, this way serious railroad congestion Is
IS avoided. as unloading passengers at the
city terminals, now taxed close to theii
n limit, would not be necessary. We have
10 then, three railroads at separate points
n which would adequately meet freight
j. and passenger requirements.
II "As for street railway lines. sevcra
y now run adjacent to the site. Fol-
- quick service. we have planned tn,
" construction Of a high speed line from
70 the Frankford Elevated, which will thcr
n be completed. a mile and one half dis
IN tant. This line can be continued into ,
X loop around the grounds and theme,
4, through the Park over private right o
nj way to piers on the Delaware Rive
10 for the accommodation Of visitors ar
J. riving by excursion boats.
The Importance of automobile trafli
cannot be too highly emphasized an,
we have allotted about 100 acres a
l. parking space for an expected dali,
|. average of 5000 cars.
$. Ground Is also available for tn
ID establishment of flying fields. whicl
as could be so located as to make 1t un
necessary for the machines TO fy owe
ii the exposition grounds proper and ye
id be sufficiently near them, virtually
te part of the exposition"
nj In the matter of housing visitors. Mr.
to Dodge said the erection of tcmporar
no hotels near the site would be necessary
Il, as the existing hotels in the city wou
nc be totally inadequate to house the mul
m titudc Of visitors. lie said that to tn
be west and south along Castor avenue an
Id on each side of the boulevard there
ry ample open ground for constructing sue
v. housing accommodations as may be nee
es essary, and all. he. said, within cas-
rv reach of the exposition.
id The exposition will. of necessit,
n bring multitudes Of people to the city.
en- he said, 'and no matter where III
be exposition is located, the effect of thi
will be felt by the merchants of III
to city. Fears have been expressed tha
ng the location of the exposition ut or
OF point will result in a different situatio
ID, so far as our merchants are concerne
sh than IL it were located at some othe
OF point
,i- 'It is doubtful if there will be an
he apprecablc difference In this rcga,
sh as far as location is concerned. If
in more attractive exposition can be mac
es, possible by n site more distant fro
the center of the city, then the expo
sition in itself will be n much great,
success. and the greater It's success
II regardless of its location. the great,
ch will be the direct benefits to the mel
Sh chants of Philadelphia.
n Scenic Beauty Stressed
It.! "The scenic beauty of the locate
nv offers wide opportunity for architectu
'"l and artistry. The land is high AZ
Ia mostly level, although there are rolllr
,e wooded tracts. The portion in d
"a "a Park is traversPd by Pennypack Cree
~ which is bridGcd in several places, NJ
IT, nlong its banks are many beaut!f
-. shaded ncoks and glens.
zee zee ''Thc advantage to the city in loca
'"l ing the exposition as we suggest won
be the value Of enhancement in real
,IS values, not only in the immediate 2.
r. position property but in the immen
py outlying district. which would be pc
'rk manently benefited, not only by {
pnI impetus given by the exposition its,
irn but by the permanent improvement
ttus in the matter of traction lines viii
l.iS are now needed, the extension of t
.'ht sewer and water systems. which wou
'ne be n proper and logical development
IN that part of Philadelphia.
1--WE believe that examination a.
\ scientific study will confirm the adva
-, tages of the site as we have fou
IRE them, and il il probable that new a.
", W more potent reasons will be found
IsH the acceptance of the Upper RooSev,
pu' boulevard site as the most suitable !
cation for the exposition, all thin
\ considered,
nd