Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-11-28

Bids are TO be asked on construction
Of the Broad street subway. and work
will be started within ninety days, IT
plans set forth by Mayor Moore, IN
proposal 10 Thomas l.. Mittrn, presi'
dent of the y. r. r., shall matcriali1e
The Mayors plan Includes tour
tracks TO extend from League Island
to Olucy avenue, constituting, hs the
Mayor SAYS, "the backbon" of the
city'S transit SN stem.
The Mayor polntcd out in Il letter I"
Mr.. Mitten yesterday that S-o'uoo'o'"
Is already available for tn" work. ana
asked upon what t"rus the transit com.
pany would accept a lease for the oper-
alton Of the line.
Rcreut estimates by Director Twin
ing placed the cost of building the tub"
from City Hall TO Olney avenue at
$50, 400 900. The Mayor told Mr.. Nit.
ten he favored the construction Of the
line to League Island, and II is csti.
mated this would add S2>,OU0,Q 900 to
The cost.
Bids Within Three Months
The Mayors letter to Mr.. Mlttcn
follows
1.-The Franktord elevated railway
ton. the Administration desires TO pro-
ceed at once to the construction of the
Broad street subway line, Us legisla :
lively authorized. from League Island
to Olncy avenue, and is prepared to r..
ceive proposals with respect to the oper-
alton thereof \ start was made upon
this subway project during previous
Admir- stration. and about S3.In.ouL
was spent upon Il when the war inter
rupted the city's activities. While il Is
improbable the entire project can be
completed before the end of my Admin
ietration. the worl: VIII be started and
pressed 10 the utmost.
THE Director of City Transit advises
me that the rlans for large section ot
this subway are ia such shape that bids
can be- advertised for within th"r'
months from this date and that suti
cient funds to build and operate a sec.
ton of the subway are now available.
City in Position to Act
ut is my Judgment that this Broac
street subway project Is so different
from that OF the Frankford elevated
that negotiations preliminary TO com
mencement OF construction need not TAX
very much time. The city is in posi-
tion to 60 forward with the wor,
whether the road be leased or wheths
1t be operated as u separate mun!cipa
ENTERPRISE.
Unlike the Frankford elevated, ,h
Broad street subway will OCCUPY tn
main axis of the city ana is. therefore
free from th" landirap which woul,
attach 10 segregated lines municipal,
operated. In Other words. il will b,
the backbone "f the transit system
which the people have authorized ;,
be constructed for their relief and con
venienc". Without it many Of tn
so called cross town or rus lines wov!r
not produce the results expected o
them.
"uuder these circumstances. an,
placing this value upon the propose,
subway line, but because Of the seem
ing popular preference for vuitie,
system, would be glad To have from
YOU, whose company now occupies th
entire transit field III Philadelphia.
statement ~ the terms up0n which Won
company would be willing to lease an
operate the Broad street subway. Surl
other lines now authorized by law Il
may be- regarded BY vow as uecessar,
may be treated IN u separate proposal.
Engineers Consult
Engineers OF tho Transit Derar'tnor
have been in consultation with Nh
p. II. +. engineers "OnCerniug the sub
way plans some time and the idea !
to begin work simultaneously ~ soy
eral points, that IS to Juild IN section
and thus save time.
II has been said that tho trar.iO
company would seek 10 lease the Broa
street subway on terms similar to thos
relative 10 the Frankford elevated
sliding scale Of returns on the invest
ment by the city beginning witA | pc
cent the first year of operation an