Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-01-04
ARCHITECTS URGE
FAIR At HOG ISLAND
Natural Advantages and I'M
proyements Already Installed
Make It Ideal Location
REACHED BY SEA AND RAIL

This Il the third Of a series OF
articles describing the cdrious sites sng-
oe,ied for the Scsqui- Centennial Er.
oositior and the advantages urged for
each.
The shipyard area at Hog Island Is
,tdorsed by w. l.. Plack. e. +. Neff
and Victor N'ierman. architects. 1900
Locust street. as the site Of the Ses-
ar; Centennial Exposition in 1926.
The tract contains about $50 acres
~ fCoyernnient land. with frontage on
tbe Delaware River of approximately
two miles, It is in Delaware County,
being bounded on the northeast by the
Philadelphia County line.
On the north and east. adjacent to
The site, are the Cannonball farm. 1000
acres of city land. and about 1000 acres
of additional private farm land, which
are available II necessary
J-nexcelled economic advantages. the
architects say, are the arguments In
favor Of Hog Island as the site for the
exposition: 10. s,,sr,...a .,,,, Co.. ,,.
the impelling commercial assets for
vast world exposition Hog Island pre-
Mr.. Plack. "The condition Of the yard
il virtually the same today rs It was
during tic wa.
improvements Already There
"The land Is level and firm, and
thousands OF men could be put to work
on the construction Of buildings sixty
DAYS after it's selection. The high
pressure water system. the electric light
stations and wiring and the sewer sys-
TEN now existing arc all adequate for
the exposition requirements.
The two miles of Delaware River
front. he said. afford excellent oppor-
tunity for meeting the international
scope Of the exposition. lie says there
are ten permanent concrete shipwnys.
virtually new. and wet basin 1000 feet
long. protected by sea wall.
"Within the wet BASIN" Mr.. Plack
continued. "are seven modern steel and
concrete piers for loading and unloading
freight during the construction of the
buildings. The shipment of freight by
water is not only an economy hut also
will divert heavy traffic from the city
streets and adjacent roads, = When rhr
buildings have been built the piers can
be used in bringing passengers from
foreign ports direct to the site.
'Thc yard is traversed by eighty
miles Of railroad tracks and there is an
abundance Of cranes and derricks and
storchouscs for handling and storing
freight coming bv either land or water |
IN the center Of tie site is freight
yard with ten parallel tracks which can
he converted into a passenger and
freight terminus by building SUPER
structure.
"The Pennsylvania Railroad runs
along the inboard boundaries of the
yard. making it accessible from all di-
rections."
Would Build Boulevard
The construction Of boulevard from |.
Penrose avenue to the site. he says. !
will furnish n direct highway for motor
traffic. There are, however, he added,
q number Of good roads leading to the |
yard from the north. west and south.
The Cannonball Farm and the adjn.
cent tract. lie said. readily could be
adapted to parking automobiles and
aviation fields and stadiums.
The plan for the construction of the .
buildings. he says. Is merely n sugges- |
tlon to indicate the great space avail
able, provision being made for State .
and foreign Government buildings and .
halls for electricity, mines, manufac-
lures. liberal arts. machinery and au-
tomobilcs. agriculture and horticulture.
and for an art gallery. Adequate space
ne said, is left for other buildings, suck
as 4 stadium. casinos, n pOwerhous9
and an administration building.
The advantages of the Hog Island
site are SO many and obvious that we
wondered that it had not been suggested
before. The land is OWNED by the Gov
eminent and there would be little trou-
pie incurred in obtaining permission
Tor its use. The adjacent tracts sug-
eested are open farm land and no costs
ot demolishing and condcmning build
ings would be cntailcd.
The commercial location of the site
,,s ideal. said Mr.. Plack, summing up
the advantages offered by the yard. at
IS accessible by water. rail and high
Tay. 1t is fully developed for imme-
d,ste construction. 1t is already pro-
Mded with sewerage, lighting, water and
1racK systems. as well as piers, ship
WAYS ways and wet basin. There are about
IVoo acres of available farm land for
;sAtension purposes which can be util-
ized at once.
what other site has been suggested
winch offers such q formidable list of
essential nIvo pfa ra,gbI ~ -