The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-01-31
Facts and FIGURES
That Relate 10 the Improvements That Will
Be Voted For
Clear and CONCISE STATEMENTS
Furnished by the Committee on Sta.
tistics and Acknowledgements in
Favor of Bridges That Are Indisput-
able--The Additional Tax on Each
Individual Will Be Slght-Scranton
Splendid Financial Showing.

''AN'Nbo' WIN DO Ol5hb- OII NlbOn
Splendid Financial Showing.
The committee on literature and sta.
tistics of the bridge campaign commit
toe, with John E. Roche as chairman,
mot yesterday at the Office Of T. H
Dale and decided to submit the follow.
ing circular to the people:
The city councils have recently passed
an ordinance providing for submitting to
the voters the question OF increase of the
city debt for the purpose OF building two
bridges, one to span the Roaring Brook
from the head Of Spruce street to Front
street on the South Side, and the other
from the foot OF Linden street across the
Lackawanna. The amount of increase
provided in the ordinance is $3.50, 600. This
question was passed upon in 1890 aud was
defeated by the small majority OF 1856.
Since that time the city has grown very
rapidly and by reason of this growth there
is a greater necessity for the bridges now
than then.
There is a tide in the affairs of comthu-
mites as well as of men, which taken at
the food leads on to fortune. The city Is
in this tide now, and to place single OBJ,
stacle in its flow to prosperity would be
criminal.
In considering the subject we should not
overlook the fact that there never was O
time i'll the history Of the country when
bridge material was 80 low IN price, there
never was a time when employment was
50 scarce. In large number OF cities i'm
provements are projected tor the sole pur-
pose OF giving employment to poor people
out Of work.
BY voting for this increase of debt we
not only provide employment for many,
we also provide new avenues for our in
creased aud increasing trade and the city'a
prosperity will be given au impetus that
will not only inspire our neighbors, it will
surprise ourselves.
The city engineer declares that $4,000
of the amount expended will remain IN
this city to be distributed in payment Of
labor and for material purchased here.
This is but Il small mOiety OF the amount
that will be put in circulation by the build
ing Of these bridges. That portion now
lying between Providence aud Hyde Park
will come into the market; homes will be
built along Main avenue and intersecting
streets, and every branch OF trade and
every industry will be quickened and
helped by the demand for material and
labor to build theie homes.
IN wlLKEs.BARRE AND PITTsToN.
1t is only necessary to call your atten-
tien TO neighboring city and borough to
show how far we are behind the times in
this direction. Wilkes. Barre. with all its
population on the easterly side of the Sus-
quehanna builds two bridges (the cheapest
OF which is more costly than our most ex-
pensive onel, for the purpose OF being con.
nected with few small towns, the nearest
Of which is mile from the river.
Pittston, with less population on both
sides OF the Susqushauna than has the
West or the South Side, has two bridges
spanning the river either one of which
cost more than will ours.
| We believe 1t will be to your interest TO
vote in favor OF this loan. We ask you to
work as well as vote. 1t is necessary that
you do so. No public enterprise OF any
magnitude was ever carried to success
without opposition. IL would be folly to
expect this to be an exception. 1t is not
only necessary that you vote, but that you
do what you can to induce your acquaint-
ances to also vote for this Improvement.
Every safeguard that has been thought of
has been thrown about this effort. Options
upon every foot Of land necessary for the
approaches have been secured and it is
known definitely aud positively what they
will cost ana no claim for damages will
follow.
Representatives of two bridge build
| ing concerns have given estimates on
the cost Of the bridges and the outside cost
Of these is known 50 that every detail has
been properly attended to. The people
will be informed as to all these details,
and plans for the bridges will be placed
on view in some prominent place within
few days. The street car company has no
right over these bridges, nor to approach
on Swetland street, Spruce street or
Front street. The city could not give a
right to these approaches because 1t has
no right itself, the option above referred
to being all that the city yet holds. The
financial affairs Of the city are in the best
possible condition. Our Indebtedness is
less per capita than in any other city in the
state, with single exception and we have
more to show for our indebtedness than
any other city in the state. Appended Is
a table showing population. bonded in.
debtedness and per capita indebtedness OF
the principal cities and bOroughs Of Penn,
sylvania.
AS TO TAXATION.
The valuation of this city for city tax
purposes is In round numbers twenty mil
lions Of dollars. Every mill OF tax lev led
will, therefore, yield $4,000 To carry
this increased debt II provided for by an
increased levy would cost the taxpayer
whose valuation is Sl0O, just cents.
The property valued at $500 would pay an
additional tax OF % cents; property val.
ued at 81, 600 would pay so cents. and prop.
erty valued at S2 600 would pay 81, What
trife in comparison to the great benefit
resulting to the city generally, and to the
| M 1y tuh n or "A nrt Of afDnlnVnAnt nj tha
present time.
But it is not believed that the rate Of
taxation need be increased at all. The
building OF the bridges will open up and
develop property that now pays low taxes
and the increased taxes arising from the
increased value Of this property will II
placed in the sinking fund annually, more
than pay the bonds and interest II the
bonds are made to run twenty or thirty
years.
IL the bridges are not built, the damages
the city will have to pay on account of loss
OF life and limb at grade crossings on the
streets leading to the West and Sout Sides
Is likely to be greater in twenty years than
the total cost Of the bridges Attached
hereto is the statement of the city control
Ter of the city indebtedness and detailed
statement of the cost Of the bridges and
approaches. The vote will be on the Off.
cial ballot and will be "For Increase Of
City Debt, Against Increase of City
Debt"
The sworn statement of City Controller
F. ]. Widmayer as to the total indebted
ness of the city IS rs follows: Debt $500
S9I, IS. OF this amount, however, Sl2l, 900
Is in the sinking fund owned by the city,
aud the actual indebtedness Of the city
is, therefore, $500, ,sS4.15 less $l2l,0O0, or
s3T9, S34.7S
COST OF THE BRIDGES.
The total cost Of the bridges aud ap.
proaches will be S222, 096 63, divided as fol-
lows Linden street bridge, $4,000; ap