The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-10-09

City Yesterday Afternoon - Hun
dreds Will Go Today-Brief Sketch
of the Commercial Travellers As.
sociation and Founding of the Home.
Binghamton has never had 80 elab-
crate and extensive a celebrate as
the cornerstone laying of the Home OF
the Commercial Travellers Association
Of the United States which occurs this
afternoon. The invited guests mum Der
no less personages than President Cleye-
land, ex- President Harrison, Governors
Pattison. Flower, Mckinley, and the
governors and their staffs Of several
other states of the Union, Levi P. Nor
ton, Chauncey N. Depew. Senator
David B. Hill. Senator Murphy, Con-
gresham Reed and all the officers
members Of congress and the legisla-
ture Of the state OF New York; the
mayors Of all the cities Of New York
and Pennsylvania, and the representa-
tives of the press and member of
prominent business houses throughout
the United States.
The subject Of building q home for
INDECENT commercial travellers is one
that had occupied the minds of the
fraternity for many years. but no
definite action was taken until March
12 1891. On that date the following
commercial travellers were stopping at
the Sherman house, jamestown, N. Y.
A. H. Ellis. Willsboro, N. Y; O. c.
Brown, Greenville. Pa William
Trier, New York city; G. P. Olp, Mt.
Morris N. Y. A. H. Calaum, Ruther-
ford, N. j.; John H. Holmes, Brews.
tor. N Y; Aldricb. Detroit; w. q.
Thomas, Rochester; J. D. Fuller, Jor-
dan. N. Y, and D. NJ Bodls. Bing-
hamton
The subject was thoroughly dis
cussed and upon the suggestion Of A.
H. Calaum, preliminary organization
was effected by the election of A. H.
Ellis, president, and j. d. Aldrich,
secretary. The purpose was TO feel the
pulse Of travelling men and sec il the
time was ripe to take definite action.
In September Of the same year, Mr..
Aldrich had become thoroughly satis-
fed that an association of this kind
could be formed. and sent out postal
cards calling meeting at Elmira on
Saturday, Oct 81, 1891.
FORMED ON A SOUND BASIS.
The meeting was held at Bunday hall
and was attended by number of rep
resentative travelling men. Officers
were elected and committee appoint.
ed to secure a charter. This ommittee,
after consulting eminent legal author
ity, decided that special legislation was
necessary in order 10 obtain the objects
desired. and Hon V. E Peckham, oi
Jamestown, N. Y, was engaged tc
draft bill for special act OF incor.
poration. The bill was presented tc
the legislature OF the state of New
York in January, 1892; passed both
houses and was signed by Governor
Flower on February 25 Accompany.
ing the bill was a statement from the
executive from which the following
sentences are extracts: 1.-THE objec: OF
the bill is praiseworthy. Under the
exceptional circumstances of this case
| approve OF the bill J."
On March &C. 1892. at Strong Assem-
bly, rooms. Binghamton, 400 travelling
men met. adopted bylaws. and elected
officers to carry out the purpose of the
association. The first annual conyen
ton Of the association was held II
Rochester, Oct. II, 1892, and a site com
mittee was appointed, consisting o.
John E. Roche. Of Scranton; D. X,
Clink. Chicago; F. G. Hamilton
Evansville. Iud.; G. @. Gale, Boston
and Mack Wilson, Cleyeland, and was
instructed to visit the several sites Of
fersd by the cities Of New York Yorl
and report to the next annual conven
tion, which was appointed to be held
at Syracuse, Dot. 10, 1893
BINGHAMToN WAS SELECTED
Excitement ran high when the com
mittee through d. X. Clink, chairman
read the report He announced tha
every site was carefully examined, bu
the citizens Of Blnghamton had
offered 100 acres Of land and $15, 900 II
cash, and the report recommend ded thai
the offer be unanimously accepted
The report was unanimously adopted
Deeds Of the site were turned over Il
the association and accepted after q
careful search back to the origina
grant had been investigated.
On July 10 Of this year the board o.
managers selected from twelve sets oil
plans those of Architect George O.
Garnsey, of Chicago. The buildins
committee Immediately slet contracts
to lay out and build lroadways, and fol
excavating and laying the foundation
On July IL this contract was awarded
to Sullivan and Clark, Of Binghsmto ton,
for $l2. 800. Miss Bessie Booth, daugh-
ter of Secretary W. H. Booth, of Hor
nsllsville. N. Y. on July 10 turned tn,
first sod, and on Aug. @ Miss Beatrice
Sullivan, the little 3-year old daughte
Of Contractor Sullivan, spread tn,
morta. on the first stone Of the founda
tion.
The roadway through the grounds |.
2,7OO feet long and thirty-five fee
wide, and was constructed under tn,
personal supervision of Landscape En
eineer Egerton, Of Philadelphia, The
first floor Of the building will be bull
Of Steel beams. terra Gotta and concrete
The upper floors Of the building will
also be absolutely fireproof.
Today all roads lead to Binghsmton
and in the parade this afternoon con
servative caleulators figure that ther,
will be upwards OF 100, 900 men in line
POURED INTO CITY LAST NIGHT
About 200 associations of com mercia
travellers arrived in Binghsmton las,
night. and, with the other societie
and visiting guests, the armory wa
set aside by the citizens Of Bing ghamtor
as reception room, and after the re
ception banquet was rendered.
The Scranton association assembled
at the rooms Of the Builders Exchange
at 421 Lackewanna avenue yesterda,
afternoon at 8 o'clock. and at 3.1I
formed into line. Each member wa,
dressed In u black suit, derby hat ant
carried an overcoat on his arm q,