The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-03-14

prises are very profitable and that the
very heavy taxation imposed upon them
by the state for doing business within its
borders, is not sufficient. The Western
Union Telegraph company pay but 5per
cent. dividends and the Postal company
nothing. What are the factsY Have any
OF tho electric light companies in the city
ever paid dollar to the men who put
their hundreds OF thousands into themS
The fact Is, that the people OF Scranton
have been getting the electric lights for
years at less than its actual cost, how
about the electric street car systemf Let
us hope that the immense sums Of money
that are being expended III the improve
ment and development OF this great enter.
prise will show better results than the
electric light investment. Thus far the
benefits have been reaped by the people.
chiefly by the business men and working
mon OF the city.
To bury the wires would compel the
companies to double their capital and
double the cost OF services to the people
The overhead trolley IL the only practical
electrical railway system In the word to.
day. All Others, including the storage
battery, have proved dismal failures.
When the telephone was introduced Ia
Scranton, it was the desire OF the mana
gers to make it popular. The rates We're
put below the average for cities OF this
class This plan was very promising
for time. Comparatively cheap con-
struction and equipment did the work.
There seemed to 10 good profit IN the busi.
ness until the electric light and electric
street car system appeared on the scene,
since then the difficulties and the cost
have Increased enormously. IL may help
you to realize this, when | tell you that
tho switching apparatus OF the Scranton
exchange has been changed six times,
each time tho most improved and conse-
quently the most exp0nsl We apparatus was
put in, only to DO thrown aside for some
thing newer and better in "a year or two.
RATES NOT INCREASED
The rates have not been increased.
About zoo persons are stockholders Of the
Central Pennsylvania Telephone company,
most OF them people Of very moderate
means. They received dividends Of only .
per cent. per annum up to January l., 1892,
since which time they have not had cent
directly or indirectly from this invest
meut. Every dollar has been expendedin
maintaining the business; not only tins
but the company has actually borrowed
and expended about SlOO, OOO additionally
IN improving the service. About SoO, 900
Of this has been 30 far spent III Scranton
in the erection OF the central office and its
equipments and also in the erec.
tion OF fine poles to take the
place OF old poles aud wires In
tho central portion Of the city. These
poles are intended to accommodate the
wires OF all tho electrical companiee. and
they will therefore displace Il large mum.
Der Of old ones About $3.50 additional
will be required TO extend and complete
this Improvement. We would ask that
you would give us time TO complete
the work We are now engaged III and to
show what improvements we Will make.
1t does not seem fair to press this burden
some tax at time when we are spending
SO much money in this city making every
effort to better the telephone service and
to improve the appearance Of the city.
know it will boa great surprise to Il
great many people to learn these truths
about the telephone business. II any one
cares to verify them | can refer them to
number Of responsible gentlemen In this
city. do not believe that any tairminded
man will wish to see this tax imposed; 1t
would be- notice to the entire country
that the broad minded, enterprising busi-
ness men, who have helped to make Scran-
ton, have given place to men or totally
different type--a painful thing to contem-
plate. It's effect would be far reaching
and most injurious to tn reputation and
progress Of our city.