The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-02-08
With UNABATED vICOR
New ACCeSSiOnS 10 The Ranks OI Tho Bridge
Builders.
VERY ENTHUSIASTIC Meeting
The Bridge Campaign Committee
Discusses the Proposed Improve
ments-T. v. Powderly Working in
the Cause-Slatement by John E.
Roche That Are Very Reliable and
Most interesting.

Captain May presided at the Meeting
Of the bridges committee last evening
The attendance was larger and moro
enthusiastic than any held previously.
among the latter acquisitions being 4.
V. Powdcrly, G. g. Donovan and Mr..
McAndrow from the First ward.
The committee on literature reported
that the order for circulars was divided
equally between the four daily papers
aud would be placed In the morning
The finance committee made favor.
able report. The executive committee
recommended as follows: That the
representatives of the several wards
where public meetings ara des.
ired. arrange 10 hold them
on the Saturday previous to
the election aud tue general com
mittQe will render all the assistance In
their power That while this commit
tee was organized for the purpose of
forwarding the campaign for the
bridges, and not for the consideration
of the via1uot question, nevertheless
We are in favor OF abollshing grade
crossings wherever practicable. We
recommend that tho ward committee
men procure the service OF one man in
each block who will see that every
vote favorable to the bridges is cast.
The report was adopted
n v rowDERLYs POSITION
T. " Powderly read clipping from
a Massachusetts, newspaper. showing
that the city of Lowell borrowed 500.
900 for the purpose of giving employ
ment to unemployed labor, and said
that this city in building the bridges
at this time will be OF great benefit 20
those that need it most, and he hoped
that all good citizens would interest
themselves in securing votes for the
bridges for this reason II for no other.
Mr. Roche showed that the interest
charges paid by the city was $40, 230
less in 1898 than IN 1892 that the city
will have Il surplus over all expendi.
lures this year of $l2, 900 that these two
sums will be more than sufficient to
meet the requirements of the act OF the
legislature which provides that per
cent Of the bond issue for the bridges
without increasing the rate Of taxation.
He also called attention to the fact
that the bonded debt Of the city was
reduced more than $40. 0O0 during
1898, and that although the city
erected the Municipal building at to.
tai cost of $780, 200. furnished it at a
cost of $50, O0O, bought two sites for fire
engine houses at a cost of $50, 900, toe
city debt is less today than when the
Municipal building was begun, and he
drew the conclusion that if the city
could afford to do all this and still re.
duce the debt. there was mo doubt but
it could pay for the bridges without in.
creHsing taxation.
DIR. WILLIAMS REMARKS.
DIR. Williams spoke warmly in favor
of the bridges and assured the meeting
that notwithstanding reports to the
contrary Hyde Park would show by
her generous vote for the bridges that
she was not only entitled hut deserving
of the viaduct He combatted an as
sertion that the Fifteenth ward was
opposed to the question to the extent
reported. Mr.. Pond. Of the Thirteenth
ward, Mr.. Anderson, of the North End,
Mr. Moore and others made very en-
couraging reports of the public minds
as the question at issue Mr. Powderly
and Mr., Blume Were authorized to act
with Mr.. Grier. of the Third ward, in
the effort 10 arrange meeting there.