The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-11-15
NO MORE PARLEY|Nc NOW
Councils Are Tired Of the Turnpike
CompaLy's Yoke.
CITY IN a FIGHTING HOOD
That Is tho Sentiment Of the Select Coun'
cilmen-Mr. Manlcy Out for Blood.
Proposition from the Company.
In Common Council.

Resolved by the select council OF fht
CITY of Scranton, the common couh
Gil concurrinG. that the city treasure,
be and is hereby directed 10 witnhuI.
payment of the warrant IN favor Vi ,n'
Providence and Abingdon Turhp'k'
COMPANY: end the city's attorney II
the case s. Il. Price, Is directed t6
carry the matter to the Supreme court
Such was the outcome of long anc
animated discussion on the West Mar,
let street dilemma in select councii laS'
night. -,
The matter was destined to come w
nj all events but 1t received httihs
but unexpected introduction In com
munication from the TurnDike peopie
through their secretary, W. w. wa.
son. The gist of It was that inasIiiuch
as the city was seemingly OF the opin-
ION thot It would REQUIRE an immense
expenditure of money to keep the roao
i'm repair. the Turnpike company wouio
agree to nut the road In GOOD, SAT
iSfactory condition for $2,5OO; keep II
i'm nroper repair for $1,5O0 year, and
no an evidence of their intention to
do the work in q good manner, would
covenant to assume all liability for any
possible damages that might result
from the road not being kept In n good
repair 1t further proposed that II at
any time the city desired TO revert to
the present existent compact. the COM
pany would be willing to accede to the
city's wishes.
Before any action was taken on the
communication, MIR. Manley called for
the reading of the opinion of 5. b.
Price, who was the city's attorney in
the case, and who held that if the case
was appealed to the Supreme court the
award against the city would be strick-
en- off and the city released from its
contract, all of which vas set forth
in a previous issue of The Tribune.
When the opinion, containing the
above contention had been read. MIR.
Manley commenced to deplore the fact
that II he'd not been read at the time
it was presented, saying that If coun-
ellis had not passed 1t over so care
lessly the city would not be In It's re-
grettable plight. In a somewhat vim
dictive tone Mr.. Manley declared for
war, advising that the city pay no
money to the Turnpike company or
heed to their communications.
Mr.. Chittenden advised that the lat-
est proposition of the company be re-
ferred to the judiciary committee for
tion on their offer so that in case the
supreme court should decide against
the city there would be something to
fall back on, which no doubt would be
found to be desirable He would also
have the committee ascertain II the
city would be expected to pay $1,000 In
addition to the $500 for the first year
If the proposition was accepted.
But Mr.. Manley had no desire to have
any negotiations at all with the COM
pany. He would throw their PROPOSE
tions ard claims and bills to the four
winds. drop all parleying and have a
good old-fashioned auction.
Mr. Roche agreed with Mr.. Chitten-
den that councils adopt both plans
entertain the proposition and follow out
Mr.. Manley's belligerent views This
was done by sending the turnpike COM
pany's communication to the judiciary
committee and by adopting the Manley
resolution reproduced in the first para
graph.
The peripatetic streets and bridges
committee. after a days outing on the
South Side, came in with three recon-
mendations in relation to improve
ments' contemplated there. In the mat
ter of the removal Of the Delaware and
Hudson depot platform at Cherry street
the committee approved of superin-
tendent G. r. Manville's suggestion
that the oblique road about 100 feet
below Cherry street be closed If Cherry
street Is to be opened and thus avoid
two grade crossings near each other.
and promised that no damages shall be
incurred by the city. Mr.. Roche want
ed the committee to draft an ordinance
embodying these recommendations, but
Mr.. Chittenden advised that this be
held in abeyence until the judiciary
committee could determine the exact
legal status Of affairs, and his idea pre-
vailed.
Another matter which the committee
looked INTO was the prOpose. extension
of the pipe drain which empties on
Cherry street, so as to carry the water
to the river. This pipe drain was built
some years ago at the expense of the
city. 1t carries the water from the hill
above and empties II on Cherry street
The property holders on that thorough
fare complain that this water is damag-
ing the street and their properties and
ask that the city adopt measures to
relieve them. Mr.. Coyne, selectman
from the Twentieth ward. proposed an
of the pipe drain to the river
and 1t was on this proposition that the
jOurneyed thither yester-
day. The recommendation Of the
was that no action be taken
in the matter until the property hold
ers grade Cherry street. and their rec
was adopted.
Mr.. RObinson's project to compel the
Iron and Coal company to
open a blind alley on their Eleventh
ward plot also received cold shoulder
from the committee, who believed that
the matter could be settled more satis-
factOrily by conference between the
Interested property owners and the off,
cials Of the company and recommmend-
ed that the resolution be laid on tho
table. This was done.
The nominations of Of Oscar F. Free
man for inspector of the Capouse ave-
nue. lateral sewer, and of Dennis Roche
for inspector Of the Washington ave-
nue. lateral sewer, were received from
Mayor Connell and unanimously con-
firmed forthwith.
The proposition of William Bright
and William Love to accept $500 in
payment for damages resulting from
the extending of the Providence sewer
through the private alley which ex-
tends between their respective proper
ties, was submitted by Mayor Connell
for the consideration of councils. Mr..
believed this to be an ex-
orbitant demand and wanted to settle
the matter then and there by ignoring
[ne proposition and throwing the mat
ter into court, but other counsel pre-
vailed and the question was referred to
the judiciary committee
II tetse communication City Sol;ci-
tor Torrey advised the repeal Of the
Seventeenth district main sewer ordi-
nance. He said that during the sum-
mer the assessment was made and
when 1t was about completed the Su-
preme court, In q parallel case handed
down a decision which threw grave
doubts on the legality Of the ASSESS
ment. The Lackawanna Iron and Coal
company tested the local courts and It
was decided that assessments on nom
abutting property are null and void.
II the ordinance Is not repealed the city
viii have to pay about 100000 out of
the general treasury to make I'D for the
Illegal assessment levied on non -abut-
ting properties. The only way, Mr..
Torrey says, that a sewer can be built