The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-04-02

the Increased number of beats patrolled
and the greater territory brought under
police surveillance. Our force, however, is
still too small to properly perform all the
functions usually ascribed to the depart
ment of police, not only in consideration
of the area to be covered but even In
proportion to our population. In the gen.
eral personnel and efficiency Of our depart
ment we are not second to any city In the
country.
/ repeat the recommendations / made
year ago. that steps be taken to remodel
the sanitary arrangements OF the station
house in the Third precinct. located ON
West Market street. 1t Is n frequent oc-
currence during rainstorms for this place
to be so flooded as to be practically UNI
tenabe. and remaining for days thereafter
In a most unhealthy condition.
This department Is always one or the
most important under the control OF mii-
nicipal authority, and ! would earnestly
recommend that you make such additions
to its working strength each year, as the
resources of the city will admit OF, that
It's usefulness may be maintained cock
tensive with our growth and development.
Work Of the Health board.
The health of the city has been looked
after by the board of health during the
year in a very thorough and satisfactory
manner. The rules and regulations for
sanitary observance which the board mas
passed have been more rigidly enforced
than ever before and the beneficial results
proved condition of our streets and alleys
from u sanitary point OF view and also the
cleanlier condition of private properties.
The crematory which the board erected
two years ago for the destruction of all
kinds of organic refuse matter, has
proved complete success, accomplish
ing all that was claimed for 1t. The work
of this furnace has been of vastly greater
benefit to the city in the protection OF tho
public health than many of our citizens
suppose. Between 10000 and 10000 barrels
of garbage are crcmated annually besides
many hundred carcasses of dead animals.
This department has also I'm charge the
collection and preservation of all vital
statistics relative to births, deaths and
marriages occurring in the city. This Of
fetal record is constantly referred to by
our people and also by strangers having
associations here, and will grow In value
and Importance in succeeding years. The
record now extends back to 1873 A close
supervision of all foods offered for sale In
the public markets is exercised by the Of
ficcrs of the board. The chief measure
now occupying the attention of the board
Is the establishment of u satisfactory sys-
TEN for the regular collection of garbage.
Several methods have been tried but
none have as yet been adopted by the
board as suitable. ] am informed by one
of the members that they hope to solve
this problem in the near future and pro-
vide the city with a garbage collection
system satisfactory in every respect.
Ordcr fcndcrS on street lars.
In my message of last year ! suggested
to your honorable bodies the advsability
of onacting the necessary legislation to
compel the Scranton Traction company TO
use tenders upon its cars for the better
protection of the lives of our citizens, and
also to regulate the speed at which 1t
shall run its cars through the street Of the
city.
About a year ago ! went with the gen
eral manager of the traction company to
Buffalo, n. Y, and made very care
ful examination of the tenders in use upon
the cars in that city. In conversation
with the Off cials of the road we Were in
formed that the tenders in use upon that
system gave perfect satisfaction, and re-
ceived assurances at that time that within
a very short period tenders of the same
make or equally good, would be placed on
the cars operated by the Scranton COM
pany. Since then nothing has been done
by the traction company to provide these
safeguards for the lives of the little chill
dren playing upon the streets, and 1t
seems to me that it is clearly the duty of
your honorable councils to provide by
Legislation these safeguards for public
protection. The manner in which the
street car companies are allowed to run
their cars down the various heavy grades
in the city has become matter of public
comment. While | am a firm believer in
rapid transit, | believe also that there
should be n law providing that all street
cars should stop at every street crossing
in the thickly populated portions of the
city, and that under no conditions should
they DE allowed to attain n speed of more
than five miles an hour. The necessity of
providing an ordinance regulating this
matter can be clearly seen by any of the
honorable councils who may stand at the
corner of Adams avenue and Mulberry
street or upon the corner of Madison ave-
nue. and Linden street and see the street
ears running down those heavy grades at
a speed of from twenty-five TO thirty miles
an hour approaching the street crossings
without even taking the precaution 70
sound an alarm by the ringing of bell.
Since the passage of the ordinance pro-
ing for the manner of building inspection
and the construction of buildings in 1855.
there has been new feature introduced
into building which Is not comprehended
in the ordinance, that of steel construc-
ton. The building inspector has conse-
quently been compelled to rely upon his
own judgment in the inspection of these
buildings The ordinance, in the powers
1t gives to the building inspe ctor conflicts
in many respects. with the authority vest
ed in the street commissioner, over streets
and sidewalks. l would therefore sug-
gest to your honorable bodies that 1t he
referred to the building inspector who in
conjunction with two architects and two
master builders. to be named by your hob
orabe bodies, shall remodel 1t to embrace
in its provisions the new conditions Of
architecture.
Curb the 1tincrant Cow.
The apparent Indifference manifested by
the city officials as to the enforcement of
the ordinance prohibiting the running at
large of cows, horses and mules upon the
streets of the city, has created unfavor-
able comment on the part of many Of our
citizens. The present provisions OF the or
dinance itself makes its enforcement i'm
possible. Section . of said ordinance pro,
vides that 1t shall be the duty OF the chief
of police to provide such pound or pounds
as he may deem necessary for the enforce
ment of the ordinance, and the mayor
shall appoint as many pound-keepers as
may be required, but they shall re ceive for
their services only such fees as are herein
after provided, and the city shall in no
case be liable for the payment for such
services. The honorable councils will no
tice that 1t directs the chief of police 10
provide the necessary pounds, but it
makes no appropriation for such expen-
diture; 1t directs the mayor to appoint
pound-keepers, but it is careful also TO
provide that the city shall in no way be
liable for the payment of such services, |
The ordinance consequently in its presert
condition is farce, and l desire at vnis
time to place the responsibility whore it