The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-04-25
FOR BETTER CITY Streets
Boards of Trade Of City Discuss the
Matter at Length.
SOLICITOR LORREY'S REMARKS
Hc Fayors the Abolition OF the Present
Method OF EXpending Ward Appro.
printions-- Other Speakers Heard
From-Resolutions Adopted.

|
the city was held last night at the
Young Mems Christian Association
hall, when Secretary O'Toole, of the
South Side board, explained the object
of the meeting The suburban boards
felt that there was a great necessity
for improving the streets, which were
in a generally dilapidated condition.
The present system of street appropri-
alton should also receive attention.
n. Fellows Mason was elected chair
man and called upon City Solicitor
| Torrey to address the meeting, who
said that In using the ward appropri-
! ations there was no reason why coun-
ellis should direct their expenditure in
whatever manner they deemed best.
The street commissioner was the mere
creature of the councils and his Office
was created by ordinance, and his du-
ties specified in like manner, differing
from the office of City Engineer con-
troller and others, which were created
by statute. The present method of re-
! pairing the streets was as unsatisfac-
| tory and incompetent as could be de-
| vised and the tendency was for every
representative to grasp as much as he
could for his own section. If the ap-
propriations We're dealt with in bulk
II would be found ample. as the amount
estimated for the present year was
$4,000, sufficient to keep all the public
streets in repair
Remedy in Hands of Voters.
In many wards it was difficult to see
whore the money is expended, but the
nItr, l,., i., tI,, Ip, Of
the voters directly. Next year one-half
of each branch of the councils would be
elected, and voters should make 1t q
condition of support that the success
ful candidates would use their influence
in remedying the evil by changing the
system. If this were done, he was of
opinion that the Improvement feature
of the question would be settled next
year.
Mr.. Torrcy then spoke on the ques-
tion of dana ges, and cOntended that it
was not right for any municipality to
carry on any grading, and ruin proper
ty without compcnsating the owner.
He cited the case Of st. Mary's church.
Pittsburg, where the edilice was left
fifteen feet above the street level and
llp compensation llt.lu, li4S iSl W tllc
amendment of the constitution i'm 1874.
In this city reckless grading had been
done unaccompanied by any effort to
make arrangements with property
owners, consequently the aggrieved
owners had for the past years been col
lecting damages for the reckless work.
on the other hand it was unfortunate
that one of two cross-grained "kiciers"
could prevent the grading of any block.
C. G.. Boland asked Mr.. Torrey how
far the councils could assist in grading
Streets and was informed that they
could assist to any extent they might
deem desirable.
Income Not Sufficient.
In reply to further questions Mr..
Torrey referred to the loss of city reve-
nue. owing to the fact that no mercan-
tile tax was collected and no tax levied
on vehicles and street cars. In some
cities from $25 to $50 were derived from
each street car, SO that, consequently,
n large sum of money was lost to the
city annually, which could be applied
to the repairs of the streets. Beneath
all this, however, was the question of
lIle lDWItSS bl lUH uSHtSSIlltIll anu llle
small income of the councils made it a
difficult task to make both ends meet.
Captain w. A. May, president Of the
central board of trade, said that the
whole difficulty was the small amount
raised from taxation. When he went
into the councils he was under the i'm
preston that they ere a lot u rascals,
but when he left them he knew that they
were as square a lot of men as could
be found. In most cases their hands
were tied, as they had but a certain
This might lead to economy, but not to
much needed improvements, and there
was no doubt that the city admnistra-
tion was suffering from a pauclty OF
money, which effectively prevented i'm
provements. He quoted a case in Della
ware avenue, Green Ridge, where the
grading of the street had increased the
value of a lot from $500 to $1,000, ana
this ought to induce property owners
to improve the streets adjacent to their
property, If only from motives of self
interest. He advocated the taxing of
street cars and vehicles as just meas
ure.
Mr.. Georges Red Hot Speech.
Augustus II. George, of North Re
becca avenue. in a speech which con-
demned the wealthy Americans who