The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-01-31
That Double TRACK AGAIN
Railway Committee Meets and Ad-
jOurns Without Taking Action.
PETITIONS FOR AND AGAINST
Some Residents of the Street Believe That
Two Tracks Would Dc Good Thing
While others Arc Convinced They
Would Have u Contrary Effect.

Adjournment was taken last night
without any definite action by the rail-
way committee of common council. The
meeting was called to deal with the
ordinance granting the Scranton Sub
urban Street Railway company the
privilege of moving its tracks to one
side of Franklin avenue, to enable an
other track to be laid between Spruce
street and Lackawanna avenue by the
Scranton Traction company. The
plain statements of facts Is that the
ordinance, which has already passed in
select council, will, If passed by the
lower branch, allow the Scranton Trac-
tion company tO operate double track
on Franklin avenue.
Last summer the company proceeded
to double track the avenue, and the
property owners carried the matter to
court. A temporary injunction was
granted and when the final hearing
passed, Judge Gunster handed down
an opinion making the injunction per-
manent, the principal reason being
that the Scranton Traction company
attempted to move the track of the
Suburban company without first hav-
ing received permission from the city
councils.
Petition FavOring Ordinance.
The ordinance now pending is for
the purpose of granting leave to the
Scranton Traction company to move
the Suburban's tracks The ordinance
went through the select council and at
the last meeting of common council 1t
was introduced and referred to COM
mittee. Last night all members of the
railway committee were present eX-
cept Mr.. Howe. Chairman Robinson
called the meeting to order and the
ordinance was read by Clerk w. f.
Mclean.
Mr.. Robathan asked if there were
any petitions for or against the pass
age of the ordinance. The clerk an
nOunced that there We're two, one for
and one against. The one in favor
recommended the passage Of the ordi-
nance because the sentiment of n
greater Scranton is paramount to the
interest of private individuals; and it
will give the street car company a
greater benefit of the travelling public.
1t was signed by the following per-
sons living in the block: Peter Zeigler,
w. A. Beemer Bittenbender & Co.,
James Ferguson, o. A. Beemer, Mary
Moore, w. Fl. Whyte, Union Transfer
company, w. II. Jackson. Joseph God
frey, j. II. Byrne, for estate of i. j..
Byrne, of Carbondale; NJ. A. Byrne,
NJ. M. Kerney. for d. +. Kearney,
agent Victor Koch, Edward II. Lynde
and August Robinson, trustees for
Order of IIlks; b. Lehman, John NJ.
Williams, Il. Silverstone.
Against the Measure.
A counter petition stated that the
passage of the ordinance would depre.
ciate the value of property, because the
majority of the merchants doing busl-
ness in the block would be forced to
seek other quarters two tracks on the
street would take up so much room
that wagons could not be unloaded at
the front entrances. The petition went
on to represent that for all the pur-
poses desired by the Traction COM
pany one track on Franklin avenue is
enough to meet the demand.
This paper had the following sigma
lures: G. j. Babcock j. J. Jermyn, /.
l.. Evcrhart, Megargel & Connell, the
Scranton Packing company, Washburn,
Moen Manufacturing company,
Mathews Bros, d. w. Burr, Charles +.
Scott, James Jordan, T. j. Healey NJ. j.
Kearney, J. j. Kearney, r. A. Healey,
George b. Carson. Joseph Levy, Louis
n. Kramer, T. w. Kellar, Carson &
Davies, William II. Davis, Solomon &
Zimmerman, $. w. Keller, j. j. McGow,
Lorenz Zeidler and James NJ. Everhart.
When both petitions had been read
Mr.. Robathan took the floor and sug-
gested that the property owners or
residents of the avenue, and a good
sized number of them We're present be
Messrs. Scott and Everhart We're the
only two who spoke and their argu-
ments were against the ordinance. The
gist of their talk was much the same
as the arguments in their petition.
They viii Visit the Avenue.
In view of the fact that full men,
bership of the committee was not pres
ent an adjournment was taken. The
next meeting of the committee will be
held ON the call of the chairman.
In the meantime they will visit the
avenue and become personally ac-
quainted with all the facts bearing
upon the case.