The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-03-07
WISE, PROGRESSIVE POLICY
Nas Placed the Electric City Among
the First Of Its Class in This
Country-Extensive Public Improve
ments Made and Credit Firmly
Established.


The interruption which will next
month come TO the Republican regime,
Under which the city has iiourished
during the past ten years will be the
concluding work of its greatest epoch,
which epoch will have forits commence
ment the initiation of Colonel Ripple
into the Office of mayor. 1t Is the epoch
during which this city pulled itself To-
gether and resolved to become some
thing more than u town coniehteu III
the enjoyment of that one distinction
n larger population than Wilkes
Barre.
1t is an ero whose beginning was de-
termination to place the city ON u 1901
ing of permanency and whose ehuing
was the contamination of this resolve;
an era during which the greatest dls-
cretion had to be exercised in the az :
fairs of government, for during this
time, il first dawned and then became
firmly impressed upon us that this city
could not hope to enjoy Il continued
healthy growth If 1t had its coal III
dustry alone to rely upon, and in con-
sequence we had to present TO the OUT
side world an inviting city that Woaid
attract men of means who could ana III
building IL new industrial foundation ol
at least we had to most diligently and
carefully avoid anything that would
tend to keep them away. How well this
new foundation, this new and lasting
lease of life, was secured is evidenced
by the fact that we now lose sight OF
our old appelation "the Anthracite
Metropolis" in the contemplation OF
our new name 1.-The Electric CITY,"
A resume of this all important epoch
of the city government can not help but
be interesting. To present, therefore
a few facts that will remind the reader
of what Scranton was ten years ago, to
call his attention to it's present status
by a few trite comparisons and to re-
view in summary manner the inter-
Nening decade is the purpose of this ar
ticle.
CONDITION OF THE CITY THEN.
When the Republicans took control
of this city they found 1t experiencing
a sort of hand-to-mouth existence. Its
government was in a more or less
chaotic state. its finances were in a de-
plorable condition, permanent and sub
stantial improvements We're unthought
of and there was no great interest
manifested by the people at larges In
the affairs of the municipality. Now
we have a we'll ordered, harmonious
government, a credit second to no other
city of its size. conveniences. in the
matter of improvements, bordering OF
1uXurieS and a general feeling of inter-
est in the city's welfare.
In 1886 after twenty years existence
Scranton was still a town. City affairs
We're administered in almost as many
different offices as there We're officers
and If person had business
which required consideration in
various departments it was a
case of hire guide and start
out on a days travel. The mayors
office was located on Lackawanna ave-
nue., over the old Suite clothing store
and was SO shabby in appearance that
1t drew forth the remark, from the
mayor of a western city who was being
shown about the town, that out in his
place they provided the vagrants will
better quarters than the mayor hat
here. The city solicitor held forth in his
private Office on Wyoming avenue. The
city controller and city treasurer occu.
pied dingy rooms on the second floor OF
the Lackawanna Trust company
building on Lackawanna avenue. Police
headquarters were in Center street. The
board of control met on Lackawanns
avenue. The council rooms, city en-
gineer's office and city clerks office were
in the Boston store building The pool
board had quarters at 421 Lackawanns
avenue. Now all these and the severa
new departments are clustered together
beauty and durability, will not suffer
by comparison with the city halls OF
much larger and more influential mu.
inequalities.
In connection with this 1t might bt
said that. the rent paid for offices by
the city, the school district, and the
poor district almost equalled i'm amount
the interest on the money expended fol-
the erection and maintenance of the
new city hail. The convenience and
hundred other considerations how
ever. make the question of finance a
secondary matter.
FINANCES IN BAD SHAPE.
When Mayor Ripple came to the head
OF the city government he found that
owing to the slipshod business methods
antique system of accounts and disre-
gard for the law, the city finances wer,
In pretty bad shape. BY reason of re-
peated overdraughts IL floating debt %
some forty or fifty thousand dollar.
was contracted and as q result city or
derS would not be honored anywhere
City officials and employees were forced
TO peddle their warrants every payday
and they Were glad to get them cashet
Tor 30 per cent. of their face value
Merchants doing business with the cit,
Were In the same plight One of tn,
first things Colonel Ripple did upon as
suming his Office was to draft and hav,
passed an ordinance prohibiting expen
ditures which were not provided for b,
appropriation. This put stop to tn,
growth of the floating debt and an is
sue of u funding loan Of $4,000 sooi
afterwards wiped it out entirely.
During the time required for affair.
to right themselves Colonel Ripple per
sonally arranged with a financial insti
tuition in which he had. an interest, t,
have the orders of employees honored fo
their full face value and to have tn,
orders OF officials cashed at u small dis
count, just sufficient to repay the insti
tuition for the interest which the none,
would earn. Confidence in the city wa.
established and from that time on oul