The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-04-21
Mr.. .sLL|MAA's Letter
Read at Last Nights Board Of Trade
Meeting.
1T IS A PASSIVE DOCUMENT
Not Much Like the Open Letters OF the
Traction Company's President-Ex.
Consul Williams Tells About
Good French Roads.

Good French Roads.
Two important features were con-
nected with last nights regular meet
ing Of the Scranton board of trade. A
letter was vead from General Manager
Silliman, of the Scranton Traction COM
pany, In reply to recent report OF the
boards committee on public safety
criticising the ccmpany's system. A
talk by o. F. Williams. proprietor of
Woods Business college, on French VS..
American Roads" concluded the meet
ing.
The Traction company letter follows.
Its tone is radically different from that
of President Illsley's letter addressed
to the public and printed In the news
papers several weeks ago. President
Illsley practically took issue with the
committee in all the points raised in
that body's criticism. The general
managers letter, however. indicates a
disposition to remedy all the evils men,
toned In the committee report. This
Is the letter:
Scranton, Pa, April Is. 1896.
D. B. Atherton, Esq, Secretary Scranton
Board of Trade. Scranton. Pa.
Dear Sir:-Replying further to your let
i Z
looked very carefully into the matters
touched upon in the report Of the public
safety committee Of the board Of trade "a
copy of which was contained In your
letter., and wish to say In reference to
the several matters touched upon. and
with respect to any matter which may be
brought to our attention by the board OF
trade, that We are very glad to meet the
views OF he board Of trade regarding any
subject touching on street car service III
th.ND hxN, MI
whenever 1t Is for the good of the service.
Referring to the first recommendation CT
the committee, which Is In effect that there
Is an insufiient number of cars on all lines
between the hours Of 8 and 3 In the morn.
ing and and in the evening. l cannot
agree with the committee in respect to
this. as his condition certainly does not ex-
ist on all lines, as stated. 1t does exist OH
some lines, and We hope to be able to get
necessary track facilities to enable us to
correct this at an early date. and believe
that We can. We would be very much
pleased to have the board of trade use its
influence In order that these facilities may
be obtained.
CHANGING THE WHEELS.
Second-The committee complains of the
large number OF cars In use with flal
wheels, which are serious menace tc
weak and delicate women. In relation
to this we beg to say that We are changing
the wheels under the cars daily. and We
do not run cars having fiat wheels any
longer than Is absolutely necessary tc
keep the proper number of cars In service
AT certain times Of the year when the raj
use Of sand on the rails Is necessary
wheels are fiatted at a much higher rate
than under ordinary conditions, and II is
at times not possible to keep up with this
work Of renewing. The large number OF
steep grades on the lines in this city max,
the matter of maintenance OF the wheel:
one Of the most difficult matters In con
nection with the operation Of the road
We have during the last two years, eX
perimented with several different kind.
OF wheels having steel tires, and stea
tires combined whit cast fianges but hav'
| not as yet been able to get any whee
which will. with respect to the matter O.
sliding fiat, and in other respects, an
are. however, making the renewal of tn
| wheels at all times with the greatest o
| speed that Is possible.
Third-The committee complains Of th'
| landing of passengers on the Green Ridg'
| Peoples and Providence lines In par
| business places and schools. The com
pany not long since endeavored to Obtain
| track facilities on Franklin avenue whicl
would enable them to run the cars In boil
directions on Franklin avenue, and thi
would have allowed some Of the cars t.
come In via Franklin avenue and out Wyo
ming avenue and others In via Wyoming
avenue and out Franklin avenue. The ad
vantage Of running tho cars around lool
| in this central city terminus Ii manifest Il
any one. As we were unable to get the nee
essary track facilities on Franklin ave
nue., we were compelled to run all tn
cars In one direction around the loop
without making a detour In the cit!
which would involve the lengthening 9
the time of trip to SONG considerable
extent and which Is not practicable to do
| We propose, in view of the existing con
diuons, to allow the passengers on tn
Green Ridge Peoples and the lines coming
from Providence to ride for one fare int
the city, not only to Franklin and Lack
awanna avenues. but also through on tn
! outward trip to Spruce street on WyOmin,
avenue and on Penn avenue. and we be
lieve that this will. to very great ex
! tent, remove that difficulty.
AS TO DRUNKEN PERSONS.
Fourth--The committee complaints Of tn
allowing of drunken persons on the cars
| and permitting of indecent languag
thereon. Our rules with respect to thl
are very strict, but it is difficult to dis
tinguish always between d plnken per
| son and one who is not drunk, but who ha
| been drinking to an extent which. perhaps
| does not make him nuisance OH the cat
] beg to say with regard to this also. tina
within the last month. we have had case
where men have been put Off Of the car
and finrd before an alderman for thei
conduct on the cars, and In one case W
| have suit for 10000 standing agains
US for putting a drunken man of the car
We are glad at any time to respect specifi
complaints as to this matter which vii
enable us to prosecute the offender, an
which oftentimes would not reach us TN
less the information Is given to us by tn
passengers.
In closing, beg to say again that tn
management of the company is glad a
any time to take up any question respect
ing the service In this city with the mem
bers of the board Of trade. either indivld
ually or as a committee, and to assure tn
committee that 1t Is our desire to, In ever
Fespeet, render geea- service to the pat
rons of the company, and to continual!
improve it.
Very truly yours,
Frank Silliman, Jr.,
General Manager
Following is the report of the manu-
factures committee:
On March 20 w. ]. Lewis, j. A. Mears
William Chapel, Charles Henwood an
]. B. Fish, representing the Gregory Sil
Braid works of the North End; j. M. KEN
merer and the secretary representing tn
board Of trade, and Valentine Bliss, q
Paterson, n. j., met in these rooms to al
range for the buying or leasing of tn
| Iragnry plant nv Mr. RlisS who desire