The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-01-21
THE PROGRESS OF. A Year
Work OF the Board of Trade During
the Past Twelve Months.
ANNUAL MEETING LAST NIGHT
Officers Elected and Report of secretary
AthcrtOn Rcad-Captnin May Con.
tinucd in the Chair for Another
Ycar-Thc Routine Business.

John r. Porter by vote of Ii to IL. a.
W. Dickson was unanimously reelected
treasurer, II. b. AthertOH was unanl-
mouSly reelected secretary and Will
lam Connell was unanimously re-elect-
ed to the board of trustees for term
of three years. Secretary Athefton s
annual report which was received with
applause is given below in full:
TO the President and Members, Scranton
board of Trade
CentIemen:-I beg to submit the foi-
lowing aS my report for the year enGcd
Jan, 81, 1885. The twenty IN year III the
history of the Scranton board OF trade
has rolled by and we have now entered
upon the twenty-five year of Its !ncorpora-
tion. For Il quarter of n century has thiS
body represented everything that tended TO
the solid!ty or added to the importance OF
the city of Scranton 1t has seen the Won
derful growth OF the city, from swampy
wilderness ta; the time ,he frog opera
gave It's nightly concerts on the site ot
the present court house) to one or the
most important cities in eastern Pennsyl-
vania. What part has this board taken in
all this? | can answer that question with
out fear of contradiction. 1t has been
identified with every step In the clty y
advancement and directly or indirectly
has its influence been felt in every stage
of progress made.
But ii is not my purpose in this brie!
report to more than refer 10 the past.
desire to coniine myself 10 the work done
and things accomplished during the year
just closed.
New Industries Located Here.
In my last report reference was made to
one or two industrial matters that the
manufacturers committee We're at that
time considering, one OF which was the
Eureka Cash Register company, who were
at that time located at Elmira, n. y.
Since then they have located here, and are
now In successful operation. employing
fifty people. Another matter then in the
hands of this committee was the removal
Of the HoneSdale Iron works 10 Scranton.
Although the main object has not been
ACCOMPLISHED yet, in February, 1899,
company was organized. called the Ma,
tional Elevator and Machine company.
This corporation acquired the property or
the Honesdalc Iron works at Hoaesdale,
Pa, and opened offices in this city. 1t is
the purpose of this company 10 move th5!r
works here at an early day. At our
February meeting the manufacturers
committee reported that arrangements
had been completed for the erection of
large silk mill on the South Side. to be
operated by James Simpson 4 Co., of Pat
erson, \. j." During the year this mill
has been erected, and Is now about ready
TO begin operations. They Will employ
not less than 400 hands.
In August this same committee consid-
cred proposition for the removal of the
Dickinson Law school to this city. This
project met with considerable opposition
from the people at Carlisle. Pa, where the
school is now located, which defeated the
project so far as the main school was
concerned. However. through out efforts
an auxiliary of the school was opened here
Oct !. with quarters in the st. Thomas
college building. on Wyoming avenue.
Some of our most prominent lawyers were
regularly engaged as lecturers, and with
Carlisle school. who lectured here one
day each week. the school prospered and
closed its first term with twenty-five stu
dents.
About the Dick insOn Law School.
Prior. however to opening the school
after the holiday vacation. Hon. Alfred
Hand, president of the local board of di-
rectors, becoming cognizant of the fac.
that the idea ofsmoving the entire Dicl<in.
son Law school here. as was first Intended,
had been abandoned. and feeling that the
Scranton public would not be satisfied with
merely an oifshoot of the school, rendered
his resignation. After considerable CORE
spondence with Mr.. Trickett II was decid-
ed not to reopen the school in Scranton.
1t was further decided that the students
who had entered the school here could
finish the course at Carlisle free of charge.
Most of the students accepted this offer.
and are now attending the Carlisle school.
Negotiations are now pending with the
faculty of Lafayette college, with The
end i'm view of continuing the school here
as the Lafayette Law school,
What Is destined to become one of Scran.
toms most important industries Is III.
COlling-Hale Manufa curing company
who. through our efforts. located here
and are now manufacturing upholstered
furniture In the plant formerly occupied
by the Scranton Caramel company. They
commenced operations Dec. l. with fifty
skilled mechanics. A. the present time
they are buying their frames from outside
parties. In the future the company pro-
pose to make them at their plant here
thus employing many more hands, and. |
am assured by the promoters that within
year they will have Il pay roll of at least
$50 men.
At conservative estimate we have been
directly instrumental in bringing TO Scran-
ton within the past twelve months indus
tries employing 600 hands, and this with
out the aid of home capital In most in
stances our natural advantages were suf-
ficicnt to induce outside capital to come
here. so, In that respect. 1t has been
double advantage to our city, and would
Indicate a healthy, substantial and steady
growth and "a bright future.
Onr Industries Prosperous.
During the year with but one or possi-
bly, two exceptions, our industries have
been In continual operation. Some of them
reasonably busy, while others have been
obliged to work extra time in order to
fill orders. Owing to an enormous in
crease in business the Sauquot SILK mills
were Obliged to build large addition 10
their plant, making 1T one of the largest,
If not the largest, silk mill i'm the United
States. This was also true of the Lack
awanna mills and Axle works. they being
obliged to add largely to their facilities.
The Bonita Plate Glass company have,
during the year. completed a large plant
at Moosic for the manufacture Of plate
glass under Mr.. Bonta's patcrts. Several
successful tests ] understand have recent
ly been made, and the promoters are san
guine of ultimately being able to put on
plyasf hoe tf,1 Of la+.
embossed glass that will excel In beauty
and finish anything before known, and
at a much less cost than can al present bc
attained under the old process. A COM
pany has also been formed for the manu-
facture Of glass pipe under the patents Of
the same gentleman. 1t Is understood that
they will erect large works at Priceville
on the property of DR.. II. II. Throop, who
The manufacturers committee are now
negotiating with the bloomsbury Car
company for the removal of their plant
here. The prospects are encouraging, and
in the event of success no less than 200
men will he employed in the manufacture
of mine. freight. coal and street cars.
What have We done in other lines? ]
will simply refer to some Of them. First
We secured the passage of a fire marshal
bill by our legislature and an ordinance
Is now OH It's way through councils Great
ing the office.
y resolution passed by this board on
April u requesting the councils to enact
an ordinance compelling the Traction
company 10 put safety tenders on all their
cars. under penalty II they neglected do
ing so, resulted in the passage of such IN
ordinance. Today every car Is equippcl
with a good fender and not a fatal acci-
dent has since happened, but In several in
stances they have been the means or saw
ing the lives of those unfortunate enough
TO be in the way of a passing car.
Weather Signals DISPLAYED.
Since Juno ] weather signals have been
displayed from the court house and a full
fedged local weather bureau has been in
augurated. which Is conducted by our
worthy member. Mr.. II. +. Paine. "A fun
set of Instruments were secured from the
government. and kilograms received each
day. giving the forecast of the wcath her
for the succeeding twenty-four hours. Re
ports are sent TO the weather bureau at