The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-01-21
they FAVOR THE VIADUCT
The Central BOard Of Trade Heartily
Endorses it.
MR. PAINE THE ONLY DIRECTOR
Ringing Resolution Presented by A. w
Dickson Commits the Board 10 the
Viaduct PrOject-A Good Nights
Work by the boomers.

At the invitation of the manufacture
ers' committee of the board of trade,
the viaduct committee of the West Side
board attended last nights meeting to
discuss the contemplated Improvement
They departed highly elated with the
result of their mission for the central
board gave its unqualified endorsement
to the project and bade the boomers go
forth and conquer Their appreciation
and sympathy was received with the
greatest gratitude and on behalf of the
citizens of the West Side. Hon. John
X. Farr. spokesman of the committee,
heartily thanked the board for it's ac-
tion.
When the regular business of the
board had been concluded President
May announced the presence and purpose
Of the waiting delegation and invited
them to take the privilege of the floor
Mr. Farr accepted the invitation and
addressed the board substantially as
follows:
Recognizing the broad spirit of this
board we feel that we can appeal to you
for cooperation and assistance in Sc
curing this viaduct, than which i'm
provement none Is more needed.
1--WE donot ask 1t alone as an improve
ment Fifteen years ago 1t was a neces-
sity; today it is imperative. Thirty
thousand people In order to get to
Scranton must endanger their life and
limb. We hear that the city has done
enough for the West Side in construct
ing the Linden street bridge. We ap-
proved Of it but we did not ask for il (;
we wanted the viaduct. 1t was the
East Side that wanted it, the Linden
street bridge. The West Lackawanna
avenue crossing Is not only n menace
but great Inconvenience. The street
car company cannot give us a proper
service on account of the crossing.
Have an Opportunity Now.
1--WE have the Oportunity to remedy
this evil now. Council has author
lied that vote be taken on the issu-
ance Of sl5O,0OO worth of bonds to meet
the expense. We have the right of way
secured at reasonable figure. The
cost Is mere bagatelle compared to
the necessity to removing this danger
and Inconvenience If an accident oc-
Cured there it is not likely that there
would be any hesitancy about giving
us the viaduct. That no serious ac-
cident has occurred is remarkable. The
erection of the viaduct will not only be
benefit to the West Side but also to
the city at large and especially the
central city"
Mr.. Farr's speech was greeted with
cheers which plainly bespoke that it
had telling effect and that sentiment
In the board leaned towards the VIA
duct.
T. II. Mason, president of the West
Side board of trade, made q few re-
marks, after which II. II. Paine arose
and in u tone which augured no good
for the viaduct project. stated that
there We're a few things he would axe
To know concerning the viaduct before
he was prepared to vote on it. First,
he would like to know IL the Delaware,
Lackawanna and Western company
and Traction company We're going to
pay anything towards the viaduct, and.
secondly, was the committee aware of
Just how much of the $l5O.OOO would be
necessary for its completion.
Said the Traction Company Would Pay
Mr.. Mason stated that the Traction
company would pay $4,000 If not more
for the privilege of using the viaduct.
and that he felt confident that the
Delaware, Lackawanna and W uestern
company would also pay it's snare.
County Surveyor Bartl. in a lengthy
speech, disapproved of the present via
duct plan and suggested as Il substi-
tute the scheme to cross from Seventh,
street diagonally to Ninth street at
Nealis court.
Mr.. Farr remarked that Mr.. Bartl
had evidently not given the matter
serious thought and that the people OF
the West Side who have been studying
this matter for fifteen years ought to
know what they want and what is best
for them.
The speech however which crystal
liZed sentiment and sent it sweepingly
on the side of the viaduct was made by
A. W. Dickson. "The whole effort of
the best energy Of this city" said he.
should be spent in obliterating those
old provincial lines. The bane of this
city has always been that it was a col
lection of villages. These bridges and
viaducts will obliterate this objection
able feature and they should be erect
ed regardless of trouble or expense.
The West Lackawanna avenue cross
ing, besides being great inconveni-
ence Is an intolerable menace. To these