The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-07-24
WILKES-BARRE GREED.
Is Likely to Turn Dollars Scrantonward
During the State Firemen's
Convention.

The greediness Of Wilkes Barre hotel
proprietors is likely to turn a great
many dollars to Scranton during the
state firemen's convention in the for
mer city from Oct. to Oct inclusive.
Tho leading hotel of the town has rails
ed its rate to firemer to $3.50 from
the regular commercial price of $3.50
per day and the other Wilkes Barre
hotels have advanced their prices in
proportion. To overcome this injustice
the scranton Volunteer Firemen's as
sociation has arranged a 5O-cent ex
cursion rate between this city and
Wilkes Barre during the convention
and it is certain that hundreds of dele
gates will make Scranton their head
quarters at that time.
The 50-cent tickets will be over the
Delaware and Hudson road and will
read from Scranton to Wilkes-Barre
and return, but they will BE in coupon
form and may be used in either direc-
tion on the regular or special trains.
At Reading in 1895 there were about
1900 firemen-delegates present and a
very large number were at Johnstown
last year. 1t is estimated that at least
$1,000 strangers, firemen and possibly
tober The Wilkes-Barrc hotels realize
that the entire hotel, eating house and
boarding house capacity of that city
would not begin to accommodate so
large a number of strangers and the
increase in the commercial rate is the
result.
Arrangements have been made with
this city's big Hotel Jermyn for the
accommodation Of delegates at the reg
ular commercial rates of $3.50, $500 and
$3.50 per day with deductions where no
noon or evening meal is served, and
negotiations are under way for the
same concessions at other Scranton
hotels. 1t is estimated that the Scran-
ton hotel accommodations exceed those
of Wiikes-Earre by one-half, ard bet
ter accommodations at that, and it is
believed that the cheap railroad ex-
cursion rate and hotel rates will at
tract hundreds of delegates to this
city each night.
FINE FACILITIES.
The railroad tickets are to be good
on all regular trains and on special
trains, the last of which will leave
| Wilkes Barre at IL O'clock each night.
facility for spending the night COM
| fortably and in quiet and without be-
| ing subjected to the greed of Wilkes
Barre hotel proprietors. There is an
ether consideration besides cheaper
rates. The delegates who make Scran-
ton their headquarters will escape the
crowding and other Inconvenience
which always attend conventions of
| this kind.
There is a particular fact of interest
| ing convention. An effort is being
made to have Chief Hickey, of the
Scranton fire department, and his board
of engineers choose Oct. s for the day
Of this city's annual firemen's parade
and inspection. The date falls on Fri
day, the last day of the state conven-
ton at Wilkes Barre, and, If selected
| for a Scranton blowout, would attract
a great number CT delegates. 1t is
thought that possibly from 20 to 81
companies from all sections of the state
would participate in the Scranton par
ade. If the date of oct. is selected ar
rangencrts will be made with the Del
aware and Hudson company to sell so
| cent excursion tickets reading Wilkes
Barre to Scranton and return"
So it appears that this city will prob
ably in many respects cut quite fig
ure in the good fortune of the sister
| town.