The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-03-01

dends have always been a much more
modest figure. Last year was paid the
largest dividend in the companys his
tory, but that was largely composed of
money recovered in the litigation with
the city.
SPENDING FOR REPAIRS.
In relation to a published statement
that the company was not spending
for repairs a sum at all commensurate
with its revenues, Mr.. Paine stated
that the pay roll for 1896 for the actual
work of men and teams was $1,47325
He had learned he said, from one who
knew, that the tax duplicates for road
purposes in South Abingdon township
during the corresponding period
amounted to but $1,000. A total of 81
12O.6S, including $e4743 for road ma
chinery stone. etc, was expended on
the turnpike.
Mr.. Paine did not hesitate to be
quoted concerning statement attrib-
uted to William Streator, of Chinchila.
Mr. Streator had said:
The present single round trip toll from
Chinchlla Methodist Episcopal church
into the city over the turnpike is 16 cents.
By paying 81 down, one ticket is now sold
good for eight trips, or from the old
ODonnell tavern, where the turnpike Is
used by citizens coming to the city from
Newton, the single round trip toll is IA
cents, or 10 trips for 81.
Under the new proposition, it Is my
belief that the company proposes to do
away with tickets and charge the fun
single trip fare for all narrow tires.
Thus the wide tire would pay really
more than all tires pay now on the
ticket system, while by the doing away
of the ticket system, those having mar
row tires will have to pay about 10 per
cent more than at present Thus the
company wins on both deals.
MP. PAINE'S REPLY.
II have seen the statement of Mr.. Strea-
tor expressing his views in regard 10
the intention of the company to give free
use of the road for six months and a
subsequent reduction of tolls to those
who use wide tires" said Mir. Paine.
MT Sreator states or implies that this
is trick of the company to cheat the
public by raising the rates of toll on
narrow tires and thus collect from the
travelling public as much in excess on
narrow tires as the rebate on wide tires,
"'rhs statement is false from begin
ming to end and without one particle of
fact for a basis. The company will not
advance the rates of toll OF narrow tires.
On the other hand if We can succeed in
inducing the public to do their heavy
hauling on wide tires we think we will
be able also to give reduction on mar
row tires 1t Is possible that Mir. Streator
in expressing his views has forecast what
he himself might do If he was managing
the road, but, fortunately for the travel
ing public Mr., StreatOr win be unable
to put his views into execution.
"As to the rates of toll, Nh Streator
has stated correctly the amount of tolls
as charged by the company, hut he has
failed to state all the truth. By law the
company can charge 80 cents for a round
"trip over its road; it does charge but Ii
cents, or II cents if the traveller makes
change; thus the toll Is only one-half of
what is permitted by law If a dollar
ticket Is purchased the buyer gets eight
trlrs for the dollar, which amounts TO
l2ls cents per trip, an equivalent of two
tfths Of the amount permitted by law.
If the wide tires are adopted, the amount
Of toll viii be still farther reduced to 10
cents per trip, or only one-thlrd of the
amount permitted by law.
TRYING TO MAKE A GOOD ROAD.