The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-04-06

than twenty men and these are expected
to see that peace Is preserved in a city
having population OF more than one
hundred thousand, and an area Of more
than twenty-one square miles. The en-
tire force during the past year numbered
but fifty men. That they have done so
well during that time IL, indeed, a tribute
TO their vigilance and courage, and a tes-
timonial to the general law abiding char
acter of the inhabitants of the city.
would earnestly urge upon you the neces-
sity which still exists for further in
which may at any time become startling
ly apparent.
THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.
The gradual transformation Of the
semi-voluntary service which the Scran-
ton Fire department now gives into a
service which is fully paid is desirable
! understand your appreciation of this
fact and also recognize that the only
thing that stands In the way of a paid
department is the lack OF municipal rev.
enue. The placing of additional perman-
ent men among the several companies is
working a gradual change, and Is the
means of giving us a steadily improving
service. The work of the fire department
Is closely allied with that of the police
department as II. too, includes the protec-
tion OF life and property. l would, there
fore, suggest that a goodly portion of the
city's increased revenue be appropriated
for the Improvement Of the city's fire
fighting apparatus and the employment
of more permanent men. l would also
heartily commend to your consideration
the matter of the formation of a new
company designed to protect life and
property in the Ninth, Seventeenth and
Tenth wards,
THE CITY'S PARKS.
We have but recently received from
your honorable bodies resolution asking
the park commissioners to submit an es-
innate of the cost of fitting Nay Aug
park with all the most modern pleasure
appliances, and of making 1t an ornament
and an honor to the city. l approve of
this resolution with particular pleasure
because it is directly in the line with the
ideas expressed in my inaugural mes
sage. 1t is evidently your intention to
follow this resolution to some measure
having the consummation of this work as
its object Pleasure places of a munici-
pality, instead of being luXurles, as they
are sometimes regarded, are really neces-
stiles. They are especially a boon to
those whose condition in life prohibits
them from indulging in the delights
which come from extended travel to the
garden spots of the world. We have 1t
in our power to render convenient. pleas
ureaful and restful one of the most beau
tiful parks to be found anywhere. Let us
make it so.
THE QUESTION OF LOWER RATES.
Some time since / received largely
signed petition requesting me to use my
influence to have street railway fares re-
duced during the hours when most work.
ingmen go to and from their daily en-
ployment Acting upon this petition 1
addressed the following communication
to the officers of the Scranton Railway
company:
Scranton, Pa, March /, 1897.
Mayors Office,
Mr.. Frank Silliman, Jr.,
General Manager Scranton Railway
Company,
Dear Sir
1 received a petition signed by five
thousand citizens of Scranton which asks
me to confer with you and to arrange, II
possible, for the reduction of street car
fares to three cents during the hours
When workingmen. are going and coming
from work.
As | stated in my inaugural message, l
am in favor of making concession in
the matter of street railway fares. 1t Is
my opinion that yielding now to public
sentiment would aid greatly in the popu-
larity of your road, would pave the way
Tor future concession to you, and would
add to rather than detTact from your
revenues. | trust that your people Will
give this matter the consideration which
it deserves. Yours truly,
James G. Bailey, Mayor"
In reply to this l have received the ac-
companying communication. This gives
you both sides of the question which has
attracted much attention, and l include
the correspondence in this message for
your future guidance.
Philadelphia, March 26, 1897.
Hon. James c. Bailey, Mayor,
Scranton, Pennsylvania.
Dear Sir:-Your favor of the 1st instant
10 our general manager, Mr.. Silliman, re-
ferring to a petition received by you ask
ing for reduction of street car fares,
time to give it careful and proper con-
slderation. 1t is our desire to meet all
reasonable requests made upon us by the
citizens OF Scranton whenever it is possi-
pie fo' us to do so with due regard for
the proper interests of our company and
the best interests of the city itself. We
nave, however, already tried the expert
ment OF three cent fares during certain
hours OF the day for a aconsiderable length
OF time, and the conclusion arrived at
after that trial was that for many rea-
sons, II was not advisable to continue the
experiment. on account of the very eX-
ton, the actual receipts of our company
during the fiscal year ending June 30th,
1896, averaged only 3 7i-l0O cents per pas
senger carried. During the same year
the actual cost averaged $500 cents per
passenger carried You will see from
these hgures that the margin of profit Is
exceedingly small and that a reduction
10 three cent fares would mean an ac-
tual loss to the company for every pas
senser carried at that rate.
There is, however, another feaure to
this whole question which is worthy of
the greatest consideration if the matter
is viewed from a broad-minded stand
point, and to which / desire TO call your
particular attention. There is no greater
factor in the development and growth of
a city than proper street car facilities
reaching to all parts of the CITY and
operated with regularity and sufient
service. A street car system cannot be
developed and built up so as to meet the
demands OF a growing community unless
the past four years while the street rail-
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