The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-10-19

Last nights regular meeting of the
board of trade was not as largely at
tended as usual but those present.
were privileged to participate in some
interesting business. President May
presided.
Mr.. Kemmerer, chairman of the
transportation committee, presented a
report on the discrepancies in freight
rates to and from this city as com
pared with rates and distances of
other cities. The report was as fol-
lows:
On Oct. 10 / sent out to the varied
manufactures and iobbers of this city
the following request: ''There is com
plants that our freight rates to and
from this city are not as favorable as
many competitive points enjoy, which
works against our manufacturers ana
jobbers, | want as many facts and sug-
gestions as / can get twill not use any
names) for a report to board of trade
next Monday evening"
| have received several letters and
few have called to see me, but have
learned very little. and | therefore con-
clude that most of us are satisfied.
believe that we are as well taken care
of as many other cities but not as well
as we are entitled to- considering our
railroad competition to this city from
every section of the country. / believe
this board should have rate from New
York and Philadelphia for Scranton
alone, and not be grouped with New
York or Philadelphia on freights we re-
ceive from the West. as we have 140
miles less hauling. We should have a
joint rate of say s. per car for transferr-
ing car loads in our city instead of
paying 2 cents per 100 pounds. We should
have attractive passenger tariff from New
Milford. Montrosc and intermediate
points, and bring that trade to Scranton
which now goes north. 1t belongs to us.
We purchase all their products.
THE NEWSPAPERS.
Our newspapers should assist in this by
placing as many papers I'm the towns,
villages and country as possible all
through Susquehanpn, Bradford and
Wyoming counties, giving their adver-
tising patrons an opportunity of solicit
ing this trade which now goes to other
towns. Our merchants and manufac>
turers should have the opportunity of
purchasing tcn-trip tickets to New York
and return for $50. Much of this could
be accomplished by united action of this
board Place power behind your trans
portatiOn committee by giving your unit
ed business in their hands, so they can
go out on a squeezing expedition, offer
ing our entire business to the corpora
llOn llldI Will give us DtSl rates anu
most satisfactory service.
Respectfully submitted,
j. Nj. Kemmercr.
Chairman Transportation Committee.
The report was referred back to COM
mittee with instructions to obtain fur
ther information and to recommend a
definite plan for securing better rates.
President May and Colonel f. l..
al nj
Luther Keller and Secretary Atherton
alternates to the meeting of the ma
tional board of trade in Washington,
Dec. Ia.
Colonel Hitchcock presented num-
ber of resolutions which the board ap-
proved for presentation to the national
board. The resolutions provide: That
the board recommend the creation of
a tariff commission; that the Torrey
bankruptcy bill be approved: that the
board ask congress to create the pro-
posed department of commerce and
manufactures; that the national bank
ing laws be amended.
DIRECTORY ADVERTISING.
Secretary Atherton read brief state
ment regarding fake advertising
schemes and recommended that the
board adopt a plan for the protection
of it's members. Mr.. Atherton Criticiz-
ed certain alleged directory publica-
tiOns from out of town, directories that
We're never published; unauthorized
solicitors for labor union programmes
and similar mediums for hoodwinking
liberal advertisers. He recommended
that the board members express their
determination to advertise in only the
newspapers of the city and other trust
worthy publications and the board Of
flcers be authorized to issue certificates
to approved temporary mediums of ad-
Vertising.
The matter was favOrably discussed
at length and referred to the publica-
| tions committee.
A letter was read from w. Irving
| Chambers. lieutenant and recorder of
! the navy department acknowledging
| receipt of Secretary Atherton's COM
munication which presented Scranton
| advantages as a site for the proposed
| armor plate plant. Mr. Chambers let
| ter indicated that the government
might want further information
A letter was received from the ma
| tional board of trade enclosing resolu-
| tions faVoring the creation of a gov
| ernment department of commerce and
| manufactures. The resolutions were
| adopted.