The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-01-18


The annual report Of Secretary ID. l..
Atherton was read at last night $
meeting Of the Board of Trade. 1t Is
as follows:
TO the Officers ana Members Of the
. Scranton Board of Trade.
Gentlemen: Again / have the pleas
lre and honor 10 submit my annual re-
port for the year 1891 for your kind con-
sideration
- ThaL,the wear Just closed is the most
eventful one in the history of the Seran-
ton Board of Trade goes without saying.
The occupancy ut these delightful quar-
Tres by lhe BoaId OF Trade mas done for
tiIla organization what the promoters of
the enterprise had anticipated. II has
placed us among the foremost organiZa
tidtls 81 ITS knu in the country. IL has
given us a standing among the great
commercial bodies Of the land that no
other influence could have accomplished.
ii has done even more than ths-that
NhiUh is probably more desirHble--it has
been the mems of more closely iuenttty
ing the interests Of the citizens Ot the
.tity With those Of the Board of Trade.
1t has shown the true progressive spirit
of the organization in manner thai Is
lasting. It stands out in bold relief 10
be seen by all men, whether they be resi-
gates / could recite many instances 10
prove what / have said in this connec-
ton, were it necessary, but the facts
are patent to all. | heard some one say;
What has been accomplished IN the
past year TO warrant any such state
ments?' In reply to thdt query 1 can
say that much has been accomplished
more than Is apparent on the surface.
Since my last report we have secured
Industries that will employ, at the least
calculation, one thousand hands, and
these without the investment of one dol
lar of Scranton capital In every IN
stance it has been foreign capital
brought to our city and expended among
our people by the employment of labor
IN the erection of buildings, and for ma
terial, machinery. etc.
NOT SOLICITING STOCK.
About one year ago the manufacturers
committee submitted report to this
body, in which they said that in their
judgment II was not wise to encourage
industries to locate here who required
as an inducement, the investment of To-
cal capital in their enterprises, and sug'
gested that if financial aid was required
it be loaned on bond and mortgage. Dur.
ing the past year We have worked Cr
these lines. We have not solicited one
dollar of the stock of any enterprise
$50, 900, first mortgage, g per cent. bonds
on a plant to cost $4,000. In another In
stance certain builders agreed to take
80 per cent. Of the cost of building IN iirst
mortgage per cent. bonds, provided
they received the contract. In still an
other instance we made the same ar
rangement but since the erection of the
plant has been begun, the parties of the
first part have concluded not to issue
any bonds, preferring to pay cash.
one hundred thousand dollars lin rounC
numberS) will have been expended OF
buildings alone for manufacturing plant!
secured through the efforts of the Boart
of Trade during the past year. Thes,
constitute "A large silk mill now beinl
erected in the Tenth ward, the mali
building of which is of brick, 2S0 fee
long by 50 feet wide. two stories high
whit "a large ell for engine and boilel
room; a large silk ribbon mill which viii
be erected in the south side section o.
the city plans for which are completed
and building will commence as soon al
the weather permits; this will be fully
as large as the Tenth ward mill and viii
employ about 400 hands. A wooden mil
now being built just below the city lin,
in the borough of Taylor: this mill will
employ about POO hands. They will
manufacture woolen goods for gents
clothing. This is the first industry o
lHe KIM III IfllS section. An annex II
the Carbondale silk mill has also beer
established in this city. They occup,
three floors In the building adjoining tn
Mears' building on alley between Wash
ington and Adams avenues, and viii
employ about forty hands.
In this connection | desire to say that
in my judgment, 1t would be well to stol
and consider before encoura ging the 10
cation of any more industries enployin,
female help: at least for the present
There are (or will be when the mill
now being built and contemplated are II
full blasD about 5000 females employe,
In the city. With a population of owe
OOOOO this does not seem a very larg
number; yet l am of the opinion that L
increase the number to any large 'eXten
would not be fair TO those already loca,
ed here, who We're induced to come be
cause of the abundance of such help L
be had. / am also confident that we ca
best serve the interests Of our city b.
bringing here n diversified line of indus
tries rather than centering our interest
on one particular kind. I merely max
these suggestions hoping they may brin