The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-04-28
Patience Exhausted.

We are confiden, that we voice the
judgment of an overwhelming major
ity of the responsible business men
and taxpayers Of Scranton-the men
who drive or who have driving or car
tagc done for them-when we denounce
as petty and contemplate the whole
course of the opponents of the asl matt
repair cuntrar; entered into last fall
between the city and the Barber AS
phalt Paving company.
Here was an open business PROPOSE
tion upon which he city invited bids
and got them. letting the contract to
the lowest responsible bidder. The fig
urp--$i,.i00 year for ten years-was
low figure in comparison with the
cost Of similar repair work in other
cities, and that the accusations 20 the
contrary have been ignOrantly or will
fully false can he proved by the re-
cords # any disintcrrsted city or con-
sulting engineer iu the country. AT
this pric" the city was assured an inn
mediate beginning of the repairs and
a steady continuation of the work for
the entire period of the contract. I'm
der the terms of that contract, not
only was the company bound in law
TO keep th" streets i'm good repair but
1t was also bound by self-interest to
repair rvory break or crack as quickly
as discovered. since the sooner this
was don" the less resurfacing would
he required Of it, 1t and the city
both stood to gain from promptness.
Had this fair business proposition
been duly ratified after its terms were
officially accepted by the city; had not
intrigue and jealousy set to work to
put obstacles in the way, not by meet
ing argument with argument, fairly
and in the open. but by distortion
Of facts, appeals to public prejudice.
shouts to the galleries and buncombe
suggestions of impractcable substi
tules. the streets would by this time
have been we'll along toward adequate
recovery, travel would be growing SAT-
er and more comfortable instead of
more dangerous every day; me wear
and tear on horse flesh and vehicles
would be decreasing, wheelmen would
be receiving benefit instead of running
increasing risks Of injury and the
City's general aspect as presented to
the casual visitor would be incalculably
enhanced
The only result of all this fooling
around has been to iniict upon the
drivers of Scranton and those depen-
dent upon them six months of un-
necessary Inconvenience, risk and eX-
pense. We are ready to leave it to
vote among those who use the streets
of the city whether they have not lost
more than &lI50O in the aggregate for
every six months of the abominable
conditions of haulage and vehicular
travel now prevalent in our principal
business streets. If they do not say
that $1,000 is a cheap price to pay per
annum for the guaranteed repair of
these streets during a ten year period
in which counCns will be unable by job
berry, dilly dallying or ridiculous ineffi-
cheney 10 prevent prompt and busi-
ness-like correction Of every defect in
the pavement, then we stand ready to
give up our contention and turn in
for the sand and ashes plan of fooling
with this vital matter.
No wonder the business interests of
the city are threatening to call town
meetings to right this monstrous in
stance of misgovernment.