The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-08-04

ages TO It's character is TOO INQUEST ny
far. 1t should have sued for O. mil
lion.
Street Car Facilities to Nay Aug
Where a difference exists between
reasonable men, very often 1t can be
settled by a little mutual concession.
\ difference now exists between the
city of Scranton as represented by the
mayor and the Scranton hallway com
pany over the right OF the latter to
build an extension which will enable
it to furnish suitable accommodations
for the multitudes who in summer
time frequent Nay Aug park. The
company claims the right to build this
loop line by virtue of grant made to
it by the Lackawanna Iron and Coal
company which still holds the title
deeds to the streets that are affected.
The city in the person Of the mayor
claims the right to prevent the COM
pany from building the loop because
of the expiration of its municipal
franchise. The mayor let the company
go on until it had almost completed
the line and then suddenly interVened.
There the matter stands.
On the legal side an issue is present.
ed involving good opportunities for
argument both pro and con. 1t is ap-
parently true that the Valley Passen"
ger franchise under which the right
to use Mulberry and Olive streets and
Arthur avenue was conceded for two
years no longer holds good so far as
the unoccupied portions Of these
streets are concerned. On the other
hand, the fact that the portions in
question are not yet city property hut
remain the property of the Iron and
Coal company seems to give standing
to the Railway company's claim that
it has from the Iron and Coal COM
pany a valid right of way. We do not
pretend to know enough about law to
figure out the legal solution OF these
conflicting problems, but it is evident
that if the issue is sent into the courts
for determination no settlement viii
be reached this year and maybe none
until too late to affect the parl;Ward
would be tearing each others argu-
ments to pieces the great majority Of
Scrantonans wishing to go to the
park would have to take chances on
the present utterly inadequate car SER
vice or would have to walk. Incl
dentally all persons residing nea" the
park, who when they purchased lots
Cd af
car facilities on the strength of the
Iron and Coal comparys agreement
with the Traction company, would be
forced to endure for an indefinite time
ar inconvenience already too long pro-
longcd.
This being true, why should not the
city and the street railway company
come together and harmonize their'
differences? The city wants good car
facilities to and from the park; so
does the company. If the city objects
to giving a franchise away, or to re-
newing a Cancelled one without a con-
sideration, why should not the com
pany, even though holding a private
right of way, offer as an equivalent for
the lifting of the city's embargo a
certain stated yearly sum, or a per-
centage on park fares, or both, to be
contributed with the understanding
that it must be applied to improving
the park and helping to make it at
tractive to the people? This would
be a good business policy in any event
We realize that the company feels
that it was not fairly treated by the
city when it was allowed to spend a
large sum on the proposed extension
before the city interVened; from the
company's standpoint this undoubted-
ly saVors of injustice, since the com
pany claims that it's right of way Is
valid in spite Of the lapsing of the
franchise; but there is a third factor
to be considered, namely, public con-
venience; and to facilitate this both
company and mayor ought to be will
ing to make concessions.
A special reason why this matter
ought 10 be adjusted in some way
within the next few weeks consists OF
the fact that when the firemen anG
letter carriers hold their conventions
in this city in the fall there win be
an unusual necessity for prompt and
adequate car facilities to and from
the park. If these are to be provided
work must not be longer deferred.