The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-01-17

modern and extensive plants of it's
kind in the United States
Mr., Valentine Iliss, who located a
silk mill in this City some two years
ago, is now erecting n new plant just
above the city line at Dickson City.
The Dickson Manufacturing company
have also largely increased their ca
pacity by installing new and improved
machinery.
Messrs. Levy Bros. who at the time
of my 1897 report We're about to COM
mence the erection of a silk ribbon fac
tory on the South Side (and which l
took occasion 20 note at that time)
were compened TO abandon the project
Just as building operations We're about
to begin, owing to a disagreement
among themselves, which ultimately
resulted in a dissolution of the part
nership existing between them.
The wooden mill, which was COM
peted early in the year at Taylor, has
since been changed into silk mill and
is now being successfully operated as
such by a stock company composed OF
Taylor and Scranton capitalists.
For the first time since my secretary
ship of the Board of Trade | am COM
PEELED to report the loss of fully es-
tablished industry. The Collins Hale
Manufacturing company Will, on the
first of February move their machinery
to our neighboring city, Wilkes Barre.
The reason for the change in the lOCa-
tiOn iS, l am Informed, due to a misun-
derstanulng between the president, Mr..
Van Dyke, and other stockholders of
the concern. You may recall through
reports Of our court proceedings that
charges and COunter-ChaTges We're
maCo the cases tried and finally dis
posed of, which resulted, however, in
Mr.. Van Dyke transferring his stock in
the company TO Wilkes-B Barre capital
lists and the proposed removal of the
plant to that city. While the loss of
this industry, which the board of trade
was instrumental in securing, is to he
regretted, yet it is one Of those matters
that cannot be adjusted by outside in
reference.
BOARD NOT IDLE.
While very little was accomplished
by the Board of Trade during the past
year in the way of securing new indus-
| tries, the organization was by no means
| idle. Ten well attended and interest
/ ing meetings were held and many im-
portant questions discussed, and no
doubt much that will tend to the well
| fare of the city was accomplished.
! Notably among the questions discussed
was that of a reduction of water rates
! to manufacturers. This subject is still
| q serious obstacle TO our industrial ad-
vancement. The high water charge 10
manufacturers COunleiaClS our Cneap
| fuel proposition and is doing much to
| retard our industrial growth While
some slight reductions in rates TO
manufacturers We're made late in 1897
| they are still much too high; and ii
would seem to be to the mutual adVan-
| tage of both the water company and
| the manufacturers that rates be so re-
duced that industries employing large
numbers of men might be induced to
| locate here, thereby increasing the do
mestic consumption of water.
The repair Of our asphalt streets was
much discussed during the year; moth
| ing was accomplished, however, more
| than filling up the holes with loose
stone and shale, waiting for councils
to pass the necessary legislation. With
in the past sixty days, through the en-
ergy of our honored president, an or
| dinance has been passed providing for
the repair of all asphalt streets and
maintaining them for a term of ten
years at a specified sum per- year. This
was the scheme proposed by the Board
of Trade at its September meeting.