The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-12-02

since we bought the whole culm pile,
IL doubtless costs us legs.
1t was generally understood when
MIR. Scranton was running the South
steel mill, that he got the culm that
he used under his boilers for ten cents
n ton. The Board OF Trade have long
used this cheap steam producer as an
inducement TO manufacturers to To-
cate here. I do not know that culm
can be had now for ten cents q ton in
the general market. but this price was
long used by the Board of Trade and
Others as one great advantage of this
locality, and this cheapness Of our
steam production is still. and justly.
Now I reiierate that my statements
at the Board of Trade meeting were
very conservative and far within tho
limits of what the facts sustain.
The general assumption of engineers
is that pound of coal will evaporate
a gallon of water. , he Dickson Manu-
featuring company have built boilers,
which, under careful tests extending
for a week at a time, developed an
evaporatlve efficiency of 35 per cent.
greater than this.
The Scranton Gas and Water COM
pany charges 20 cents a 1000 gallons
to supply boiler which evaporates
10, 900 gallons of water per day, making
daily charge of 50 for water. The
10000 pounds of culm required to evap-
crate this 10000 gallons of waterloo
ing FIVE tons-would cost, at 10 cents
ton, just fifty cents.
FOUR TIMES AS MUCH.
Therefore, Mr.. Scranton charges Just
four times as much for his 10000
gallons of water as the coal costs
here to make 1t into steam. @. f..
n
most of the stock of one of the
most valuable water companies in the
country. 1t is altogether the closest
corporation / know about. No one but
Mr.. Scranton can find out what the
annual expenses are, or how much
revenue IL derives from water rates, or
what becomes of its profits. Its capital
is invested in a permanent plant and
in reservoirs, which should last for
ever and which there is a sure prom
Use that the rain which falleth alike on,
the just and the unjust, will keep full,
and the natural force of gravity will
distribute through the pipes to the
homes of 100 0U0 people. Probably NJ.
Scranton supplies 10000 families from
his water works. If % per cent, Of
those families in the suburbs get their
water at the single tap rate of Sc,
they pay him $4,000 per annum. If the
other $4,000 pay the usual $40 house
holders rate, it will be $300,000 per an
mum, q total for domestic use of $780,
000 averaging $3.50 per family. 1t
may be fairly assumed that the profits
of the gas and electric light business
will at least pay the running expenses
of the company. Mr.. Scranton has
grand property, certainly, whether
these figures are about right or not.
He has managed it with ability and is
entitled to what his acumen has gained
him. He gives the city an abundance
of excellent water, which is neces-
sity to it. Neither 1 nor the board of
trade have the slightest inclination to
disturb his good fortune. There is no
complaint made of his domestic house
rates to my knowledge, but all public
spirited citizens of Scranton are di-
rectly or indirectly interested to in
crease the growth of our city. This
can be most efficiently done by foster
ing the establishment of manufacturers
here.
A GREAT OBSTACLE.
The great obstacle which the board
of trade meets in it's efforts to
this end, is the high water rates to
manufacturers. We want him to aid
the board and to contribute his share
to the prosperity and growth of the
city by large reduction in these rates.
we DelleNe ne can Ildhe llllS l0uuSliph
and very greatly increase his income,
from the profits he will derive from the
use of his water. gas and electricity
by the increased population. suppose,
for instance, he had given water to
the two cotton mills, which Mr..
Henshaw cited in the board of
trade meeting which were frightened
away by the water rates, and the popu-
lation of the city had been increased
5000, or say 1000 families, he would
have increased his revenue some $16,5OO
for water, and at least $4,000 for lights
per annum. Mr.. Scranton, you have
billions of gallons of water for sale
constantly. During a large portion of
the year it is running to waste over
your dams would ii not be for your in
terest and profit to catch and sell It,
even for 9 cents a thousand, and stop
the digging of wells and erection of
reservoirs now constantly going on at
factories to economize in the use OF
your water? Although your corpora
tion is the closest kind of corpora
ton, It is nevertheless one in which
the people you serve have the greatest
interest after all, and nothing can de-
prive them of this interest or of their
power to secure such management OF
it as will be for their best interests.
If this discussion enables you to see
that your interests and those of the
public are identical in respect of water
rates to industrial establishments, il
will not have been useless to you OF
them. 1t has apparently gone so far
now that the conditions must be allevi-
ated either by you or the public.
II. NJ. Boies.
Scranton, Pa, Nov 80, 1899.
ANSWER TO THE SECOND.
p. S.-Since sending an uncorrected
copy of the above to the evening papers
have read in the Times Of Dec. /, Mr..
Scranton's second very remarkable ef-
fusion, but it does not appear to me to
require any further notice, except to
suggest that he now send the 81 900 to
the Home. II. NJ Boies.
Dec. /, 1899.
FUNERAL OF CRAIG FAMILY.