The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-03-28


The question of street repairs, which
is again before councils, should be con-
sidered strictly as a business proposi-
tion, without favoritism or bias. What
are the facts?
For two years or more the asphalt
streets have received practically ne
attention whatever so far as effective
repairs are concerned. Driving over
them today is not only uncomfortable
but also dangerous. Every day of neg
lect adds 20 the danger and adds To
the cost of repairing when repairing
is undertaken. \ proposition is before
the city in the form of an acccpta1
contract to repair all asphalt GU. OF
bond FOR period If ten years at a
rate Of Sl7,jo0 year. Those opposed
so carrying out this contract propose
as an alternative that the city build
plant Of its own and do the repairing
itself. Their proposition comes scrle-
what tardily after the other plan has
been adopted and ratified, but never
theless let MS examine into its merits
and see whether, even if il could now
be put into execution, it would b" Il
judicious business investment.
To resurface Washington, Penn, ca
pousc, Lacka wanna and West Lacka-
wanna avenues and Linden street, as
will have to he done in either case.
will, VIC are reliably informed, cost not
less than 100000. and possibly 100000
If the city undertakes this by means
OF plant Of its own il will have to
borrow the money and create a sinking
fund until the loan is repaid, With
10 per cent. sinking fund ard a per
cent. interest rate we should have to
raise each year. on the $4,000 estimate,
Sl2 500; or on the 100000 estimate, $l4,-
OOG. About l6O,O 900 yards or other pave,
some yet i'm bond will remain to be
provided for. The lowest annual rate
per yard for repairs on record ia over
cents. and the rate in some cities is
as high as 30 cents. the average fot the
principal American and European cit
les hcing about II cents. In Birming-
ham, England the model city, Council
man Lansing found that the cost var
led from II TO IS cents. But even at
cents this in n short time, as soon as
the remaining pave is out OF bond,
would add $4,000 q year to the Sl2,6oo
10 $l4 900 mentioned above. bringing the
yearly cost of the city repair plant
project from $500 TO S5,1O0 in excess
of the figure specified In the existing
contract The interest charge i'm this
4
with the annual accumulation of sink
ing fund but not enough to bridge the
discrepancy SO as to present an argu-
mont on the score of economy.
In other words, at the very lowest
calculation. for the city to undertake
his work on it's own hook, assuming
that il could manage the task as eco
nomically and efficiently as a private
firm or corporation skilled in the busi-
ness, would cost, on a ten-Near basis,
more a year than the lowest bid re-
ceived from private enterprise But it
is notorious that in cities like Scran-
ton public works are conducted eX-
travagantly as compared with private
enterprise. Politics, jobbery, pull and
hunglinG incompetence all have to be
reckoned as factors in the equation. 1t
would not be out of joint with the eX-
perienCe in other cities if a city repair
plant in Scranton should cost twice as
much as private enterprise doing the
same work.
These are facts to he considered, not
in passion or i'm prejudice. but mathe-
matiCally. The property-Ow Of
Scranton have been assessed $3.50. 900
for asphalt streets and they have paid
I'm this great sum upon the understand
ing that the city would for its part
keep the paved streets in good repair.
The city at this time is not living up
TO its contract. Notwithstanding that at
the SlI5O0 rate the cost of repairs would
he less than 3ia per cent. on the orig
inal investment When the volume of
traffic on these main-traveed thor.
oughfares is taken into account and
due allowance Is made for the economy
I'm travel when the streets are in good
repair, the sum asked for repairs under
the contract now in existence is neither
large nor unreasonable. 1t is the cheap
est price yet revealed and unless a bet
ter bargain is soon forthcoming the
dilly-dallyinG should cease and the
work Of repairs be authorized forth
with.