The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-05-22

Project to Take Industries Away
from Brooklyn, N. Y.
Now that the board Of trade has been
instrumental In securing a weather
station for this city, an effort Will be
made bv them to have Scranton made
port of entry. This suggestion was
! made by Secretary Atherton last night
at the regular meeting, and 1t was
| unanimously decided to have him use
all the influence in his power in this
| direction
Secretary Atherton explained that at
| present all of the Scranton merchants
! who import goods have to import them
! through an importing house in New
| York, to whom they are obliged to pay
! a very big commission. Afiidavits must
| be certified to and numerous trips must
| be made between this city and New
/ York. thus necessitating a great ex-
! penditure of time and money.
| If this citY was made a port of en-
! try, a receiver of customs would be
| stationed here and bonded warehouse
erected. so that goods could be i'm
| ported direct. For the purpose of show
| ing just what saving this would mean,
/ he stated that, the Colliery Engineer
company imports monthly goods on
! which they must pay 5000 duty and
commissions. If Scranton were made a
| port of entry this amount would be re-
duced 5000 a month.
| He stated that thousands of dollars
worth Of goods are monthly imported
! into this city, and that all of the busi-
ness men he had approached were
greatly in favor of the plan. The board
unanimously decided to have him put
forth his best efforts to have Scranton
made port of entry, in accordance
! with his suggestion.
TRIP TO BROOKLYN.
The secretary also reported that he
had been in Brooklyn, N. Y, during
the past week and that from what he
had seen there he was convinced that
it was a golden field of endeavor for
any active board of trade desirous Of
| securing new industries. He saw one
! gentleman, who operates a factory on
| a certain "7X9 plot" as he expressed
it, penned in by high buildings, and
who employs seventy-five men. The
| factory has been in its present location
, since 1882, his father having conducted
it before him.
II spent half a day with him." said
the secretary, "and l expect to ulti-
mately land him here. l asked him
how he would feel to be located on 4
| five-acre plot, with three railroads at
hand and with an abundance of air
and light. and he replied, I'd think
was in heaven
There are 400 or 500 small manufac-
turers just like him, who are cramped
and tied up in little stuffy buildings,
and who, as far as shipping facilities
are concerned. might far better be
located in Scranton than where they
are. l believe that an earnest effort
made by this board of trade would re-
suit in the securing of a half a dozen,
or even a dozen, of diversified indus
tries for this city. We have now got
to the point when we can't go before
the people and ask them to subscribe
for stock in proposed industries. We've
got to bring industries here that are
already capitalized"
Mr.. Torhet told Of the plan which
has been adopted in number of west
ern cities of having some wealthy land
owner erect a large building capable
tries and equipping it with a steam
plant. Secretary Atherton stated that
number of Scrantonians had such a
project in mind a year or so ago, but
it had been abandoned. He had heard
however. that it was again being talk
ed up and he would endeavor to in
terest those concerned.
LEAVING NEW YORK.
William II. Logan stated that larga
number of the big cigar manufactur-
ers in New York city were leaving
there on account of labor difficulties
and were dividing up their plants be-
tween several cities. He thought that
there was a possibility of bringing
some of them here. The board finally
decided to refer the entire matter to
the manufacturers committee and the
secretary, with instructions to formu-
late some plan of campaign in the
"City Of Churches" for presentation
to the board at its next meeting. The
secretary was instructed to keep in
close touch with all the Brooklynites
he could in the meantime.
The manufactures committee pre-
sented a report on the coming visit
to the city of a large number of the
members Of the Michigan and Indiana
Retail Coal Operators association
They suggested that a special com
mittee. to consist of the following
members, be appointed to receive and
entertain the visitors: Colonel Ezra
II. Ripple, Z. +. Loomis, T. II. Wat
kins, Thomas II. Dale and George B
, Smith. All OF these gentlemen are Goa
operators and will be able to enter
tain the visitors in an appropriate
manner.
, Captain w. A. May, chairman OF tn,
manufacturers committee, reported