The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-11-20

| in good standing was a mighty poor
| showing for city OF 100000 inhabi-
| tants. 1t was pointed out that the
| Scranton Board of Trade is one of the
| oldest commercial bodies in the United
| States, and that 1t has always done
and Is still doing yeoman service for
| the city.
The necessity of increasing the
membership to at least 400 was
brought up. and 1t was pointed out
that with such a membership 1t would
be possible to reduce the annual dues
from s25 to si2 a year, and still re-
tain the present revenue of $4,000 u
year. Some of the members thought
that 800 members was a sufficient
number. and others were not in favor
OF reducing the dues even IL the mem-
bership was increased.
"a sort of inertia seems to have
come over the members of this board
and the people of this city," said Col.
Hitchcock. I'VE must remember that
we are living in a strenuous age. The
business men of this city should real
ize that belonging to this board and
taking an interest lin it's meetings
means dollars and cents to them"
Luther Keller thought that "section-
alism" prevented an increase in the
membership. I'VE are cursed with sec
tionalism in this city," said he. "There
should be but one board of trade. The
West Scranton board of trade ought
to come in with us. They are working
only for one section. while we are
working for the whole city. I'm not
in favor of the present viaduct plan,
but know that the credit for it's sue
cess Is largely due to this board of
trade. The West Scranton board did
lot of talking, but nothing definite
was done until we took hold. They
have been hammering away about u
viaduct for years. but they didn't ac-
complsh anything"
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE.
1t was finally decided to refer the re-
port back to the committee, with power
to formulate some plan for increasing
the membership before the annual
meeting in January and to act on this
plan.
1t was unanimously decided to hold
a. banquet on the occasion of the an
nual meeting, and all arrangements for
this affair We're referred to the regular
banquet committee. 1t was announced
that President Lansing is already in
communication with President Schur-
man, of Cornell university, head of the
Philippine commission, with the view
of having him as the speaker on that
occason.
A resolution was adopted commend
ing the prison board for employing the
county Jail prisoners on the roads
throughout the county and expressing
the hope that the work would be con-
tinued until the present disgraceful
condition of many Of the roads is i'm
proved.
A. B. Dunning, jr., who was the
boards delegate to the recent conven-
ton of the National Municipal league
held in Milwaukee, reported that there
was a strong probability of the next
convention of this organization being
held in Scranton this coming spring.
The matter of selecting Il convention
city was left in the hands of the eX-
ecutive committee and this committee
was favorable to Scranton, Mr.. Dun
ming said. He was accordingly in
structed to tender an invitation to the
committee on behalf of the board.
Secretary Atherton made the follow
ing encouraging verbal report regard
ing the prospective establishment of an
industry in this city:
I have the pleasure to again report the prob.
able location OF a very desirable industry. Ne
gotiations have been pending since last spring
and they are so far cOnsummated that an oicr
has been made, by the parties in interest, for
site of four and oneIhrd acres situated within
the city limits, and have every assurance that
the offer will be accepted. A meeting will he
held this week that will decide the matter def.
ntcly This is an old established concern, highly
rated They will employ at least 100 men from
the start, most of whom will be skilled mcchaD~
les, and they will invest in their plant and
machinery about Sl25,OO0. Full details will be
made public as soon as final negotiations are
completed, but ! am not at liberty to tivulge
Just now the exact nature Of this industry.
LUNCH SERVED.
At the conclusion of the meeting,
which was especially well attended, a
delicious lunch was served III one of
the committee rooms by Caterer Han
ley.
A pleasant half-hour was spent in
social intercourse by the members as
they discussed the dainty viands.