The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-01-22
Presidents Address.

The annual address Of President Lans-
| ing was next presented. 1t proved to
| be an extremely interesting discourse.
President Lansing said:
| Gentlemen Of the Scranton Board Of Trade and
Our Guests:
| We celebrate today the thirtyfourth anniver-
| sary of the organization OF this board And it
seems fitting at this time to refer briefly to
| the records of the past so far as they refer to
| the last half century, which covers the entire
period of our citys history. The federal census
of 1850 does not mention any postofhce or
| town by the name OF Scranton. During the
| carly iorties few courageous and aggressive
ncu had forced their way over the corderoy
| and mountain roads Of the PoCono, and estab-
| lisheJ furnace and saw mill, around which
| had sprung up a small settlement, not yet i'm.
portant enough to enjoy the convenience Of a
postoffce, place the town on the map.
| Old residents, some Of whom are living,
| tell us that the wolves wandered by night over
| the territory covered by our city; while bears
| cat the cranberries that grew in the swamp
where now stands the building we now occupy,
and county and city buildings. So late as
| twenty years ago the frogs kept up their din
| all summer on the very ground upon which the
| board of trade building now stands BY the cen.
sus of 1850 Struggling mining village, called
| Scranton, mentioned with a population of
| some 1900 people.
| In the year 1866 the city of Scranton was in.
| porated. There is no official data giving the
population at that time; but from the best
| information and opinions have been able to
Obtain, would place the population at about
| 1000 or somewhere between 10000 and $4,000
| So in the thirty.thrce years of our city's nut
| nicpal history population has increased
| since the federal census of 1850 which was the
| first census following the creation of Lackawanna
| county. from $4,000 to $4,000 people, and near.
| ly 100000 people living within twenty miles
can easily reach our city by trolley car in an
| hours time
In the year tie city OF Scranton was chartered,
| 1867. the Scranton board Of trade was organized
| many OF the earlier iles ard records however
| are lost on have been destroyed. An executive
| council was organized, with the following gem
| tlemen present: Messrs Lewis Pughe, George
| Fisher, 7. +, Hunt, G. II. Doud, F. l.. Hitch.
| cock, A. G. Gilmore, G. A. Fuller, C. W. Kirk.
patrick, J. W. Carney.
| The last five named are still living here.
| Messrs Hitchcock Carney and Fuller continuing
| to be active members OF the board A charter
| was obtained in 1871. The records name tine
| following who have held the official positions Of
president, secretary and treasurer:
| Presdents--Lews Pughe, George Fisher, c. A..
| Fuller, W. 7. Smith, Thos. II. Dale, j. A. Price,
| II. NJ Boics. William Connell, ]. VI. Kemmcrer,
| Secretdries--Messrs G. A. Fuller, Joseph Eng.
| lish, 4. G. Fuller, \. NJ. Decker r. W. Luce,
| J. H. Fisher, II. A. Kingsbury, ID. b. Athcrton.
| Treasurers- -Messrs. A. W. Dickson, James W.
Oakford, Joseph Levy. Mr.. Dickson holding the
office OF treasurer for twenty'one years,
| The Scranton board of trade has been an
| active and aggressive organization from its birth,
its sole object being to promote the commercial,
financial and industrial interests OF this city and
| section Of the state. While never using its in.
| nucnce to advance the interests Of any section,
| sect political organization, IL has stood fuI
| clean government, well paved and lighted streets.
| and everything that would tend to make ont
city aggressive commercially, and delightful an
pleasant TO live in
1t is not my purpose to say more about ~
various details which are OF interest to the mgn
hers of this board and citizens of our ci'N
These have had their proper place in the report
of your secretary. There are a few things
which | will refer 10 of interest to us all, as
bearing upon our future prosperity. The ques'
tion that is being asked by every wise and
thoughtful citizen we look back on our hall
century OF life, What of the future2 The changes
OF the last two years, the passing OF great
iron works, the absorption of the coal mines,
formerly owned by the individual operators, by
the great carrying companies,< the amalgama
tiOn OF carrying roads by larger competing COM
panies all indicate n commercial change, 70
which, il we hold marvellous growth, we
must adapt ourselves. That we will do so
have not the slightest doubt, city that has
grown threefold during the last thirty years
that is ready TO take every responsibility, the
first in the land TO proceed to clean house whcr
municipal rascality and corruption stalk ram
pant, will not be slow to see the sign Of tho
times and meet the problems that face us.
One thing | feel | must emphasize. whicl
has been strongly urged by my predecessors
in office, Messrs May and Keller aud that /,
/ the importance of investing your money in loca
manufacturing and industrial enterprises, which
is the basis upon which our future success ant
prosperity rests We have unsurpassed railroac
facilities, more abundant water supply, tho
brightest and elcarest sunlight, the best schoo
| houses, the smallest debt, the lowest tax rate
on actual valuation, and everything that goes L
make up delightful town TO live in of any city
of 100000 inhabitants in this land, and the mer
OF this generation will be equal to any task anC
responsibility that they may he called upon t,
meet
| scranton was born a colonial colony. The frs
settlers of northeastern Pennsylvania came o,e
from Connecticut and founded the county o
Westmoreland, and the legislature of Connection
promptly cut the knot Of colonial relations b,
passing bill declaring that the county o
Westmoreland entitled to equal representa-
tion in the legislature Of Connecticut We CLAIM
TO be eypansi onists-as expansionists we wer
born-as expansionists we live--and we expec
to die expansionists.