The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-05-21

Scranton FOR the manufacture Of rubber in al,
its branches. Some two years ago this matter
was brought to the attention Of the committee,
and Mr. icnwood Of the committee went to 1ren.
ton ard investigated the proposition. From his
report at that time and from what we have been
able to learn since We do not hesitate to rec.
oninend the proposition to investors.
The plant when in operation will employ one
hundred and fifty men; will manufacture ihice
hundred thousand dollars worth OF product per
year, and is what we consider very desirable
industry for scranton. We don't care to go into
details or give names Of par,ie. Interested At
present, hut full particulars can he had from
the secretary, Al. VI which is respectfully sib.
mitted ". 4 May, Chairman.
Colonel i. l.. Hitchcock, Of the
streets and highways committee. then
submitted report on the street rail-
way company's ordinance now in coun-
ellis. 1T provided for certain import
ant changes, but on the whole favored
the ordinance. and was as follows:
Gcntlcmcn: Your committee on streets aud
highways having had under consideration tile OF
select council, No. I. whirh ordinance auihotAes
thc Central Rapid Transit Railway company TO
lay tracks. ctc., report that we are OF opinion
that such franchise should he granted TO this
company. We believe that the city should
receive a Just compensation for oil ranchsrs
granted TO corporations Of this character We
would therefore recommend:
stTo strike out the words. "or vitlihtd
brick wherever it appears in the ordinance, as
we believe tina. the company should pave be-
tween their tracks, and at least twelve inches
on either side of the track with the same ma.
tetial that the street is paved with.
Second That section he amended to read
as follows: Tile company hereby agrees TO pay a
TAX on its gross receipts in consideration of the
granting OF this franchise. AZ follows:
Commencing one yeat after the conmencppicnt
OF actual operation, | per cent. and increasing
each year thereafter, per cent, until per
cent, oi the gross receipts is annual, paid,whioh
shall continue as long rs this franchise exists
We believe that competition III street railway
services in this city will bc OF lasting benefit TO
the citizens. and wc therefore respectfully urge
upon councils the Importance of speedily grant
ing TO the said Central Rapid Transit company
the right 10 lay tracks within the city limits
as per file al selec, council, No. :. with amend.
mcn's As suggested, all OF which is submitted,
+. T.. Hitchcock. Chairman.
7. II. Dale moved the acceptance OF
the report. and the motion was sec
onded, but MI liowarth was immedi-
ately on his feet with the following
amendment.
Whereas, There IS pending in The city councils
of scran,nn an ordinance allowing the laying OF
street ear tracks on Wyoming aveniir from the
central city TO Green Ridge. and
Whereas. OF the Ave principal avenues leading
north. -four are alrcsd, occupied by car tracks
and overhead wires. namely. Main Capousa.
Washington and Madison avenues: therefore bn it
Resolved. BY the Scranton board OF trade, that
II is intxpedicnt to place tracks on Wyoming
ann. ct
that al least one of the avenues be kept open
and unohstructe,i. Other cities have taken great
pride in maintaining such iholonshiarcs aud have
found il expe,licut T." spend large sums Of money
IN opening them when ohStnsc,ed. Wyoming
avenue. as now opened. is calculated to play
al important part in the development Of scranton
as city of homes az well a. a center OF trade
and industry, and should be lcft free and unOb-
structsd
The present need of scranton is no, more miles
OF street car tracks, bUt the better use OF what
il already has. in the way Of better time schcd
ul"s and Il more perfect equipment.
Resolved. That respectfully urge tn" city
councils not Ia grant the franchise now asked.
Chairman Keller shook his head Ciu-
biouSly and on Mr.. Dale'S protesting
that the amendment was out of order
the chairman ruled that il was not
tirely changed thu purpose Of the or
isinal report Colonel Hitchcock then
arose and briefly stated for the com
mit'ea that they had not paid par,icu-
lar attention to the matter of opening
Nyomin" avenue. but had generally
considered the ad"iSability Of encour-
aging street railway conditions. Mr..
iloWalth here withdrew his amend
a M,
favor Of the recommendation of the
committee.
\ general discussion followed ana
arguments pro ani con ensued fast
and furious with AIl. Dale. ey-city
solicitor James II. Torrey. Reese G.
Brooks and others stoutly champions
Inc the new company.
Colonel l.. \. Watres amended the
original motion by an additional
clause. providing: that nn tracts he
lald on Wyoming avenue as it now is
or on amy further extensions. He de-
cla'ed he was in sympathy with those
"blpctinS TO the operins of the avenue.
Wh"reat Reese q. Brooks declared en-
practically that il was absolutely inn
possible to conner; Green Ridge with
the centra! city in any other way. anu
OBJECTIONS |" The opening of the ave-
nua came with bad grace.
&. q. Boiand ;e"ialed himself
heartily in favor of the franchise if
possible To pass it without inj,mine
other interests or destroying the at
'idctirenesS of Wyoming avenue.
Moreover he declared. that as one of
S"ranion's business concerns opposed
the granting of the franchise their oh
lection should be taken into con-
sideration VI" moved tha, the mat
ter be recommitted to the committee.
His motion was killed at the time but
later passed in an amended form.
Mr.. Torrey caused big laugh. short
~ after his, by amending Colonel
Walr"S' suggestion eliminating the
laying of track on Wyoming avenue.
with the clause ''if ii is practicable 10
Sc"ur" any other route" His motion
was defeated, and remarks for and
against the original resolution then
followed, in which W. W. Watson
"hampioned the new company. AMI Mr..
kcmmerer, Nr Smoo,. w. H. TAYLOR
and others participated.
Th" last named finally amended Mr..
Roland'S motion 10 Seni tn matter
back 10 the committee by proposing il
he reported upon at a special meeting.
and lhis motion Was passed. Secre-
tary Atherton then read "A commune
cation from General Superintendent
s'il'man, of the scranton Railway COM
pany. regarding the Nal wheel car
question, lie expressed his regrets at
the conditions which necessitate the
use of these cars, and stated that he
twe"r February and May -, one hun
dr"d and ffty-three Tew pairs OF
wheels had been put under cars. New
ShnnS ahn Ia he hllilI Inrinn, lha Snn,