1958 Wilkes-Barre Record Almanac
Luzerne County in 1957


	Economic picture in Luzerne County during 1957 was about the same as in 1956. Greater Wilkes-Barre Industrial Fund, Incorporated, attracted one new industry and several other firms expanded but closing of several mines resulted in a net loss of employment at the end of the year.
	At year’s end Metropolitan Wire Goods Corporation had completed its $800,000 plant in Parsons and was beginning to get its operation under way with a potential of 150 jobs. Expansions were also noted at King Fifth Wheel Company, Air Products Corporation and Faith Shoe Company, resulting in additional employment for about 100.
	Demand for anthracite slackened, due principally to warm weather during the spring months, and also as a result of inroads made by competitive fuels, natural gas and oil.  At the year’s end there were approximately 13,300 men employed in the mines in the county, a drop of about 2,500 from the year before.
	There were approximately 122,000 employed at the year’s end, a drop of about 700.  Approximately 15,000 men and women in the Wilkes-Barre labor market were unemployed at the beginning of the year and an estimated 14,500 were out of work at year’s end.
	The new Republican regime, headed by J. Bowden Northrup and T. Newell Wood continued control at the courthouse and changed a large number of employees during the year. They dropped at least 50 from the payroll in line with recommendation of Pennsylvania Economy League.
	County commissioners adopted a budget of $4,524,339, an increase of $323,188 over 1956, to operate the county government during the year.  Part of the increase was earmarked for cost of construction of a new terminal building at Wilkes-Barre – Scranton Airport. Commissioners retained a tax levy of 9.7 mills, same as 1956.
	Luzerne County Institutional District floated a $4,500,000 bond issue for construction of a 350-bed county home for aged, indigent and infirm on an 80-acre plot along East End Boulevard adjacent to Veterans Hospital.  Construction was expected to get under way in early 1958.  
	Ground-breaking ceremony for new $850,000 terminal building at the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Airport was held July 23.
	Commissioners also floated a $1,000,000 bond issue to finance the reassessment and tax equalization program which started in late 1956. The program will require two years to complete.
	For the third straight year no new contracts for local major highway improvements were awarded by the state Highways Department. Final section of the $250-million Northeastern Pennsylvania Turnpike Extension was thrown open to traffic between Wyoming Valley Interchange and Scranton Interchange on November 7.
	County commissioners created a nine member Luzerne County Planning commission to integrate plans for the future development of the county.





SUPREME COURT OF  U. S.

  Chief Justice – Earl Warren, 66, California, appointed 1953 (Eisenhower) 		Salary $35,000.

   Associate Justices – Hugo Lafayette Black, 71, Alabama, 1937 (Roosevelt); Felix Frankfurter, 74, Massachusetts, 1939 (Roosevelt); Harold Hitz Burton, 69, Ohio, 1945 (Truman); Tom C. Clark, 58, Texas, 1949 (Truman); John Marshall Harlan, 58, New York, 1954 (Eisenhower); Charles Evans Whittaker, 56, Missouri, 1957 (Eisenhower). Appointed for life. Salaries $35,000.  Court holds annual sessions in Washington commencing the first Monday in October.  Retired associated justices: Stanley F. Reed, 72, Kentucky, 1938 (Roosevelt); Sherman Minton, 67, Indiana, 1949 (Truman).
	
MAYOR – Luther M. Kniffen (R). Salary $7,000. Term expires January, 1960. Robert J. Williams, secretary to mayor, $4,300. Clerk, Mrs. Josephine Rimmer, $2,250.
	
COUNCILMEN – Mrs. Ethel A. Price (R) and William D. Jones (R), terms expire January, 1962; Frank A. Goeckel (R) and J. Harry May (R), terms expire January 1960. Salaries $6,000. Council meets first and third Tuesdays of the month at 10 a. m.

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS:  Mayor Luther M. Kniffen, director. Has charge of mayor’s office; Bureau of Law which includes a city solicitor (Peter Paul Olzewski $4,750) and a stenographer (Mrs. Ruth Cole, $2,850); Bureau of Police which includes a chief (J. Russell Taylor, $5,582), a captain of traffic (Christian J. Rigoni, $4,502), a captain of detectives (Joseph Murray, $4,502), a clerk of police (Joseph Dzenis $3,889) a clerk of police records (John Gainard, $3,940), stenographer and clerk (George Williamson, $2,870); six sergeants (Joseph Austin, Charles Morgan, Albert Clocker, Harry Williams, John Kenworthy and Molwyn Williams , $4,070 each); eight detectives (William Schwab, Douglas Bart, Raymond Mayer, John Martin, Peter Roche, John Dunn, Francis Kreig, Gwillym Amos, $4,016 each); 70 patrolmen (Grade A $3,807.50 each); (Grade B, $3,554 each); Grade C, $3,334 each); three chauffeurs $3,807.50 each); one chauffeur and special traffic man, $4,070); one parking meter repairman, $3,807.50; one mechanic $3,999; one matron, $2,963; 14 special school guards at $5.50 a day each; Bureau of  Weights and Measures which includes the Sealer (Clyde Kintzer $4,007).

		Appointments to the Police Department are made by City Council from a list of candidates who passed Civil Service examinations. City solicitor handles all legal matters, advises City Council in preparation of ordinances and resolutions, files liens against delinquent taxpayers who won property, and takes care of all other matters with legal aspects.  Bureau of Police maintains a 100-Watt radio station. Five cruiser cars equipped with two-way radio and telephones and manned by patrolmen over the city.









DEPARTMENT OF ACCOUNTS AND FINANCE: J. Harry May, director. Has a deputy (Raymond S. Davis, ($4,300); bookkeeper (Mary C. Mullen ($3,790),; clerk-stenographer (Mrs. Marguerite M. Doyle, $3,570); Bureau of City Clerk, which includes the city clerk (Robert S. Foote $4,250); assistant, (Peter L. Vanchure, $3,450); Bureau of Tax Assessment with the city assessor (C. Edward Tite, $5,046) and three assistant assessors (Thomas Thomas, Andrew Tershak and Anthony Kilgallon $3,999 each); a clerk-stenographer (Marianne Curley, $2,632); Bureau of supplies with an assistant purchasing agent (David Thomas, $3,670). The director of accounts and finances keeps account of all vouchers, bills, expenditures, receipts and financial matters in general.  He also prepares a tentative budget after receiving estimates from all departments of their needs for the coming fiscal year and submits the budget to Council for approval.  He also recommends the tax rate which is computed on the potential need for the coming fiscal year and fixed by council. City assessor handles all assessment problems which are not required to go before Council, sitting as a Board of Revision of Taxes and Appeals. Personal assessment is made every year, property assessment every three years.

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY:  William D Jones, director. Has a chief clerk (William J. Poad, $4,176); clerk-stenographers (Mary Kostrzhwski, $2,632); Bureau of Public Property with general utility man (Joseph Pienta, $3,657); assistant utility man (Stephen Unvarsky, $3,247); janitor-watchman (Charles Grunden,  $3,247); elevator operator (William Lewis, $3,247); two janitresses for City Hall (Sophia J Donaldson, Anna Jones $2,482 each); one janitor for City Hall (Joseph Norsavage, $2,482); janitor for Police Station ( Henry Mitchell, $3,247) two janitresses for public comfort station (Josephine Davenport, Celia White, $2,775 each) ; two janitors for public comfort station (John Pahler, Joseph Kroll, $3,135 each); Bureau of Building Inspection with building inspector (Ellis Owen, $4,781); assistant building and plumbing inspector (Carl Kratz, $4,340); electrical inspector (Wilfred Johns, $3,723); and a clerk (Lewis Harris $3,560); Bureau of Fire with a chief engineer (Ambrose Saricks. $5,582); two assistants (Jacob Lauer and Edward Jacobson,  $4,514 each); 26 captains at $4,018 each ; 86 firemen (Grade A, $3,807.50 each); (Grade B, $3,554 each) ; (Grade C, $3,334 each); Bureau of Fire and Police Signal System with four switchboard operators (Margaret Warner, Rena Mann, Catherine Heiser and Ruth Jump, $2,632 each); Bureau of Electricity with Superintendant of Electricity – part time (John J. Alles, $5,168); assistant superintendent of electricity (William Tosline, $4,050); lineman, (Norman Jones $3,650).
Transcribed by Peg Shultz, 20 Jan 2009