The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1867-09-05
Scranton in 1867.

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on the past growth and present rank o
Scranton, among the cities of the country
might not be amiss to the many reader,
of the Je6iersonian, take this opportu
nifty to give few details as to this mos
fourishing city of Northern or Eastern
Pennsylvania
A century ago, where now stands g
city, teeming with busy thousands, all
eagerly engaged in wrenching from the
bowels of the earth fortune which only
the black diamond" in the hands of a
successful operator can give, was undis.
turbed save by the stealthy step of the
native savage, or bounding steps of the
hunted deer The settlers far distant
from the, at that time comparatively un-
known, valleys of the Lackawaxen and
Wyoming regions, little dreamt Of the
untold wealth contained under the smil-
ing fields and sparkling rivulets of those
now historical parts of the country, a
source of wealth that is excelled nowhere
in the world. The first of these mines
were opened some twenty-five years ago,
and since that time millions of tons have
been extracted, and yet the production
is capable of being trebled. The celebra-
ted Diamond vein which first begins to
be worked at Nanticoke, and has an ave-
rage thickness of % feet, gradually de-
creases in size, till at Scranton, a distance
of forty eight miles, it is only eight feet
thick. The Lackawanna Iron and Coal
haua nj avoluoiva ooptrOl
of this valuable branch of the anthracite
coal, from which they extract an enor-
nous quantity of coal some one mil
lion tons annually.
The city of Scranton is a thriving
place of 45, 600 inhabitants, and is COM
posed of Scranton proper, and what used
to be the borough of Hyde Park and Pro
vidence, and contains within its limits
six square miles. 1t is destined to be
one of the largest cities of the country,
and now offers unequaled inducements
to the laboring men of all classes. With
its numerous coal mines, machine shops,
and foundries, it gives the poor man an
opportunity to secure competency,
which few would hesitate to avail them
selves Of
In the early part of 1866, some enter
prising and influential men of this SEQ
ton, pcrceiving the enlarged influence
which Scranton as city would have on the
commercial interests Of Pennsylvania, and
more especially this portion of the State,
sent petition to the Legislature solicit
ing city charter, which, being headed
by the names of the most powerful men of
this section, had no difficulty in procuring
passage. The city government is vest
ed in Mayor as the executive, and the
select and common councils as the legis-
lative branch. The Select Council is the
law, all laws are made by them and ap-
proved and executed by the Mayor, with
whom the majority of the councils are
decidedly at " swords points" Great i'm
provements are now being made in the
principal streets by the introduction of
two street railways and the paving of the
streets, which will have the effect of ad-
ding greatly to the appearance of the
city. The greatest need now is the light
ing of the streets by gas, some thing
which should not be delayed.
OF the many institutions of Scranton,
the Delaware, Lackawanna 4 Western
Railroad is the most important and de-
serves the most notice. For a careful,
judicious, and economical expenditure of
the company's money in times of panic
and dullness in trade, and an advanta-
geous use Of the same in times of pros
perity, the company are indebted to-
John Brisbin, gentleman of unques-
toned ability, sterling worth, and strict
est integrity, under whose administration
the company has advanced in wealth and
prosperity in degree to which no pre-
cedent is offered. The company control
an unbroken line of railroad communica-
tion of some $50 miles in length, and
does an amount of business which is ex
ceeded by none in the country. Their road
is marvel of engineering skill, winding
around the towering cliffs, across deep
ravines, and through hills, while the
scenery must be seen to be appreciated.
The person who seeks after real pleasure
need not go to Sarotoga, Newport, or
Cape May to find it, but has only to take
the cars on the New Jersey Central from
New York, or the North Pennsylvania
from Philadelphia or any intermediate
point, and after ride of four or FIVE
hours on the Delaware, Lackawanna &
Western r. r., be set down in some
little nook along their line, where, with
the rod and fowling piece, he can capture
the finest trout, or bag" the plumpest
game of any where in the State, and
" rusticate" in the full sense of the word
This company has the most commodious
and comfortable cars in the country, while
the employees are always courteous and
obliging. No where else can be found
larger or heavier locomotives nearly all
weighing from forty to sixty tons. They
have two commodious round houses, the
largest being used for slowing the coal
burners, Of which twenty-one can be
housed, while the smallest contain those
that hurn wood These fooether with