The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1874-12-10
Gi)c JeHcrsoninn.
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 10. 1874.
SCRANTON.

around Scranton anu the coal regions general
". It's iiatribes were most narrowing and
ho7yifying Murders were frequent, crime
Of lesser degree run riot, and suffering even
u starvation and consequent death were
matters so coiumon that they had come to
lie looked upon as matters Of course. And
the stories we're SO straichtly told that it was
almost in possible to disbelieve them, more
especially as prominent newspaper Of
that city Of marvellous growth, gigantic
enterprises and magnificent palaces rather
not only winked at the Heralds stories, but
actually pronounced them true.
Having little business in that locality,
we took occasion on Thursday last TO visit
the third City Of the State and remained
there until FRIDAY afternoon, and during the
time gave the city and its adjuncts pretty
thorough going over. OF the general power
" of the city-the great amount Of suffering
spoken of-we saw no particular evidence.
We visited the place early IN the spring aud
summer. and Of course, by comparison,
could note any difference between then and
nov. Then nearly all the great interests
were idle, but re failed to fud any reason
Tor Suferirg E rs general thing. Indeed our
impression, from what we saw, was that
there was thrift in Scranton, even with its
toFccd illcnoSs, and that the saving habits OF
the people had secured the means to enable
them to weather over the panic pinch in com
fort and comparative plenty. Now We found
its rolling mills ami other great enterprises
in partial, if not in full blast. ana everything
showing that there was really something
doing which would stop the leak in the saw
ings, anI find the bread and comforts Of each
day by means Of The labors Of each day. But
NE found too thattheye is sQualUd poverty aad
suffering i1 Scsauton No one can doubt
the fact who otseryingly passes through its
s.--ccts
It cannot be otherwise 10 city whose
s9r.H-ipal thoroughfareS and avenues are lined
with gin-uliiis beer shops and pestiferous
hell dives. These must be supported to live,
AMI as they do live and receive their support
from class whose earnings are sadly circum-
s:riIed by the depyayed appctites, which
leads them to extend that support, it cannot
he otherwise than that those who should be
Rhe fond ones at h0uIe too often suffer the
g'augs Of neglect, disease. starvation and even
death itself, that beer and liquid damnation
luay be guzzlcd I'd Lititllm There must be
some thirty odd Of these liquor selling van-
Ijrc nests on Lackawanna Avenue alone, and
eheSe are but a 1.-THE Of all that exist in the
city. Cypher up, in high rents and the
LIVING Of the keepers, the cost OF maintaining
these whited sepulchrcs, and then think that
tic money all comes from the one 70 three
dollar !aborers and mechanics, and if you can
look for anything else than suffering and
Raut among this particular branch of these
you must be gifted with marvel |
lnns credulity indeed The suffering ofI
&ersn.onian' ; poor Is not, therefore. for want
of work-for work IS 70 be had, and dollar
spent will &c great Ways in the
purchase Of the means to sustain lilc-but It'll
lies in the sin Of the beer and liquor drinkers,
s.a1 il the greater sin Of the aimoners of the !
iav-tho Courts, the Mayor, the Aldermen,
tha Police and the better to DO citizens, who
nera,it these soul destroying pest shops to-
EXIT and thrive with impunity But these
al! wink al the evil, because the pest house
keepers are the politicians Of influence, and
10 interfere with their nefarious trade would
be 70 incur the loss OF hope for advancement
an the questionable honors Of municipal life.
And are these honors questionable? Que
cannot think otherwise when one COMES to
think of Scranton in its government, after
locking at the cause Of the suffering of its
pnor. We Do not know but that after all It's
suffering estate is its best estate compared
with its municipal estate It has Industry,
1t has thrift, it has enterprise and it hasI
wealth, but here the list of its virtues end |
According TO the speech Of its city council
men its policemen are but walking beer bar
Teis and whiskey tubs-mere protectors ofI
saloons aud frequcnters of baguios. It's Chief
Of Police is under S., 900 bonds on charge of
murder; i;s Mayor walks the streets bonded
in $500 to appear at any time to answer the
charge Of perjury; its school board is under
arrest and bond, or scudding around to avoid
arrest, on charge Of conspiriDg to rob itself
and the tax payers ofsonIe eight or nine thous-
and dollars Of school money; its hightoued
specimens Of honesty and christianity meet
to eoucoct measures TO reform the city gen
traily. and its papers charge even these with
crimes, in the same direction, fully as black
if not more &c, rs those which they attempt
10 reform. Truly gave in It's magnificent
and is outside show of thrift,
nwardly Scranton must be a very Soddom
and GomoT.ah among tie cities ofthe earth.
In view Of recent developments we cannot
say that the Herald WAS outofthe yay when
/ spoke Of Scranton s crimes and suffering,
It has really proved 70 be real picture
irawu from life Cur zeal therefore as a
defender is qucnched BY the startling eviGen-