The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1875-06-17
GAS AND WATER.

act was passed authorizing and empowering
the Burgess and Town Council in each of
the several boroughs throughout the State
tn levy and collect an additional tax for
the purpose of providing their respective
boroughs with gas and water, such tax
not to exceed, however, eight mills on
the dollar of the assessed valuation; pro-
vidcd that previous to the exercise of such
powers majority of the town council ofsuch
borough at regular meeting should approve
and accept the same, and at such meeting
appoint a time for holding special election
by the people, at which time the legal voters
of the borough should vote for the adoption
or rejection of this act The full text of the
act will be found in another column of our
present number. At the last monthly meet
ing our borough fathers after due considera-
ton approved and accepted the provisions of
this act, and Saturday, the Goth day June,
was appointed the day when the legal voters
of the borough shall decide the question
whether Stroudsburg shall continue the
Erebus Of the past month, or be so metamor-
phosed that such Of its citizens as are called
to be upon its streets in the late evening may
pursue their way without constant cause of
apprehension whether we shall continue
momentarily to run the risk of seeing our
beautiful village thcpr of devouring flames,
or rest in assurance of safety. Our town
council have done all they can do towards
the success of this undertaking, for which
they merit the hearty thanks ofevery citizen.
They have zealously put their shoulders to
the wheel of ofimprovement and impeled it to
the limit of their power. The responsibility
now devolves upon us, the legal voters of
the borough Of Stroudsburg, and let US on
the 26th of this month convince our neigh
lors that the niggardly notions Of Monroe
county evidenced by our Court House and
county buildings are not the fault of that
particular portion of it occupied by our little
borough and that we will not be bound to the
last century by our location and relationship
There is not an inhabitant of Stroudsburg to
whom Its pleasant streets and beautiful sur
foundings are not matter of pride, and
with what favor they are regarded by peo-
pie abroad our summer hotels forcibiy attest
Looking at it in pecuniary light alone
what vast benefit the citizens of fStroudSburg
and vicinity derive every year from this re-
gard. Every convenience, every improve
ment we introduce tends to make our local
ity more popular. What profit may be to
Us from the energetic enterprise of single
Individual in our community will, if we mis-
take not, ere many months roll around be
most impressively and satisfactorily demon
strated to US. What enjoyment the younger
class of our summer visitors may experience
promenading the gloomy blackness of our
streets Is conundrum we do not attempt to
answer, but we do declare it to be shame
for town like this to compel its residents,
permanent and temporary, to stumble along
Its pavements enveloped in the dense obscur-
ity we have suffered for the past few weeks,
and not only dense, but dangerous, as one
serious accident bears witness. More than
this, what place on the surface of the globe
offers more attractions beftting perfect
rogues paradise than Stroudsburg at the pre-
sent time no police, or night watch, every
thing clad iu the deepest darkness, rendered
doubly dense by the profusion of shade trees,
and a jail which seems to be most wonder
fully successful machine for cheating justice
With how much greater assurance Of safety
can we retire to rest with our town abund-
fl,- tph tn1 in No a.
legal voters viii but follow the wise example
of our town council. And if gas is so much
needed, of how vast importance is the matter
of the introduction of water upon which the
very safety of our homes depends. Our en-
tire fire department consists of single stea-
mer, and separated as we are from other
towns possessing competent means a lengthy
period must elapse before we can invoke
and receive aid from other quarters. Our
steamer even though every efficient in itself
Is available only at one point at time and
that point must necessarily be near plenti-
ful supply Of water There are twenty points
in town where destructive fire might occur
and the steamer be of no practical benefit
whatever. Suppose fire should get under
way in the large brick block extending from
Centre street to Phillips restaurant there is
no sufficient supply of water nearer than
aIcMichaels' Creek, and what can prevent
the entire destruction Of thousands of dollars
worth Of property when our only available
weapon against the element is single stream
coming up hill through seven or eight
hundred feet Of hose? Now, suppose we
have haydrants scattered throughout the
town at various convenient points, each one
of them capable of throwing two streams at
least two or three of these hydrants could
undoubtedly be brought to bear upon any
given point in town moreover water every
where convenient for the steamer what an
addition would they be to our protection
against fire? They are always ready, neat.
efficient and handy In their WORKING What