The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-06-07
QUAY COUNTY.
How the Ncws from Harrisburg. Was Re-
ccivcd In wilkes. Barre.


How the Ncws from Harrisburg Wns Re-
ccivcd In wilkes. Barre.
Yesterday when a dispatch was re-
oeived from Harrisburg announcing
that the so-called Quay county bill
had passed the house, considerable sur
prise was expressed by those who were
not aware that on the previous day
intimations came from the state capital
to the effect that there, was imminent
danger of the passage Of the bill. Rep
resentative Greiner, of the Wilkes
Barre district, seems to have been con-
fident to the last that the bul would
be defeated and so advised the board
Of trade by wire on several occasions
during the week.
No one here seems to have any doubt
that the governor will approve the bill,
and II he does not interpose a veto Il
Is not improbable that in the course of
a few months the slXty-eighth county
Of Pennsylvania will be an established
fact. The proposed new county will
take large slice from Luzerne, and a
smaller one from Schuylkill. Under the
provisions Of the bill which passed yes
terday nothing can now prevent the
consummation of the new county ex-
cept an adverse vote by a majority of
the voters residing in the territory that
Is to constitute 1t. The question now is
whether the electors residing in Halle
ton and immediate surrounding county
will be able to outv0te those in the more
remote townships and boroughs. It Is
very generally understood that except
In Hazleton City, Hazle township. and
portions of Foster township, the people
are opposed to the new county, and will
vote against 1t. According to the last
census the city of Hazleton contained
11,s72 inhabitants, Halle township, 12,-
494, and Foster township, including
Freeland borough, 1890
1t will be seen that these two town.
ships, together with Hazleton City and
Freeland borough, contain a popula-
tion OF 33,6S6, considerably more than
haif OF the population in the entire pro-
posed new county. 1t Is admitted that
Hazleton and Halle township will vote
pretty nearly unanimously for the new
county; Freeland and Foster township
Will vote the same way by a large ma
1orlty. Even If the people of the other
townships should vote almost solidly
against 1t their vote would not avail
The bulk Of the population of the pro-
posed new county is within a radius of
comparatively few miles Of Hazleton,
the prospective county seat The pro-
1ectors of the new county will throw
the lines out just far enough to cover
the necessary 400 square miles and will
not take In any more OF Schuylkill
county than will be necessary.
The Hazleton new county boomers
have made a magnificent fight and to-
day they feel as happy as did the people
or Scranton on a similar occasion when
the news came that the new county bill
OF 1873 had passed and would open the
way for Scranton to become the seat Of
q new county.
The good people of Wilkes-Barre will
soon get over this untoward event. Lu-
2erne will still be ths third county of
the commonwealth Of Pennsylvania in
population and wealth. But the people
OF LVzerne will now feel less than ever
like consenting to the erection Of mil
lion dollar new court house. The peo-
pie of Hazleton are happy and well they
may be. With the erection of the new
county the city Of Hazleton will receive
an impetus that will send her we'll along
on a career Of prosperity. Taxes may
be heavy for time, but the people will
not complain on that account.