The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-09-14

somehow. Now, then, where would you
have those people 80 to in order to supply
this need? Or. in other words, what place
has our rich and otherwise aggressive city
of Scranton to offer them? To our shame
be 1t said. ii has none but the public
streets and business avenues of the city,
and as long as this deplorable state of af-
fairs continues the city and certainly not
the unprovided-for multitude, will be held
responsible, both for the discomforts of
the toiers as well as the common nuis-
| ance to all upon her crowded thorough
fares.
AS to where this class ought to be in
vited to so, only ordinary intelligence
| and sound common sense have decided
long since, yet by our example we still
| problem. 1t is an old established custom.
| dating way back into the remote past,
| for every large city, and even smaller
ones, not more than one-th!rd the size OF
Scranton, to have Its public parks, where
both rich and poor, young and old, may
| enjoy the fresh air amid the quiet and
| ennobllng beauty provided so luxuriously
| by Mother Nature for the comfort and en-
| joyment of all her children. Go to almost
every place you Will, wherever there is
| culture and refinement generosity and
benevoence, you will find but very sell
| dom city of any consequence that has
| not its public parks save Scranton, which
| although prospered almost beyond a
| parallel, has none Sad. very sad, indeed,
! that such an essential feature to the
| peoples comfort and the city's fair name
| should have been neglected all these
years. All that has been done In this di-
| rection in the past may be embodied in
an occasional newspaper article from
some of our more thoughtful and aggres-
sive citizens. periodical overture to Sc
| cure q certain tract Of land by the city
council and winding up with n general in
| difference and convenient forgetfulness
on the part of those in position to act.
| We provide asylums. poorhouses and peni-
| tentares for the unfortunate. the desti-
| tute and the criminals, and deem u our
| bounden duty to do so. but no less is It
our duty to provide places for the comfort
| and enjoyment Of the thousands who are
| obliged to live IN the congested districts
| themselves and willing to live n life of de-
cency and honesty. Failing to discharge
| our duties in this respect we, no doubt.
| often help to prepare candidates for the
benevolent and reformatory institutions.
| If parents fail to provide comfortable
and inviting homes for their children and
| in this way help to drive them out on the
streets where they will soon go to the
dogs, they are responsible for their down.
| fall. and what holds true with the single
| family also holds true with n city. when
taken collectively as many families.
! ---:II:..--
Therefore let our city fathers. who help
| to frame the laws for the punishment of
the wayward and the evil-doer. always
! bear in mind that they themselves also
( have violated a law in not properly provld-
| ing for the comforts and needs of the peo-
| Pile: that this may have caused the begin
| ming of a reckless and dssipated life,
and consequently entitled to at least a
| share in the attached penalty.
| Yes. Scranton has no public parks. even
| In this day of its growth and prosperity.
Should any one ask us why not, am sure
| nobody could answer. 1t cannot be be-
| cause there are no available sites to be
| had, since there are still n number of de-
sirabe tracts that might be secured.
But they are becoming more valuable
| every year. so that waiting certainly
| would not mean saving. Neither can It be
because the city cannot afford 1t, since
hundreds of thousands of dollars are ex-
| pended annually for other purposes and
| a goodly number Of them that we might
| do without much rather than public parks.
| Why, therefore, we ask the question In all
| frankness, are we still without them
| Besides, we have a number OF wealthy corr
| poratiOns as well us individual families,
| who could well afford to make such gift
| to the city In which they made their
| money. Such has been done in other
| places and there certainly Is no reason
| why 1t should not be done In Scranton.
| May the words thus spoken gain kind
| ly consideration on the part of those In
| positions Of influence and responsibility
| and perchance we will resemble the
| gods" In providing parks for our "fellow
crsatures" without any further delay:
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