Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1896-03-09

of the
MOMENT,
Subjects IN Which the Citizens OF
Freeldnd and Surroundings
Are Interested at the
Present Time.

| Apropos Of the coming Of spring, the
interest in electric railway extension,
which made itself so conspicuous last
year as to command councils attention,
but which has lain dormant during the
winter, is again revived. 1t cannot be
said that the prospects at this date ad-
nit of any hope that we may soon see
our large suburbs on the north and east
sides connected by this means of travel,
and as the question of extension is in
no official way before the people or their
representatives at present, its apparent
lifelessness makes it question on which
all thinking citizens are more or less
aroused. Various developments within
the past year have tended to force this
matter before the public in such sug~
gestive manner that it cannot be heed
lessly passed off. 1t is not alone the
amount of business which Freeland peo-
pie have lost on account of this lack of
means of transit, which renders it
matter of the moment but the activity
and enterprise, with consequent attrac-
tiveness, which might have been super
induced by little more travel in and
out of town.
An electric railway connecting South
Heberton, Upper Lehgh, Sandy Run,
Eckley and Highland would be of i'm
measurable advantage to Freeland.
The building of such poad has never
been seriously agitated, although its
feasibility has been talked about several
times. Whenever mentioned, its profit
ableness has been questioned, but its
advantages to this town have never
raised the slightest suspicion. This con-
clusion is arrived at after considering
the usual facilities which a street rail-
way enjoys, in addition to the business
which road in the localities mentioned
would, by its mere presence, create. 1t
can be truthfully said that the holidays
of 1895 were never surpassed for dull
ness in the history of Freeland. People
stayed away from town. The streets
were almost deserted on the liveiest
days of the year. Fourth of July, La
Dor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas
Day-each was as much holiday to the
confectionery seller as to the miner. In
short, Freeland may be said to not have
properly enjoyed a single holiday during
1895. And what is the reason for it?
Lack Of attractiveness in the town is
theory advanced by some, and while it
is deserving of some attention it cannot
be said to be satisfactory answer to
the question. A better solution of the
difficulty would appear to be the alb
sence of convenient mode Of travel.
/
Who.would be content to stay in Up
per Lehigh, in Sandy Run, in Eckley or
in Highland, on an idle day or a holiday,
il they could get to Freetand for five
cents? Who would not consider the re-
lief from the mine or the breaker and
the comminglng with new associates
far preferable to spending his leisure
days in the dreary company town with
out variety of life? Or who would not
wish to exercise his right to patronize
an individual business house in prefer
ence to allowing his earnings to drift
continually into the Golfers of the COM
pany store? But who, under present
circumstances, cares for any Of these
things, entailing as they do the difficult
physical exertion and the consumption
of hours of time, which can be spent
more pro6tably at home. Here, then,
Is the want which an electric railway
must fill, and here, also, is the manner
in which it will benefit Freeland.
t
The Lehigh Traction Company is in
position to meet this demand, but appar-
emily that corporation does not care to
undertake the enterprise. 1t sought
favors from the borough council and OBJ
tanned the right of way through our
principal streets, but allowed its fran
chise to become void through lack OF
action. The Traction Company and its
officials have been loudly berated for
not extending their line farther up Con-
tire street, but in their failure to do this
and their apparent contentment to stay
at their present terminus, they are prov
ing good business sagacity, and are at
the same time giving the citizens of
Freeland an object lesson regarding
their real needs in the way of travelling
facilities. An extension of the road
from the present terminus to few
squares would not increase the revenue
of the company to the extent of single
fare, while it would add considerable to
its expense account. 1t would limit the
capacity of the street, and would result
in no material advantage to any one.
1t will be seen from this, therefore, that
extension Of this sort is neither desirable
nor profitable. The only extension that
can be inauguarated on a basis admit
ting of good results would be to include
the towns mentioned above. These are
the towns on which Freeland depends
for the bulk of it's trade, and these are
the towns, which, possessing nothing in