The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-05-04
FOREST CITY.

III the case OF Thomas Cluue against
the borough OF Forest City calls special
attention to the fact that the sidewalks
In this place should at once be put IN
proper repair. We. do not propose TO
enter into the merits of this particular
case wherein the borough has been held
liable for damages. but putting II aside,
the fact remains that the sidewalks are
now and have been for two or three
years .ast in condition that Is not
only disgraceful but dangerous. Loose
planks and holes have existed ana now
exist in numerous places and the bor-
ousn has been liable at any time within
several years past TO become defendant
In lust such a suit az that which was
decided against il recently at Montrose.
The costs and judgment In the Clune
suit would have gone far toward build
ing sidewalks throughout the borough.
even had the corporation had TO stand
the eXnense of laying them. But an
ordinance exists and has for some time
been in effect providing that where
there is a necessity of a sidewalk or
| where one already laid needs repairing
the clerk of the council shall notify the
person whose property the section
fronts to either Law or repair the walk
as the case may be and If the property
| owner fails To do this in ten days that
the street commissioner shall be IN
structed 10 do the work and that the
! amount shall be charged against the
property owner and collected from him.
In no case, | think has this ordinance
been put into effect, but if it had been
faithfully enforced. II is probable the
last verdict for damages would never
| have been given. We do not say this
TO condemn the councilmen for believe
they have been conscientious and have
done good work generally. but l do
think that this incident should impress
! itself on them in such manner that Il
strict enforcement of the sidewalk or
| dinance shall be made from now on.
A special meeting of the council Will
| be held this tMonday) evening.
a number of months ago some of the
| business men awoke to the fact that a
board of trade would be a splendid
| thing to have, They organized one and
| the membership included most of the
prominent citizens. Meetings were held
weekly and much interest was aroused.
\ bridge across the Lackawanna was
agitated and the board succeeded in
getting the commissioners of Wayne
| and SuSquehanna counties TO come here
! and see if a bridge was not needed,
| suggesting to them that the counties
ought to do something, as the bridge
| would connect two county thorough
fares that would make direct route
| between Hones6ale and Montrose and
| also suggesting and showing cohclu-
sively TO the Wayne county men that
such bridge would be very great
accommodation to residents Of Pleasant
Mount and Clinton townships, who find
Forest City the best market for their
| produce. The counties were not eX-
pected to do all. Forest City borough
was to bear part of the expense. 1t was
| intended to ask the Ontario and West
ern company TO share a part of the
burden, as the bridge would connect
the borough with it's depot. and Super
intendent W. A. May, of the Hillside
Coal and Iron company. kindly offered
to do the filling in that would be necest
sary in building a structure. The COM
missioners looked as wise as they could.
promised nothing, admitted nothing,
dlned in state at the Forest house and
departed, leaving the crest-fallen
board of trade men disconsolate and
detected. Then the board took up the
! matter of organizing Il local company
to manufacture mine cars with the Cal
lagher patent axle box. Enough SUBJ
scriptionS We're secured to organize a
company and since then the Forest City
Car and Manufacturing company has
erected works and is turning out the
best mine cars In the market, equipped
box. After this piece of good work the
board rested on its oars, metaphorically
| speaking, and has rested there ever
| since. A meeting has not been held
in months and probably many people
have forgotten that such an organiza-
tion ever existed. Mayhap 1t is not
dead, but sleepeth. but the chances are
1t Is as detunct as Pharoah Rameses.
Yet had the members kept up the or
ats,,
they did for awhile, who can tell but
that they might have accomplished
something OF lasting benefit to the
place during the months that have in
| tervened since the car company was Or
ganized?
Express matter from the Ontario and
Western railway is once more delivered
free in Forest City. Reason-teams
can wade the Lackawanna.
X. w. Taylor and W. II. Davies, OF
Olyphant were visitors In this borough
Friday. Mr.. Davies was for a number
Of years in business here.
Saturday morning about T. Is tiri was
discovered in the building occupied by
w. H. WildenherSer as jewelry store
| An alarm was given before the fire had
| gained much headWay and the Enter
| prise Hose company was soon ON the
| ground and had two streams playing
on the flames. one from the rear and
one in front. Later .he Hillside COM
pany got d stream turned on the rear
Of the building. The structure was
| covered with tin roof and it was very
difficult to get at the flames, which
were mostly In the interior OF the build
Ing Oh the south, occupied by r. NJ
Carpenter as a butcher shop and owned
by Mrs. j. r. Davis. but did not make
| much progress before the flames We're
subdued. 1t took two hours hard
fighting to get the fire under control
but finally its progress was stopped
w. H. Wildenberger and w. j. MaXey
owned the building in which the Jew
elry store was located. II was entirely
gutted by the flames and Mr.. Widen
berger's stock was almost entirely
ruined. His loss will i,e about s., 500
and he has an insurance Of 81, 800 in the
Couch agency at Carbondale F. NJ
Carpenters loss was about $50 and IL
Is covered by insurance in H. w
Browns Forest City agency. Mrs
Davis also had the building insured
The building occupied by w. H. Will
| denberger was insured for $400. 1t Is
said that suspicious looking characters
were seen lurking in the rear of the
building just previous to the fire and
II is suspected IL may be of incendiary
origin.
A. F. Foster. of Burnwood, was u
| visitor in town Saturday.