The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-05-14
SCRANTON

SCRANTON
A Historic Sketch from the Geologic
Times Of the Old TO the Present Day.
Almost before time itself this region
was one broad plane lying In O zone
hotter than the torrid. and sloping
gently toward the sea, covered with
vast marshes, shallow fresh water lakes
and sluggish rivers. There were no
birds, no flowers, only few insects
and fish. and wonderful tropical plants
which were SO luxurious in their
growthb that they made jungle OF the
marshes. and as they died down filled
them with great beds Of reeds and
fernlike trees. To quote from Homer
Greene: Year after year. century after
century. this process OF growth and
decay went on until the beds OF vege-
table matter thus deposited had reached
q great thickness. But condensation
was stu In progress In the earth's
body, ana in consequence OF 1t, her
crust, Of necessity. at times contracted
and fell When II did 80 the land sank
throughout vast areas, these beds OF
incipisnt coal went down and over
tho great marshes the waters swept
arain. bringing drift Of vegetation from
higher levels 10 add 70 that aiteaay
vegetable matter. the sand and mud
and gravel were laid up anew. and
the clayey soil from which the next
srowtn Snou.o spr,ns was spieau ou'
upon the surIacc. TINE pFoeess wa
pse.eo aGaih ana asalh, us oi'en' IN,
oeea' as we ma seams OF Goa, AM. IN eny
Coel oso. Ihus tho nhAl conui'.oh VI
tne iorma.ion OF coAi wss me-, .ne
ciusion OF atmospneric air from .m.s
nsss OK oecaylns VesetA..on was cotn. III
Piete' ana uiiuel the wsuer oi ule
ocean unaeI tns ssho Aho sI' oi ule
shore. under ths new aeposits oi SUI
ceoins ages, ths trahslorInatIon "ent
on. the wooo OF tne caroomn.erous era
oscemo the eoai OF tooay - aooVe
ana peiow IL the sano ana ciay were
nAroeneo INTO rock ana sha!e. IN
tae suSossoins age wneh the mounta!ns
ana the valleys were prought torth,
the pressure and heat were SO intense
as 10 e1pei the Volstile matter from
tne coal mus cnahghg IL IRON oituhIh-
Gus 10 anthracite, ana 10 conceal u un-
I'll long afterwards when some prook
or r1vef disclosed It's hiding place.
Sos centuries tnis place was Ins
HOKM OH THM REn MAN
Hare 'ths Indian hunter pursued the
painting deer; here gazing on the same
moon that smiles for you, the Indian
lover woosd his dusky mate; ana here
the rank thistle nodded IN the WIND
ana the WILD fox aug his hole unscared.
When the pale race explored the Lack
ewanna valley In 175S, ne round on the
nat: east OF the Diamond breaker, an
nct.S % III. % 49, s,su ns1st SsSoVp - ,ns, nams -
This was selected as the site for the
nrst Connecticut settlements in I'LL.
established there.
Later the higher ground toward the
after the township Of which IL was a
part Around this settlement grew two
others. One toward the west called
Hyde Park" after a town Of that name
in the colony Of New York, and one to-
Wefd inc south on Hoarlng BrooK
caneG UarK se,, hoIows Onionvile'
Hno .esuy Siocuh noilow, a.er d
..y an. y, INA. MAJ; name VINO nao .nere q
iron forge" The settlers were gener-
ally engaged In clearing I'M the land
and farmine. hence the Growth in
population was very slow" Very little
coal was mined and that for private
use. AZ the methods used were 30 PRINT
tive, and the means Of transportation
20 difIlcult.
In 1870 q new era began for this
reaion when through the influence Of
an enthusiastic eeoloeist some east
ern capitalists were Induced 10 coma
here 70 develop the mineral resources.
In 1853 they were Incorporated as ''The
Lackawanna
,,oX, .,,, oo., oo,,,.nvv
ANoN AMI SoAn CoMFANA l.
They purchased q part of Slocum
Hollow. changing the name to Har-
rison, then scrantonia, and lastly to
Scranton, after the family Of that
nams who were among the most in
fusntial members Of the company, and
started their extensive iron works. The
following 10 an interesting example
Of the good order preserved In those
early days
pI1pr1c MEEyrrNc
on tAs pronristor. and 0n.rs tive. ~ n.
Iackawanns fron worrs
Hold in scranton D.c ISho
Fu1uant 70 previous notice. large
LUMBER OF workmsn. Estimated FULLY
a0empied IN the Odd Fellows Hail
n tnis place 9nd organised by choos-
~ -, s' e&As s0~
A!!am M. CeN' secretary.
~. Joseph II. scranton being present
y ne re0uest OF the chairman rose. and
stateo thas the object OF the meeting
W0 20 promote the better observance OF
Sne eaooctn, py agreeing to discontinue
ce1tNn kInds OF labor. heretofore
oeemeo necessary on the Sabbath. and
moveo tne appointment OF committee
OF nve 70 prepare preamble and