The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-02-12

Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: Much as | dislike appearing In
public print IL seems the right thing
that should. as requested, write you,
giving my Views upon the most important
question now before the electors of our
city--the West Iacknwanna avenue VIA
duct | am impelled 20 This more cs-
pecially on account of wrong Impressions
entertained by some citizens In regard 10
my attitude toward the bridges lately
built. Hence the following statement.
When the Linden street bridge was first
talked OF l was one of a committee visited
by our late public spirited townsman, Col
onel ]. A. Price. to confer in regard TO
the bridge project. Mr.. Price placed :hc
plans he had drawn up before our commit
tee and asked for opinions as to whether
they would pass as proposed. l then de-
clared l was in favor of the bridges. and
have been SO ever since; but said did not
believe the ordinance as proposed would
Dass and gave AZ Il reason for my opin-
ion that the most needed Improvement,
the via1uCt, was left out ! ;h"n inter-
ceded for the lives Of the people. hun
ureds of whom have since come within
a hairsbreadth of being slaughtered. and
which might have cost the cfty more than
the price of two viaducts. | also raisc'
~
needed safeguard would be morally re-
spcnsible for any accident thar might oc-
cur at the crossing thereafter. said
could not favor an ordinance FOR bridges
that did not include the viaduct. Ii VAS
not included, ana the people voted the
ordinance doTn--not because they We're
opposed to the bridges. but because they
desired the v!aduct more: in other v oros.
because they thought that the most need-
ed Improvement should not be the last
~ have attention.
ANY one can see from the above and
from the general trend of my life that
] not only DO not oppose. but a:u In faI or
OF all bridges and any other inpr5vcnie nta
that may be of any benefit to the city.
At the same time ! must say | could not
support things that appeared like putting
cart before u horse. All can now see
that the Linden street bridge is not usel
une-tenth as much as Ii will be after
the viaduct Is built and SIKH street
graded.
The second time the bridge ordinance
came up no viaduct was included, but
the people were assured that they should
have one If they would pass the bridge
ordinance Nearly all had faith In the
premise and while yet believing that the
viaduct should have come iirst--or ii least
turned out and, as Is well known. passed
1t as 1t was, and all who are familiar with
my efforts on that occasion know tina. |
put in my mite to help II along
The viaduct ordinance as PROMISE Is
now before our citizens for action and
as | urged before the committee ten years
ago, ! now plead with the people for sucn
vote as will give protection to the lives
of those who have to pass that dangerous
crossing. This applies not only to those
living on the West Side. but to all who
have to come and go that way.
The cost will be but trfiing compared
with the convenience the viaduct will al
ford. The committee have calculated that
Ii will increase the annual tax Of & laoorer
only cents; the miner, cents. and prop
erty owners from IL to 50 cents apiece
What tr!fle! The whole cost viii he
saved In a few years by the saving of
time which is now lost In waiting for ears
to pass. / would also suggest in this con-
nectiOn that inasmuch as no serious acci-
dent has occurred, the delay in building
this viaduct has seemingly been fo.' the
best. as the plan of placing the sane on
one side of the street. as proposed by
Councilman Oliver, IL, in my opinion, the
best of any that has been thought OF and
will eventually be the cheapest as much
Of the space covered by the viaduct can be
utilized by the city and thus a saving Of
much money now being paid as rents will
be effected.
Finally. let me say that consider there
Is d grave responsibility attached to the
action Of each voter on this question. In
1t Is not only the question OF great i'm
provements and convenience to the whole
city, but also the greater question of life
and death, and in case of accident the con-
sequent expense to the city. 1 cannot
help feeling that should there be any who
would prevent our people from having the
safeguard asked for they will be morally
responsible for any calamity arising from
the need thereof
Very respectfully.
b. G. Morgan