Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1896-03-23
FREELAND, PA, MARCH 20. 1896.


street is a small affair in itself. but the
principle involved is much greater than
appears at first sight. In dealing with
this company the council of Frceland
has been lcuient to Il degree far beyond
that which was considered necessary by
many of the taxpayers. As soon as the
battle over the right of way in Foster
township between it and the now de-
funct Union Passenger Railway Com
pany Gn which local men were interest
rdl was settled in the courts, the coun-
ciImen threw open our streets to the
lIazleton capitalists and invited them
to occupy the thoroughfares with but
few restrictions.
y lengthy ordinance was passed and
published, for which the borough paid
the local papers, with the understanding
that the Lehigh Traction Company would
refund that expense. Not only has the
company failed to pay for the publishing
of the ordinance, which by the way.
amounted TO about S25, but its directors
refused to avail themselves of the pryi-
leges then given them.
These privileges were granted because
the fractions representatives PLEADED d
so hard for right of way to enable the
road to reach South lIcbcrton and Upper
Lchigh. However, it appears that the
Traction people could see no benefit to
liazleton in extending the tracks to
Upper Lchigh. and as it was never their
intention to benefit Frccland. they allow
ed the ordinance which gave them the
right to occupy uptown streets to be-
come void.
Their actions We're then construed by
freeland people as Il notice that in all
future dealings with that corporation
trecland must look to its own interests
first, last and all the time The reject
ing of the privileges which were begged
for by the company and granted by the
| council was It deliberate insult to the
people Of this town, and was so taken by
| every citizen conVerSant with the facts
Last winter the business men of South
| Centre street complained Of the incon-
ycncnce to which they were put by the
| company banking the snow along the
| sides Of the street, thereby shutting out
the merchants teams and preventing
vehicles from passing one another For
more than two months last year that
part of Centre street which is occupied
by tracks was given up to the sole use of
| the company, because it was dangerous
| for others TO venture thereon.
| During the summer months the fast
and reckless running Of the trolley cars
caused much apprehension among par
ents in that end of town, and scarcely
IL day passed that did not have to its
credit miraculous escape or two by
| children. Again complaints were made,
and a protest was filed with the Traction
Company's officials. but the danger APP
| parently was not lessenod
The manner in which these abuses
were tolerated by the borough council
and the lenent steps which were taken
to correct them caused many to believe
| that Traction pass was of more con
Germ to our borough lawmakers than the
life and interests of the people. That.
! however, was belief which the TRI-
BUNE did not share, nevertheless cir
cumstanccs gave some grounds for peo-
| pie to think as they did.
There were no heavy falls of snow
this winter until the recent storm came
Immediately, the company adopted the
plan Of the previous year, and again
| barred out the business men and resi-
dents of South Centre from the use oil
the street in front of their properties.
The street committee of council at
once secured legal advice and notice was
served on the company to remove the
snow which had been thrown from its
tracks. The result was given in tho
news columns of our last issue. The
people Of FrecIand were told to ''go tc
| H." td use the language of the com
/ pany's secretary, but it is not likely the
Injunction win be obcycd until it comes
from some place higher than the office
Of MIR. Mar<Ie.
BY order Of the borough officials the
snow has been removed. There was
some expense attached to the removal.
and the duty Of the counclmcn is now
to live up strictly to the contents of its
notice to the company, l. e., to compel
the company to pay every cent of eX-
pense incurred.
1t is not just that the taxpayers should
have saddled upon them any more bills
contracted through this corporations
negligence. Freeland can better afford
to incur the enmity of the press-muzzling
crowd than to placidly humble itself to
any set of grasping men. SO far the
town has prospered without the aid OF
outside dictators. and the Independent
spirit of our people will not be broken by
the insoence of Traction magnates
Upon the councilmen has now fallen the
honor of upholding the dignity of Free
land. Do it faithfully and well, the
people are with you.