The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-11-27

debt is s762,0OO, somewhat of an in
crease over last year, owing TO the
s2jOOO0 bridge bonds which were float
ed during the summer for the building
of the two iron bridges now In pro-
cess Of erection. Casting aside this
item, 1t will be observed that there has
been a very material reduction OF the
municipal Indebtedness. The bonds
and cash in the sinking fund aggregate
sl7S,56717, leaving a net Indebtedness
TO the city of $3.50, ,423s6. II rarely oc-
ours In municipal government that a
city Of the size and resources of Scran-
ton is burdened by so small a debt
am safe in saying that no city In the
United States can make a more credit
able showing financially than our own.
This debt is secured by property of an
assessed valuation of $21 500 900, and
an actual valuation variously estimated
at from 900 TO S10O, 900 OOO."
Scranton has one hundred and forty
one miles of streets, many OF which
are paved with asphalt, vitrified brick
and stone block. Paving is continual
ly going on, and soon every foot of our
highways will have good, substantial
pavement.
There is thirty-flve miles Of electric
| street car lines within the city limits,
and seventy-five miles extending be-
yond the city limits. to suburban towns
which have n population of 10000.
| There is within a radius Of ten miles
of the city numerous small towns, resi-
dents of which do the greater part Of
| their shopping here. Our large whole-
sale and retail dry goods and grocery
stores, many of which occupy an en-
tire building four and five stories high.
| equipped with elevators and stocked
with all grades of goods, from the
coarsest to the finest fabric, attract
| purchasers from these suburban towns,
| and gives to Scranton merchants a
| profitable patronage.
Scranton has three places of amuse-
ment, open every evening during the
| theatrical season. The Lyceum is
a new theatre, and is said to be the
| equal of any house of its kind in the
| country. 1t has @ seating capacity of
| 1000, and is built on the very latest
| plans for the comfort and safety of its
patrons. 1t is lighted by both cleo
| tricity and gas, and is first-class In all
| its appointments. The Academy OF
| Music is also a very popular house, as
Is the Davis Scranton Is visited by
the highest class performances, and is
| considered the best-paying show town
| on the circuit.
Nay Aug park, with dts hundreds of
| acres, through which the Roaring
| Brook leaps down over the romantic
| falls, and from which the park derived
| its name, 10 the city's possession Sc
| cured as a public park forever. It IS
| most delightful and picturesque spot,
and Is being continually beautified by
| artificial means with funds appropri-
| ated by the city each year. The falls
| are spanned by a substantial IRON
| bridge leading to the ElmhurBt boule-
ward, of which mention has been made.
An artist visitor from another state,
| who had but year or two ago re-
turned from Europe, recently declared,
| in passing over this boulevard, that its
views were unsurpassed by any in the
| famous Austrian Tyrol.
Much might be written on the sub
| ject. what society, with culture, shall
we find In Scranton?" but did space
permit, the writer believes that a care
full perusal OF this article will answer
the question to the full satisfaction of
the most eXacting individual.
Finally, the advantages of the city
of Scranton are briefly summed up as
| follows: Cheap fuel, excellent water,
| abundant labor, great railroad facil-
| tiles, nearness to commercial centers
| and tide-water, low taxes. and class
| OF inhabitants noted the world over
| for their superior enterprise and pro-
gressiveness TO all who care to in
vestigate, Scranton will be found all
that tho writer has claimed for It.