The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-12-04
A Century of Progress.

Our esteemed contemporary, the In
dependent, of HOneSdale. announces
for publication next spring carefully
compiled history Of Wayne county, pre-
pared With reference to commemorate
ing the centennial of the county's erec-
tion out of Northampton, March 81,
1898. Apropos of that centennial it
saws:
The area Of the county was 1.492
square miles and the population, ac-
cording to the census of 1900, was only
1859, an average of less than two per-
sons to the square mile. SO few people,
not as many as now frequently gather
In Honesdale's central park on public
occasions, scattered over so large a
space of rugged country, living in log
cabins or rudely constructed frame
buildings, destitute of roads, mills,
schools, churches, stores, manufacture
ing establishments. railroads and other
convenienccs, advantages and enter
prises of the modern civilization, must
have found life amid the then dense
forests and the nightly howl of the
wolf lonely, grewsome, devoid of COM
forts and often fraught with the grav-
est anl most alarming dangers. CT
course the woods We're full of wild
game and the numerous lakes and
streams teemed with fish. The land
when cleared yielded abundantly but
there was but little of the forest at
that time that had been felled and
there were many things needed by the
early settlers. About all they possess
ed was a gun and a few fishing hooks.
They needed axes, scythes. plows,
chains, harrows, hoes, leather and
clothing for themselves and their chill
drer. Some Of the thoughtful Ger
mans brought with them hand mills in
which to grind their grain; others
pounded or boiled il and some lived on
milk and potatoes. Many things which
we now regard as the necessaries OF
life, the early settlers and their chill
dren did not have. Mocassins made of
de"r skins covered their feet and the
skins of some of the domestic animals
were exchanged for leather.salt Cworth
then FIVE dollars per busheD and other
articles they were SO greatly in need of.
Flax was raised and dressed and the
women carded, spun and wove it into
various garments. These old fashion
ed mothers and their daughters also
carded, spun and wove wool into many
needed fabrics.
Now, standing at almost the close
of a century. mark the changes that
have been made! The whole scene has
tecn changed, There are nearly as
many hamlets now as there were habi-
tations then, houses dot almost every
hillside and valley, the town of Homes.
dale, then a laurel swamp, is a cluster
OF homes, hive Of industry, busy
mart of trade and the capital OF the
county. The wheel of the locomotive
machine that has rcvolutionized the
commercial world and most marvel,
ously obliterated distances, made its
FIRST turn in Wayne county This is {
distinction and an honor that canno
be claimed by any other locality or tn,
American continent. IL gives leaf Il
general history and marks the begin
ming of an industrial epoch that has add
81 greater achievements to the nation,
progress than any other device invent
ed II placed the cOuntry's wonderful
ly productive resources and its popu
lation on wheels. II lent a swift in
cCntivc to the minds that saw it moy,