The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-01-03
A TALE OP TWO CITIES.
Van Twlller, in the Record.

Van Twiller, in the Record.
l see It announced with flourish OF
trumpets In the Scranton papers that the
cornerstone of the big silk mill OF Keeling,
David & Schoen has been laid with appro-
pirate ceremonies. The ceremonies were
witnessed by the board of trade, the cor
nerstone being laid by Captain May. pres
ident of the board. There were speeches
galore, in which everybody felicitlted
everybody else, and all Joined In con-
graduating the city of Scranton on the
newly acquired industry. And well they
might, for this promises to be one OF the
largest establishments of its kind I'm the
country and will give employment to
hundreds of men and women. And Scran-
ton secured Ii after Wilkes-Barre had
dawdled and hummed and hawed over
a proposition to establish 1t here. The
proprietors paid visit to your city ana
were favorably impressed with the sur
ioundings. They would have preferred
to locate here, as the railway facilities
were better II they could secure the land.
Benjamin Dorrance was the only man
who rose to the occasion, however. lie
offered them a site on his farm In Dor
ranceton. and they considered 1t favor
ably. But in an evil moment, for Wilkes
Barre, these gentlemen went to Scranton.
OF course they were taken in charge by
the board of trade. OF course they were
conducted through the magnificent build-
ing erected by that bustling organization.
OF course they were promptly offered a
site within the city limits, free of cost
and taxes. OF course they were rendered
other inducements, and treated with such
friendliness that they forgot all about
Wilkes Barre. And so they pitched their
tents there with q million-dollar industry
adding one more to the string of indus
trial scalps that grace the wigwam Of
Scranton's board of trade.
Long life to that board, say l. 1t de-
serves to prosper, for ii possesses pluck
and energy, and courage and business
tact. 1t is not afraid to work. 1t Is not
afraid of being worked, either. 1t doesn t
so into conniption of fright whenever a
stranger comes along with business
proposition. There's nothing namby-
pamby about it. 1t is not suffering from
the dry rot of over-conservatism. The
leprosy of suspicion does not paralyZe Its
energies and drag 1t down into inertness
and decay. 1t does not regard every
proposition for the establishment of a
new industry as a gold brick swinde
| The fact that it gets caught once in a
while doesn't scare it out of business. On
the contrary, it keeps right on, and what
1t loses on one unsuccessful industry II
makes up ten fold on the others that are
successful That's the kind of a board to
have. That's the kind of a board Wilkes
Barre ought to have. The material Is
/ here. The brains are here. The money
is here-a dollar for every Scranton cent.
The facilities are here; the labor is he"e
/ IN fact Wilkes-Barre can furnish every
/ thing that Scranton does in this connec-
| ton and go her several better Why
! then, don't we get these industries that
are continually going TO Scranton? II
! YOU have read the above / do not think
! you will have much difficulty in discover
| ing the cause.