The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-11-29

wanna Township Is Being Con-
fined to Very Contracted Limits.
Further Dismemberment.
Moosic borough was yesterday cstab-
lished, In an order handed down by
Judge Edwards 1t Is 60 lnClude the
villages of Mousic. GrccuWood and
StarkS and small portion of the eX-
trcmc southern end of MinoOka. The
territory is six square miles in extent.
\ vigorous fight was mHdc against
the Incorporation OF the borough by
the remaining pc, ton of the township,
principally the residents, of Minooka.
They alleged that the formation Of the
proposed borough was unnecessary and
ineXpcdicnt. that the three villages
were widely separated and without Il
common system oc roads or l0noE; that
they were Independent communities
Starks being mile southwest oi
Muosic. GrCcnwpui two miles north
east uf MOOsic and Sturks three miles
from Greenwood; that the territory be-
tween the Villages was entirely waste
OF farm lands. that urly about one
eighth of the territory was built un
and that the characteristics of an in
ci.icnt borough such as blocks oi
houses, stores, shops. factories
churches and the like are cunspicuOu.
by their absence.
\ particular cause of complaint wa!
that the township recently erected I
$4,000 school house at Mousir. anC
that IL would not he fair to allow tht
tax payers of MuoSic 10 cscaUc thei
share Of the burden of other Cuntem
plated school houses in other parts o
the township.
OTHEP OBJECTIONS.
There were also raft of teChniCa
| objections which were dismissed in
previous opinion 10y Judge Archibald
| One of them WAS that the petition die,
| because it had not been disposed o
| within a specified time. AnC-sle" wa
that the map was faulty because
among other things. one Of it's princi
pal boundaries. the Lackawanna river
was a variable point. Mr.. Donahot
attorney for the RESPONDENTS maxim
the contention that tn" Lackawanna
not river under the legal definition
not being possibl, Of naviga tion. Judg
Edwards opinion, in full. follows:
| Several of the exceptions to the pro
posed borough Of MOOsic were dispose
of by the opinion of Judge Archibald
| filed Jan %. 1898. Especial attcntio
was then directed To the fact that tn
petition for the Incorporation of tn
| borough was not proceeded with a
promptly as the act of assembly gov
| ,i.,,.
| exception to this point in the case
fully answered in the opinion referre
| to. Other formal exceptions were dis
| posed of at the same time.
There is nothing left now but the on
question. involving the merit of I'll
application for the borough.
Should the application be allowed {
denied? Much may be said on bot
sides Of the main issues between II
eXceptants and the petitioners. Thes
issues relate to the contention that a
attempt is made to join together III
der one government two towns or vi
lagos which are too remote from eaC
other. and, that the proposed territol
includes large quantity of farm al
waste lands. There are depositions {
both sides of these questions. Aft
considering the evidence carefully, v
are of the opinion that the petitione
| are tlllllleu u al bbl'uSIs
WISH OF INHABITANTS
There are many facts to be borne
mind in deciding the merits of ca
of this kind. We think that one
the controlling facts should be Il
expressed will and desire of the inha
itants of the proposed borough teri
tory. 1t seems from the petition al
testimony that the peOple immediate
! los,
question. They all want a borough.
few people. within the limits of Il
proposed borough. have signed a I
monstrancC against it. They are S
in number. Two of them are non-re
idents, but represent property-holdel
While we do not establish a borou!
merely because a majority wants
nevertheless the will OF the people.
be affected, is an important factor.
The territory in question is eXte
Siv, and valuable. The people livil
upon it are enterprising, and we see
reason why they are not entitled
the dignity and protection of o be
ougE government. Considering all {
conditions and viewing the applicati
, | from every standpoint, We decide
, favor of the petitioners.
Now, Nov. 2S, 1895 the application
the petitioners i'm this case, prayi
| lbI lilt VI lIlt DDIOu
of MOosic. is allowed as prayed (,
; Let counsel prepare formal decree.
The arrangements for the electi
will follow the signing of the form
| decree.
1t looks now as if Lackawanna tow
ship was doomed to be narrowed do'
to the limits of the South distri
| which is practically the village of \
nooka. Taylor borough, which is a
, a child of Lackawanna township,
| reaching out after the villages of Py
and Archibald, a public meeting bel
: scheduled for tonight in the borou
council rooms To give the project
start an ordinance is now under w
i'm the Scranton city councils to anr
that portion of the township eXtendi
from the Round Woods to the foot
: the West Mountain and southwark
far as the southern end of the SIN
farm. If these projects go throu
there will be very little left OF Lacl
wanna township.
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