The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-01-12

thlS OnS. iHdt 10 tne lance we 20 tOTtn
to battle with and on the last day
when we stand before that majestic
tribunal the grand knight Of the uni
verse will complete the sign Of the cross
and tell each true knight to pass to the
right"
"The City of Scranton" was the
toast assigned to Hon. II. e. Mcdonald.
His response was in part as follows:
THE CITY OF SCRANTON.
Mr. Toastmaster: Scranton, the metro
polls of the anthracite coal region, was
Incorporated in 1866, and includes what
was formerly known as the boroughs OF
Scranton, Hyde Park, Providence and
part of Dunmore. The population in 1870
was $4,000: in 1850 1t was 5000, in 1890,
1900, and at the present time the popu-
lation is upwards of 100000. The borough
of Dunmore has a compact population
of over 1900 and 1t naturally belongs TO
the city Of cranton. 1t is so much a part
of the city that one not familiar with
the lines could not tell where Dunmor8
begins and Scranton ends. on the south
is the village of Minooka, with q popula-
tion of about 5000. 1t is also naturally
part of the city. We expect that when
the census Of 1900 is taken that both Of
these municipalities will become part OF
the city of Scranton.
Scranton is a city Of the third class.
Under the law cities of the third class
are entitled to only twenty. one wards,
and the city of Scranton at the present
time has the number allowed by law.
In order to remedy the greatest obstacle
to the admission of Dunmore and Mi
nooka, 1t would be necessary for the
present legislature to provide for an in
crease in the number of wards in cities
of this class so as to enable these places
to become part of this great municipality
and have voice in its government On
less this be done the borough of Dun
more, with its large population would
be divided into two or more parts and
the fragments would be annexed to the
adjacent wards in the city. We should
see to it that the proper legislation he
enacted during this session of the legls-
lature. II We remedy the law and apply
prevalent ideas of expansion to our local
interests, Scranton after the census Of
1900 will have placed to its credit the
large population that naturally belongs
to it.
WHAT GIVES CHARACTER.
1t is the aggressive industrious, patri-
otic population that gives character to Il
city. In other respects city is city all
the world over. In every city you fiud
practically the same systems of streets,
light, sewer, etc In every city you will
find the saint and sinner the church and
jail, the rich and poor, the dude and the
tramp, the preacher and policeman, the
gambling den and Christian association.
In every city YOU will find the man who
follows some fashionable fad one tn IT
acts as If he were specially deputed by
the supreme being to destroy some eX-
isting evil The evil often exists only in
nd xn,haY h.,
ity fails to applaud him imagines that
the city is going to pieces. If hs efforts
do not seem to be duly appreciated he
thinks there is something radically wrong,
does not hesitate to say so.
Scranton is a great city, and it's great
ness is attributable to the character OF
its people; to its honest, hard working,
industrious citizens, and nothing can re-
tard the progress of this city, notwith-
standing the howl of the pessmist 80
long as the citizen continues to manifest
the same traits that characterized mis-
past. Scranton is tho most cosmopolitan
law-abiding population of any city in
this country With all the different ma
tonalities and different interests and vast
properties we have only forty-four police
men to guard the lives and properties in
this vast territory a smaller number pro
rata than any other city in the state. II
is true tnat great deal OF credit is due
to the efficiency of the force and its chief
officer
The fire department of this city is not
surpassed by an in the Union. If the
! greatness of our city were to be measured
by an other standard, we could still be
equal IL not in advance of the great ma
1ority of the cities of the country We
have progressive business population
We have numerous prosperous industries
We have an industry that has furnished
steel rails to many other nations. We
have the Colliery Engineer which is prob.
ably better known throughout the world
than any other institution in history. II
l were TO classify that cites of this coun.
| try I should make four classes, third
| class, second class, first class and Scran.
| ton ] was about to say that Scranton
was perfection; that 1t had no fauis
never made any mistakes, but / am ad.
monished by the recent utterance of the
newspapers that l had not better make
! this broad statement. / will refer YOU &c
these journals for information concerning
our hospitablc, progressive city, be il
good or bad, and ] am sure it makes
more firm your already good opinion OF
our city.