Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1899-07-23
Scio AS She Is.

oclO, W. July AAsT-fAdu ooAuc tHtehT
prising genius with stacks OF money
and no use for 1t, come to this valley
year ago for about q million and a
half, to give gness rather than go to
the trouble to look over the assessors
books. he could have bought Scio, and
the country round for three OF four
miles. Had he thrown his money away
in such a ridiculous manner he could
now sell out and clean up profit Of
probably 100 per cent or more, besides
saying nothing OF the full amount Of
his capital, and perhaps more, being
paid back to him by the oil wells that
have developed on the property. How
ever, Scio is not a perpetual golden
stream. The climax has passed, and
already the town is ready to say with
Cardinal wolsey: "The third day
comes frost, and when he thinks,
good, easy man, his greatness is a-rip-
ening, nips his roots, and then he falls
as do" Seio has seen bhe sudden tide
of fortune sweep over her, and she has
seen the turn of the tide, and is now
settling down to staid and be-
smirched oil town. The oil produc-
tion Is not far below the highest
known in the territory, but 1t has set
tied to a practical certainty, and while
drilling is active, yet at the front the
boundaries are so we'll defined that the
remaining work consists in sinking
holes, claiming the prize and getting
the money. Scio is simple PROPOSE
ton now, and the excitement and the
sensational have we'll nigh ceased.
One OF the most certain signs is that
the rats have deserted the ship. The
speak-easies and the gamblers have
tanned down. The vaudeville theaters
have taken in their posters, although a
new one is to try another series OF
shows on the public this week in the
hope of picking up some Of the float
ing change. But the saloon, which
gained some degree OF boldness last
spring, and the green cloth, which
fourished at the same timep have
grown less conspicuous and Scio is
one of the most dooile towns ever on
the belt Scio never was thoroughly
red-het oil town. For little Ohio
country place 1t warmed up consider
ably, but the Bradford man or the Pit
hole man laughs when the mayor
says that never a shooting affair oc-
Cured in the place, and scarcely
fight that was worthy the name, and
thatthe visible evidence of the Vices
of the village we're the occasional
drunks who were fined $5 and costs
or sent to work on the street rock pile.
Last spring, while the excitement
was at he highest. the "Uitlanders"
attempted to elect some councilmen.
But the natives held the situation In
hand from the beginning, and elected
the council and at the same time the
mayor. With legislative and execu-
tive authority both in,the hands of the
conservative population, they have
been masters of the situation steadily
But the giddlness which prevailed in
the spring has worn itself out The
Ave policemen have given away to a
single one, and he has not much to do
In two or three places there are evil
dences that liquor is surreptitlously
sold, but Mayor George o. Cannaga
says that as fast as the policeman gets
evidence enough he makes arrests and
fines are imposed or work house sent
ences given. Scio has never had a liq-
our license, and there are no signs
now that any will ever be granted
The decision of the college board to
keep the institution at Sclo Is one of
the best indications that thetemporaFy
tendency to lawlessness has had its
day.