Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1900-01-05
BEAUTY AND THRIFT
HAPPILY ccXs,N-o ~ r9c CITY or
NlIKEsBsRRE.

queen a. the Upper Susquehanna.
TIE siIahSCr who first sets foot within
ler gates is justified in calling this
pretty place city Of surprises. To
ole unacquainied with the anthracite
regions the fact that Wilkesharre i ia
the center OF the coal district leads him
10 picture the city as a Eriuiy. Sooiy.
Ia:aslacklr sort Of town. propl.'d main
" w.;b hlaricned miners who content
thu uSelvcs AMI thrive on coal dust
laden atmosphere. wearing lamps in
their bats AMI carrying powder cans
ami picks Ia their hands. In fact. any
town ia the heart of the mining zone
is supposed Ivy very many people 10 I've
good place 10 stay away from.
t-nless the stranger In town knows
his geography hr must needs he told
that he Is In the chief city of the great
est eoaliell in the country, says the
Philadelphia Press. Nothing in his
surroundings would give him an init
Ma tiLn Of such a thing. The business
streets. wide. well paved and clean;
the blocks Of handsome business struc-
lures. the public buildings. banks,
churches. hotels in brick. granite. stone
ana rrarblc: the broad sidewalks, the
great department stores, the busy tIaf-
fic and the well equipped electric roads.
the throngs of people. the handsome.
well dressed women and the skies blue
as the canopy Of Matchmaking in
the situation suggestive of coal mining.
is there?
wilkcsbarrp has over IS miles of
streets constructed of asphalt, vitri-
fled brick and Belgian block. 1t Is ex-
ccp,ionally well lighted. both by gas
and electric lights. and is plentfully
supplied with pure soft water from
vario3s mountain streams.
Public and private buildings are
heated 10y steam heat. furnished by a
steam heat company. from service
pipes connected with two large steam
boiler plants.
The local government is that of cities
of the third class. being vested in Il
mayor and select and common coun-
els. Wilkesbarre is well governed
and orderly city. The municipal build
ing is handsome and imposing struc-
ture. built of red stone from the near
by Quarries in Laurel run. The county
courthouse. which stands In the center
of the city square. Is considered too
small for present needs. and the ques-
ton of new one and where it shall
be erected is just now claiming the at
tention of the citizens.
'lhere are 20 schOolhouses In the
city. valued at over half million dol
las, besides which there are several
parochial schools. two converts. a
seminary. academy and private schools.
There are between so and 60 church
es In the city, many of them being of
great architectural beauty and very
costly.
The population of Wilkesbarre Is
composite. There is an element COM
posed of those descended from the ear
ly settlers. with large addition of
sturdy English, Scotch, Irish and
Welsh men and thrifty Germans, with
a small proportion of Poles, Hunga-
rians, Italians and Armenians.
The population Of the city is between
5O,0O0 and 10000. Wilkesbarre is sur
rounded by n number of nearby small
placed in close communication with II
by a network of railways and electric
roads. The aggregate population of
this nest of towns and cities Is about
10000 The number of souls in Lu-
Zerne county is but little less than 300,-
900.
The city draws its name from John
Wilkes and Colonel Barre. two mem
brrs of the British parliament who
espoused the cause of the colonies
From 1ITI2, the date Of its first govern
mpnt. up to the discovery of anthracite
coal It's growth was slow. but since
that important event the development
OF the coal industry has resulted in q
rapid growth of population and is the
foundation of the wealth II enjoys to-
day. 1t IL said that outside of the
cities of Providence. II. L.. and Port
land. Or. Wilkesbarre is the richest city
in proportion to its population in the
United States and the third richest IL
the world.
Wealth. refinement and culture are
in evidence everywhere. All the lux
uries of life are here. Beautiful homes
a beautiful city. rural surrounding
that have thrilled the hearts of poet!
and painters-all conditions calculated
10 make life worth living are here il
fullest measure.
While coal is at the bottom of 1t all
it must not be supposed that Wilkes
barre is devoted to that one industr!
nlone. Some of the best known ant
largest interests in the line of manu-
featuring Industries are here. Herr
the conditions necessary for the exist
cnce Of profitable enterprises are fount
In profusion. 1t Is the natural hom
Of manufactures where cheap fuel
cheap power. good labor and perfec
shipping facilities are to be found. Il
the first place. the citizens of Wilkes
barre are enterprising and liberal. an
good locations for factories are avail
able to legitimate enterprises at com
paratively little cost.
The manufacturing industries nov
in operation here include some Of tn
largest in the country.
AS to the shipping facilities. the TO
lowing lines pass through or have tel
minals here: Lehigh Valley railroad
Central Railroad of New Jersey. Penn
sylvana railroad. Delaware and Hud
son railroad. Delawa Lackawann
and Western railroaa and Wilkesbarr
Rnd Eastern nov Erie SYSTEM. There
by are guaranteed cheap rates an
splendid service ia every direction.
Wasting Public Money.
The building of macadam roads Of
ferS OPPORTUNITIES for manifold mis-