The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1900-01-10

4
ment rarely ever calls them farther than
six blocks from their homes. on the
other hand, Is il not a fair presumption
| thst the franchise Is sought for purely
| speculative purposes TO be hawked about
in money centres. By parties who do not
have a single penny invested in Somerset
borough
An argument heard, and one more or
/ les discussed. IS that an electric railway
from the Somenses & Cambria railroad
station 70 the Highland Ion hotel
would be the means Of attracting guests
I b that resort The best answer 10 that
proposition Is that the borough OF Somer-
Sc. has DO direct Interest in the Highland
Inn aud should not be called upon to
share the responsibility for the success or
failure Of that enterprise.
The obiigz;ions resting upon council
70 aid and encourage every public enter
prise looking towards increasing the i'm
portznee Of the municipality. opening
new avenues for the employment Of the
people and the establishment of public
works or industries. can not be gzinssid.
but il council Sesire 70 promote street
railways for the purpose OF securing in
creased trade for our merchants and basi-
ness men. thereby contributing 70 The
expansion Of cur commercial interests
and the general prosperity OF the COM
munity. v by should il not solicit and in
duce capital TO construct an electric rail-
way 10 the great coal field Of which
Listie-lsss than Eve miles distRnt-is
fast becoming populOGs eentres The
capitalists who have invested their thoUs-
Ands in aud about Listie. who have
swsllei the volume OF business transact
ed in Somerset during the pas, few years
70 an unprecedented degree. have not
themselves or permitted their agents 10
ask the borough Of Somerset to lend them
any assistance or 70 contribute 20 their
commercial success by voting them q
franchise Of valuable public property.
A street railway trAvsrsing portion Of
Patriot, Main Cross and Main streets. con-
strucsed on the lines which rumor says
the proposed ordinance will confer 70 the
parties seeking franchise, viii compel
the municipalify-tbe tzxpsyers-tO a.
sumo the duty Of keeping the rozdbed on
both sides OF the proposed electric lire.
from <iihin one foot Of the rails 70 the
water tzbles. in q constant state Of good
repair, and in order 70 do this the ex-
penditure u large sum Of public money
viii be annually required The con-
sIruciiou OF street railway would dou b.
les prove advantageous % the owners Of
ths Highland Ian and vO1ld serve 70
induce nany people 10 travel in the d.
recsiOn OF their hotel, bat az this time ii
must result in serious and lasting disad
vantage 70 the taxpayers and citizens,
Enndre5s Of whom are sn1iously wait
ing for the municipality 20 make or re
pair rozdbeds in front Of their premises.
Somersst mas expanded more the pass
sonrs Of years than in any similar period
Of her growth: new streets have been
aud more viii bs-bnilt up. and The mu-
nicip4l authorities viii. and OF light
should be compelled %, place the new
streets in al least 8 pass2ble condition
The grezI mass Of taxpayers will not rsst
content when they see the bulk OF the
taxes collected sOr strees purposes ex-
pended on few ihoroaghfares utilized
By favored parties. who in this case sp-
pear TO have no comfy Of interest. bGt
VINO seek by stealth AEd cunning 70 fileh
from the sovereign people pn5lie prop
erTy OF inestimzble value
Osher sources OF expense 10 which the
taxpayers will render themsels - Liable
ub,rfa shas- zz-x-urf. l., ..,.,r..sl r--.us
the franchise. which it is alleged they
viii be called upon 70 grant to-morr0w
nj ht. will present themselves 70 the
thoughtful reader.
The borough has entered into = con-
tracs for the construction Of certain por-
tions Of a system Of pabIic sewers. work
on which will be under way by April
18th next The obstruction OF = street
railway a. the same time may not inier-
fere with that work, which j. the most
important the town has ever undertaken
and the success Of which : = matter o
anxious concern 10 every citizen. bat q
street railway will prove a serious B.
sizcle and source Of additional expense
when the time arrives for putting d)Nn 4
lateral sewer connections
Last year council went 70 great expense
to have . correct survey and sn official
r.Sap OF the town corporation made, and
TO have grade lines established Nith
view TO compelling property holders 20
ultimately comply with the lines there
laid down. 80 that when the question OF
street paving arises one OF ihs chief items
Of contention will have been disposed OF.
A street railway Constructed OF the pres
ent formation aud grades Of the streets il
Is proposed - traverse, Eould stand in
the way Of carrying The lsgdabls object,
. starr On which has Already been made,
into effect
The people Of SonerSe; have dsmOn-
s;rSted their enterprise and zbilityto car
y forward pubic improvements in such
sorcibIe manner rs 70 win the CON-
mendasion Of al wbO visit here, and the
HERALD Is firmly convinced that when
the necessity arises for better means Of 10
cal transportation. some Of Cur home pso-
pie viii bs prepared 70 Ssk for the privi-
lege OF Supplying il. whether il be troll
ley line OF an elevzssd or underground
railway
Few Of the many people the HEPALD
representative has interviewed on the
sahject knew that an effort Was being
made 10 have an oriinsncs pass council
giving a valuable public franchise % 3
representative Of sn unknown syndicate.
and expressed their sm<zsmsot that such
step should be seriously contemplated
beE0rs the fAct was made known % the
people whose property Il is proposed %
convey have been given notice and aDipi-
opportunity 70 be heard. The mater