The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-05-29
ABOUT "THAT TOLL GATE IN
THE PARK"

Editor Of The Tribune
Sir: The talk about moving the Elmhurst boul.
evard toll.gatc out of the park and giving the
use of the bridge and the most expensive part
of the road for the free use of the public is
puerie, and would not be worthy Of notice by
fair.minded business men excepting for the
prominence given the subject by an editorial in
The Tribune, and the only thing that raises
that to the dignity of discussion is because Of
the writer's ignorance OF the facts or his mani
fest unfairness in dstorting them, which if al
lowed to pass unchallcnged might lead to Great
ing false public sentiment
The facts are that a number of public spirited
gentlemen realizing the necessity of a pleasant
and safe driving road out of town and apprecat-
ing the advantages that would accrue to the city
Of Scranton if such road or boulevard was
built, secured the right of way, organized a
company, got the stock subscribed, procured a
charter and built the Emhurst boulevard, 90
per cent of the stock being subscribed without
promise of profit or hope of reward other than
the satisfaction that attends the knowledge of
having accomplished an undertaking that would
benefit the city and contribute TO the pleasure
and health Of its people; the road was COM
pleted at a cost OF about sixty thousand dollars,
its operation has scarcely furnished revenue
sufficient to pay the interest on its bonds and
proper maintenance
way through the territory now comprising Nay
Aug park before it was known that the city
would own or control said land for park pur-
poses The fact that the city afterwards ac-
Qured land on both sides Of the right of way
for park purposes in no way abridgCs the rights
Of the boulevard company iustihes a clamor to
give a portion of its property or the use of it
to the city without compensation. Ii the toll
house should be moved out of the park the use
,f Il, IriJ md 1at of hp N
the parl; would be much greater than now, and
the wear and cost of maintenance would he
correspondingly increased, besides park roads on
the city side Of toe toll house could then inter
sect other roads so as to go around the toll house
and thus reduce the tolls so the income would
not be sufficient to pay interest on the bonds
and keep the road in repair.
The park commissioners should not be so zeal
GUS of their trust as to lose sight of the fact
| that the same interests and motives are back OF
the boulevard that prompts the purchase and i'm
| provemcnt of parks and that one public interest
| should not be advanced to the injury of another
The writer of this is not persuaded that the
parI, being located on the city end of the boulo
ward has as alleged, added to the revenue o
| the company. On the other hand the park has
| been brought into prominence by reason of tho
| great pleasure traffic through the park to reacl
| the more desirable and beautiful roadway he
| yond, and it is fair TO assume that II would
| have been years before the beauties and advan
tages of Nay Aug park could possibly have beer
| appreciated or understood as they are now haC
it not been for this peerless mountain drive at
| tracing hundreds of persons daily through thu
park The boulevard is making the park. Th'
park can add no attractions to the Nay Aus
| Falls and Elmhurst boulevard.
U. G. Schoonmaker.
| Scranton, May 2S.