The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-11-21
TOWN TOPICS.

through the streets on Monday night
WITH two live turkeys. one under each
arm, recalled the turkey raffieS which
have always been popular feature of
tho. season of THANKSGIVING. Christmas
ana New Years. 1t also recalled the
fact that these raifles are not in vogue,
not because they do not appeal to the
men with whom they were so popular.
but because Il spirit of opposition has
arisen against them, which last year
succeeded in almost wholly suppress
ing the dice-throwing for the American
bird Of Turkish descent.
This opposition developed among the
butchers of the town and other dealers
in poultry, who believed they had been
injured by the indiscriminate rafilng
for turkeys. The BELIEF was probably
well founded, for more than one saloon-
keeper disposed of Il score Of turkeys in
this manner each Year Last year it
was decided to pui II stop. if possible.
to the practice, and the aid of the law
was invoked. The constables of tho
town. mt least some of them, not all
served notice on those who ii was
known intended to conduct raflles, that
the practice was illegal and would not
be tolerated. The effect was to ma
terially decrease the number of these
popular affairs. This year. the same
opposition is manifest and ii is safe to
say that in several wards OF the town
there will be little. If any. of the raf-
fling of other wears. If it does take
place, it will be carried on without any
attractive advertising beforehand. Just
the patrons of the place will be let into
the knowledge that the dice will bc
shaken. with turkeys as trophies for
the men who are the best lnanipulators
| of tht cubes of bone
OF course, it is not the mere induce
ment of getting Il turkey that attracts
| tho patrons OF these affairs, fol many
! OF them spend for one turkey as much
as two o. three would cost at the mea
| market; it is the numerous side fea :
| tll,S. This makes no difference To the
poultry man. All that he appreciates
| is the loss to himself, and this is what
| moves him IL put Il stop to the prac-
| licc.
City Engineer kupp is accomplishing
| wonders in his work these days of i'm
| proving the roadway leading from Sew
enth avenue w. the hill to the West
! Side, Wagon load upon wagon load of
| filling has been dumped to raise the
roadway from the railroad crossing to
| the brow OF the hill. The aim is to
make il as nearly level us possible he
| tween these two points. This is being
| reached gradually and before another
season old time residents will scarcely
| know This familiar ANA greatly-iravoled
! road. the chief means of access to and
! from the West Side.
| \ view of the improvement shows
| wonderful changes. The contrast is So
! great that one who had not seen the
| hill in years would scarcely recognize
it now. When the old gravity bridge
| of Davis plane SDanned the roadway
the grade Of the hill was on the order
| Of the camel-back railway that one sees
at Atlantic city. There was such IA dir
| in the middle that the momentum
gained by ascending one would send
| you up the other Now the seven OF
eight feet that have been filed gives
only II slight pitch or grade. which. as
advantages permit, Will be made tC
gradually disappear.
The only kick. if amy. that the resi-
dents in that vicinity have just now is
due iu the mud that the soft weathel
has formed from the freshly dumped
dirt; This will be removed, however, il
ii few days, by the liberal applicatio,
OF heavy ashes and cinders.
1t Is needless to add that City En-
sineer KUppS personal attention ant
| supervision of the improvements are
being most favorably commented on
and that he has received many II fcr
vent bcnediction by the change he ha:
| wrought.
The work of removing the trolley ca
tracks ON Belmont street to the Ccnlo
Of the roadway from Clark avenue t.
the city line. is in III. last stages o
completion. news that will be halle,
with satisfaction and delight by team
StcrS and others who of necessity Wer
obliged tn drive over this route from
day 70 day
While the rails remained on one sid
OF the roadway, there was but one de
cent or acceptable driveway. II WAS
case of doing things one-sided, and |
isn't necessary 10 point out the incon
vcnienr" and danger of such Il convent
enc', Councils We're anxious from tn
time Belmont street was paved, 10 hav
the railway company move its rails I
the cente" of the uu9aved portion q
the street. The trolley COMPANY wa
chHracteristiCally tnrdy in responding
and by various preteNts put Off yield
ing TO the city fathers wishes Th
latter have shown themselves to
! blessed with patience, hut in this cas-
fOrbcaranc" ceased 10 ne Il virtue.
was decided 40 nut n stop 10 the dila
tory tactics OF lhr railway people. The
came select Councilman James ThDmr