The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1901-10-02

those VINO favored MIN. were glad OF
it, and no one has questioned it since,
except the Democratic convention.
THE Democratic platform says that
The legislature proceeded to that 9th.
er and greater robbery Of the railway
franchises of the state worth millions
to the plunderers and stripping every
city. town and township in the com.
monwealth OF the proper control Of
its streets for trolley improvements.
This is most ridiculous statement, as
well as a false one, and made with the
thought tht no one would take the
pains to read the laws, but would take
their word for it. The law relating to
surface street railways is simply an
amendment TO the street railway act
Of 1889, and gives the councils OF cities
and towns the right to permit the oc.
cupation Of streets that other com.
panies have abandoned, but still claim
to have exclusive rights upon.
THE elevated and underground rail.
way law is new and became necessary
to relieve thickly congested streets in
large cities. The supreme court had
decided that there was no authority to
build and operate an elevated railway.
Both laws, however provide that the
consent Of councils must first be OBJ.
tanned The laws simply give the
power to councils to grant the right.
There is not and cannot be any valid
objection to the laws, because the con.
sent to build must first be obtained
from the people affected through their
representatives in councils. There
may be applications to councils for
rights over streets where the necessity
for roads is disputed. but this is a
question for the people themselves to
determine through their representa-.
tives in council. The laws are wholly
unobjectionable. The railways con.
templated in many instances may be
Objectionable. If city or town should
object to a railroad through 1t that
is no reason why there should be no
railroad laws. But surely these laws
do not strip every city. town and
township in the commonwealth Of the
proper control of its streets. as
charged in the Democratic platform.
MANY GOOD GENERAL LAWS.
Il will not discuss local laws af.
fescting cities of the different classes,
nor the laws specially affecting Dor.
oughs and townships. II will be found
that the representatives of the major.
ity Of the municipalities affected by
the local laws passed supported them
and voted for their passage. The gen.
eral laws passed by this legislature
are very important | undertake to
say that this last legislature passed
more good and necessary general laws
than any legislature within the last 20
years. have only time to mention a
few of them. The act establishing
the department of forestry is one of
the first, as well as one OF the most
important. The state has purchased
and agreed to purchase about 324, 900
acres Of forest land at an average
cost of s1.SS per acre. These lands
have already largely increased in
value. The commission was offered
the other day $25,00O in advance Of
what they paid for one large tract. In
a few years these lands will produce
a considerable state revenue from the
sale Of ripened timber, coal and oil.
Germany gets the greater part Of her
revenue from her forests. Besides.
the forests are preserved; the streams