The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-01-01

and new century is consider
alton of the future of Scran-
ton. This city in many re aspects is at
a turning point. Old conditions and
old men are passing away. New con-
ditions have To be reckoned with and
new men must soon take over in large
measure the burdens of enterprise up
built by their sires.
Coal and iron made Scranton. The
iron is gone; the coal is going. A
population exceeding the hundred
thousand mark must be sustained and
there is just one way in which this
can be done. That Is by local capital
putting its hand into it's strong box
and drawing out funds for investment
in new local industries. This doctrine
has been preached for years. 1t must
now be practiccd. We cannot lose the
steel mills, we cannot witness the
passing of our mines into alien owner
ship and control. We cannot see some
of our foremost men of years gone by
Withdrawing their money from active
enterprise to put it into bonds to eXpe-
dite the adjustment Of their estates
in case of death, which as matter OF
nature must to the older builders of
Scranton come soon-these things can
not be allowed to take place without
steps being taken to counteract them
If the present proportions of our city
and a healthy ratio of growth are to
be maintained.
Scranton is at a turning point and
1t is IA time for plain speech. The men
who made this city came here when
stakes, rolled up their sleeves and
pitched in. They worked like beavers
against all kinds of disadvantages to
create what we see about us now, but
TODAY they are dying or retiring.
Their work must he carried forward
or the city and what they have made
in it will go down. No community
can stand still. No community with
out the steady support of a rich ag-
rlcultural environment can rest on it's
achievements and live on the inter-
est of its deposited savings. Nor can
Scranton be upheld by the kind OF
second generation enterprise which,
having come to wealth by Inheritance
seeks distant fields for investment or
pleasure. Money dug out of Scranton
is of little use to Scranton when in
vested a hundred or a thousand miles
away. Some outside investment is in
cvitable but when the spirit of those
who make it is one of profane indiffer-
encc To ScranSn's welfare in the
years to come the gap thus opened
must be filed.
Is Scranton adequate to thestask of
working out it's own salvation? Ger
iainly it is. History affords no in
stance of a community of it's size going
10 seed within the time limit of two
generations. The capital is here. The
population is here. The opportunities
are here. The splendid foundation
which the fathers laid is here to build
upon, amidst advantages which they
lacked. And we believe that the pub
lie spirit is here but it needs to be
walked mp. Initiative is needed. Lead
ership is demanded. Practical effort
along common sense lines toward spe-
cifc ends is required. iii business as
in politics zeal must he tempered by
Judgment to win. Men who can do
things must take hold and do them
and the kind of public spirit which will
Sustain and esteem them instead of
picking flaws or circulating slanderous
abuse of them must be aroused and
nurtured and made strlkingly mani
fest on every hand.