The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-04-10
TOWN TOPICS.

Memorial park is trying hard to force
Il smile of spring, though it is not re-
ceiving much assistance or encourage
ment from Old Sol. However. there
is a suspicion of IL smile in the big cir
cular bed at the eastern end of the
park. The tulip bulbs that ParklIeeper
Richard Udey planted Il few days ago
have already pushed their heads above
ground. The moisture of the past few
days has greatly accelerated their
growth and many of them are Il
healthy and pleasing sight. With few
rays of sunshine. which are not far
Off. they would begin to bud, and in Il
few days more, Il bed of color would
reflect the first smile of spring. The
grass in the park grows higher each
day and some of the smaller bushes are
beginning to show buds.
1t wont be but n very few days now
until the park will be in the first stage
of the beauty with which it greets Car
bondalians from the bright springtime
until the melancholy days of fail.
1t would be quite timely now for
Common Councilman Whitfield to res
urect the general sidewalk ordinance
which he introduced in council some
weeks ago, but which was not given
the reception to which it was certainly
entitled.
The backwardness of Carbondale in
the matter of sidewalks is so patent
that it would he more humorous than
sensible to debate upon the truth of
such Il condition. While Il good deal
was done last year by City Engineer
Kupp in compelling property owners
to lay sidewalks, over a mile of flag
ing being laid, he was not empowered
to enforce the general carrying out of
these improvements, Improvements
that are ii crying necessity. There was
needed IL general ordinance, like the one
prepared and introduced by Mr. Whit
field, but later uncermoniously set
aside. But why this attitude towards
such an important and reasonable
measure no one could or can apparent
ly explain.
The ordinance is far from being un-
reasonable, 1t provides that side
walks be laid ON all streets of the city,
the size of the flag in different localities
being specified, where the grade has
been established and accepted by the
city. Mr.. Smith cannot go ahead and
lay sidewalk in front of his property,
while his neighbor contents himself
Will II iiltu 1oit. iHe ItlOllll llluSt
be consistent, If there is an mgraded
street, the property owners should petit
ton councils to have the thoroughfare
graded. After the grade has been ac-
cepted by the city, ii is obligatory upon
the property owners to sidewalk the
street. But no step can be taken until
the property owners that Is majority
of them, have expressed their willing
ness. 1t is plain, therefore, that there
Is nothing wrong about the measure.
1t simply payes the way for general
carrying oat out of am improvement
that is one Of the biggest factors i'm a
city's grogress. Without well-paved.
we'll lighted and we'll kept streets, no
city can move forward, but without
mem, ii can easily enough retrograde.
The Tribune heartily commends Mr..
Whitfield's measure to the new coun-
ellis, both at the behest of it's own
Judgment and ef numerous property
owners who appreciate the need of
such an ordinance.
Speaking of improvements recalls the