Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1902-08-21
Open Letter to rlr. S. S. Hacket.
My DEAR Mr.. HACKET:-

MY DEAR MR.. HACKET:--
Replying to your communication ad-
dressed to me, and published in the In
dependent, of August 14th, [ beg to say,
that [ have no recollection of having ever
endeavored to convince any one that
Mr.. S. S. Hacket was, is, or ever has
been opposed to Improvements in the
middle Or west wards. Such proselytism
would surely be rank supererogation. /
have mentioned, casually, to perhaps two
or three persons, that Mr.. Hacket seemed
to obiectto decent road up town, although
no one, to the best of my knowledge, had
ever heard him kick on any expenditure
of public funds in the East ward, especi-
ally if said improvement was to be made
near his property, as instance the finest
stone crossing in the borough, laid by
public funds, directly in front of your
property in the East ward, just where it
answers as a sidewalk Tor one end of the
"red store"
However, none ofthe persons to whom
| have spoken have seemed in the least
surprised or appeared to need any "con-
vincing." They have, to be sure, made
some quite earnest and energetic remarks,
which not being intended for publication
| refrain from repeating.
As to road making, Mr.. Hacket, opin-
ions certainly do honestly differ. There
are no doubt a few people who think IA
thin skin Of cndcrs. few inches in
thickness, scattered over the top of long
stretch Of highway, makes very salts
factory Main Street for a iowa of 5000
inhabitants, and a County Seat at that.
And then again there are others. Who
do not feel that way. | agree with you
that the road from the Methodist church
to the railroad, and up Portage has prov
en- quite satisfactory-for about a year
at a cost Of $500. Ordinary use OF the
road, however, has already pushed the
cinders to the sides and jamued them in
to the mud so that the center Of the road
is already lower than the sides. In one
year or two the cinders on this model
strip will, in my opinion, be entirely out
of sight, in the mud, unless more cinder
is continually being hauled to the
center, and this process has already
commenced. This idea of road making,
with cinders substituted for mnd, grass,
sticks and stones, is the one that has
prevailed in this country ever since the
Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock. In
my opinion, a road kept in fair condition
on any such plan as this is altogether too
expensive for any benefits received. OF
course it is entirely impossible to main
tain any regular grade in this way, and
it is only question of time when resi-
dents will need to 90 up stairs when they
desire to see across the street.
The plan adopted by Council is along
the line advocated by your Burgess for
years 1t has always seemed to me that
it was best and most economical in the
end to build road right to begin with.
even if only short distance could be
done at a time.
As to your suggestion of partiality, my
dear Mr.. Hackct, ! very much doubt if
it would have occurred to any one else.
The location for the permanent repairs
was chosen because it is the worst stretch
of road on Fourth ST., and not because
any particular person lives or does not
live in that locality.
1t is really immaterial where the I'M
provement begins, the idea being to add
to it from time to time until Fourth
street is entirely covered, and Allegheny
Avenue, also, unless you object TOO strenu-
ously.
With kind regards, and assurances Of
my most distinguished consideration, [
remain,
Yours sincerely,
Il. o. BARDwELL, Burgess.
Emporium, Pa, August 20, 902,