Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1908-07-09
tween Odd Fellows block and Wood
street, up jumps obiectors and resort
to all kinds of schemes to defeat the
will of majority. Right will prevail.


ANOTHER NEW YORKER ON DECK.
Editor Press
The discussion in the Emporium
papers relative to the paving of Fourth
street appears to have reached point
wherein personalities are indulged.
This question, as every other affecting
the interests of an entire community,
should be freely and fully discussed,
but in an impersonal manner. At the
outset, it is certainly of the greatest
wisdom to view the subject as an eco
nomical question solely, entirely re-
lieved of any feeling of sentiment or
pride. The cost of paving the suggest
ed portion of the street will largely
fall upon widows and men in the late
years of their lives, many of whom can
ill afford the expense. 1t is argued
that such paving will add to the value
of the abutting properties To whom
does such additional value accrue?
Certainly not to the prospective pur-
chaser, and if not to a purchaser, it
does not extend to the owner. The
value of real estate is based upon its
earning or saving properties. 1t is an
indisputable fact that Emporium real
estate has been bringing the utmost
that can be obtained from rentals A
paved street adjoining business
property in your borough will not
command for that property any high
er rent. Neither will man or body
of men looking for location for a
new industry consent the quicker to
establish business within your town
because of paved Fourth street. To
one still interested in the welfare of
the Borough and its citizens, it occurs
that before any paving is done,
proper and sufficient drainage system
should be installed. Your town is ad-
mirably situated to have complete and
efficient drainage of surface water by
other means than a sewer. The rail-
road being built along about the middle
line between the stream and the base
of the mountain, and being several
feet higher than the streets Immediate
ly north, is a constant obstruction to
perfect drainage. Proper openings
under the railroad track and guttering
over all the town should be built at
once to take all surface waters into the
stream. By this means many of the
wet and unsanitary holes in the town
will become real estate in fact as well
as in name. Without such drainage
that portion of the town lying between
Fifth street and the railroad will con-
tlnue to be, as now, the cesspool of the
side hill portion, and any paved por-
tions will be continually covered with
filth and mud.
That paved streets which are not al
ways kept clean are very unsanitary.
cannot be successfully contended
With animal offal being constantly
placed thereon and allowed to remain,
and drying quickly because of the heat
retained by the brick or other paying
materials, the dangerous particles are
carried by each wind TO the human
body, many times far away from the
contaminated point. Thus to avoid
such unsanitary conditions, every city
employs large body of street clean
ers who constantly sweep and remove
all refuse, leaving the surface as clean
as possible. Even with such attention
at times of high wind the dust storms
are often much worse in the cities than
are experienced in your borough.
This condition is not so aggravated
where the streets are macadamized or
built in the ordinary way, for the base
readily absorbs the offensive matter
which quickly assimilatess with the
soil
The agitation for the paving of town
streets is laudable effort under some
circumstances, but in the present case
is i'll advised, because of the lack of
proper surface drainage, the inability
of the borough officials to create the
expense of properly clearing the sur
face so paved, and the Unnecessary
and heavy burden it will be upon the
owners ofreal estate along the propos-
ed section, without adequate return to
the entire community.
Emporium has greater municipal ills
than the unpaved Fourth street. In
stead of creating dissension over such
a subject which leaves a sting, the citi-
zens should endeavor by closer COM
munion to induce outside capital to be-
come interested in industries to be es-
tablished within your town or county.
There are a number of good indus
tries that might be started, cit her with
home or foreign capital. A few sug-
gestions recently made in your papers
are not at all practical. Furthermore
the good name of the town is well ad-
vertised when its citizens and officers
extend equal justice to all, as well to
ohS IdApdyS SI5 anu CiUiASIS, DIS w the
owners of an enterprise
When the business is built up upon
that substantial basis, then can be
argued the increase in value of real
estate, because the price of real prop
erty is also governed by that old law
of supply and demand, and paving
alone will not create the required de-
mand.
Therefore, the investing of like
amount of money proposed as neces-
sary for the suggested paving in
good industry will bring a greater
good to a greater number.
Let not your pride carry you to the
extent of spending your neighbors.
money.
Respectfully.