The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1908-12-09
HARRISBURG LETTER.

DEC. Z, l90S.-In conversation with
DR.. Leonard Pearson, last Saturday af-
ternoon, he told the writer that excellent
work had been done in fighting the foot
under control. Up to this time about
one thousand cattle have been slaugh-
tered, for which the State and National
government must pay, besides some
hundreds of swine. DR.. Pearson has had
personal charge OF the campaign and
has been in all the counties where the
disease appeared. He has shown his
ability and capacity to meet an emer-
gency in most mastery manner, and
deserves lot of credit. As soon rs the
disease is stamped out, some work of in
vestigation will be pushed forward, in
the hope of discovering the source of the
trouble and how it got into Pennsylva-
mia. A hint was given of this, but the
line is not fully run out. Only two ports
are shipping cattle at present, Norfolk
and a town in Maine, and the shipments
are very small. Railroad traffic has been
somewhat interfered with on account of
the quarantines enforced during the prev
alence of the trouble, but this difficulty
is gradually being overcome.
The announcement made of the con-
dtion of the States $ finances at the close
OF the fiscal year has caused the mem
bers of the Legislature to do some think
ing. The State actually paid out more
than three million dollars in excess of its
income, and that means retrenchment.
No increase of revenue is in sight, and
with two years like the last the surplus
of seven millions would disappear, a
condition that the State has not faced
for long time. Fortunately the State
is practically out of debt, having enough
in the Sinking Fund to pay off all the
debt but about $4S 900, and most of this
item is provided for by special fund of
which the Girard Trust Company is
Trustee. More money for roads, for the
insane, and for schools will be asked for
at the next session, and it will be the
part of wisdom to plan for other sources
of taxation if this is to be followed out.
Hon. John F. Cox, of Allegheny, is
out with statement that he is to be the
next Speaker, being assured of the sup
port of the Philadelphia and Allegheny
members, as we'll as of the State organ
ization. Mr.. Moyer, of Lebanon, seems
to be out of the fight, so the speaker
ship fight is narrowed down to Cox and
McClain.
Wayne county certainly has just cause
to be proud of her banking institutions,
and the showing made in the advertise
ments last week speaks volumes for the
thrift and worth Of the people of tho
northeast. If all the money banked in
/ Scranton, Carbondale, Forest City AND
towns along the Delaware, in New York
could be kept in Wayne county, The
showing would surprise us. Some OF
the younger banks in Wayne compare
very favorably with institutionsin larger
towns, longer in the business. Home
management and careful methods have
much to do with creating and keeping
the confidence OF the public.
Wayne county should have an lIistpr-
ical Society. Much OF the earlier history
OF the county could be preserved ior re-
ference by means oi such an organi2a
ton and there would he no doubt OF il
success if started along the right lines
Scores OF volumes would undoubtedl,
be contributed to form the nucleus of ;
library, and all information of an histor
ical nature would gravitate toward it
How much OF importance that happened
during our first hundred years can b'
secured by reliable data now, and how
much harder it will be to get it togethe
twenty years later. Organize, lest W
forget.
Streams in this part of the State ar
the lowest ever known for this time o
the year, and while winter has not full!
got its grip on us, the prospect of ris
in the waters is rather remote. On al
sides is heard great complaint On &C
count of the drouth. n. f. HAUsE.
, IT.. A., D-uH neei.o n.Aa.