The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1913-04-25

-four, rum, molasses and all kinds OF
goods and wares, long before the
Lackawanna Railroad was dreamed
of and Honesdale was quite a con-
siderable town while the frogs in
the ponds where the Scranton Court
House now stands made the night
lively with their music.
Honesdale was the home of those
connected with and employed by the
Canal Company and the merchants
who sold goods in this entire vicinity.
1t was incorporated as borough in
1881 and it was not manufactur-
ing but residential place.
We all remember the gloomt which
settled over us when the lasN canal
boat left here on November D, 1898
and the canal was forever closed af-
ter most honorable and useful ca
reer. Property deprecated in value
to such an extent that houses and lots
in Texas township were sold for $400
and $500 which cost $500 and
$780,.
1t was then, however, that the citi-
zens of Honesdale said 1--WE cannot
die," and as an indirect result of the
establishment over fifty years ago, OF
that plant at White Mills which has
done so much for Wayne county in
an industrial way, other glass con-
Germs were started in Honesdale and
other factories were erected.
We recall the old play houses: the
rink, never thoroughly warmed un-
til burned by fire. How we pitied the
actors in their fruitless efforts to
keep warm. Liberty Hall, difficult
n o,,I 10 nf /.
and the old armory, where the voices
of the speakers were lost amongst
the vacant rafters. Yet in spite OF
all these discomfitures, many a
pleasant and profitable evening was
spent in each of these houses, and
when the old armory became a glass
cutting establishment, public spirited
men said that we needed a house in
which to entertain, instruct and
amuse the people of the town, and
the result is that we have one of the
finest opera houses of it's size in the
whole state of Pennsylvania.
A new high school building was
erected, an, armory procured, and in a
period of eleven years, from 1898 to
1903, so many glass factories were
started that Honesdale and Wayne
county became one of the most pros
porous places in the state of Penn
sylvania, and at that time was max
ing and cutting more and better glass
than any county in the world. Many
buyers came here and the reputation
of Honesdale glass extended over the
whole country.
The unfortunate occasion and
troubles which caused the removal of
one of our glass factories to De-
posit, one to Towanda, one to
Stroudsburg, one to Barryville and
another to Hallstead are still fresh in
our minds. Again property depre-
ciated in value, the glass cutters be-
came scattered over the country, and
those who had endeavored to start
the factories and those who had TAX
en- an interest in our industrial well
fare felt much discouraged.
Industrial conditions remained at
a standstill and little effort was
made by the people of Honesdale to
get other factories here until it was
announced that the Gurney Elec-
tric Elevator Company, which had
become we'll established and had a
splendid career and excellent reputa-
ton, must have new accommoda-
tions and if they could not get them
here would go elsewhere.
1t was then that the Board of
Trade, the citizens of Honesdale, two
names of whom especially should be
and have been mentioned, Mr.. L.
Blumenthal and Mr.. Robert Murray,
and the banks of our town all said
that the elevator works must not
leave, and the result of the work of
the Board of Trade, of the banks and
of our public spirited citizens is
shown in this building, of which you
have heard so much and which you
now see, and which will give employ
ment to several hundred good men.
The glass factories are again being
filled and some of the wanderers are
returning home, property is again in
creasing in value and at present
Honesdale and all of Wayne county
is in a most fiourishing and prosper
Gus condition.
Our industries are not so large as
to create monopolies; none have be-
come so rich that they are in danger
of being indicted for predatory
wealth." and none are even accused
of having become too wealthy nor of
having acquired i'll gotten gains.
Enough has been said of the past
and present industrial condition of
Honesdale, but what of the future ?
At the present time much uncer-
tainty in manufacturing and other
kinds of business is experienced by
reason of the possible effect of the
Wilson tariff. Wilson, however, is
now our president, and his policies
should be given a fair trial and an