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Pottsville Republican of March 8, 1912

SCHUYLKILL HAVEN TO PAVE DOCK STREET

Schuylkill Haven Town Council, at the regular meeting held Monday night, decided to pave Dock Street in that
town. It will be recalled that an ordinance was drawn up some months ago providing for the paving of this street
and the collection of the money for the same. A petition, supposed to have been signed by two thirds of the
property owners, was presented by attorneys and the act under which the ordinance was drawn was pointed out
as having been repeated. On the advice of the borough solicitor, J. A. Noecker, at the last meeting of council,
final action was postponed to enable him to look further into the matter. Solicitor Noecker stated that, after going
carefully over the matter, he had changed his mind and the act of May 12, 1911, under which the present
ordinance was drawn, was not repealed, neither was the act of 1889, under which Main and Saint John Streets
were paved. He had his reasons typewritten and cited case after case in which the Supreme Court has recently
upheld the several paving acts. It was pointed out to council that there was no time like the present one for the
paving of the street. If the property owners abutting along this thoroughfare were to take the matter into court
there would probably be a delay of some time. This would mean that during the summer months the Eastern
Pennsylvania railway Company would lay new track throughout the town and instead of helping to pave as they
want to at the present time, they would simply fill up the track and eighteen inches on each side with trap rock.
When the time came for paving, it would then be up to the property owners along the street to pay four fifths of
the cost instead of about two thirds for the reason that the traction company would refuse to take out the trap rock
and then pave at an additional cost.
C. E. Berger appeared before council and stated he was representing the McWilliams estate and John Ebling and
probably several other persons. He appealed to council not to pass the ordinance at this time and while he gave
one or two points of law, he attempted to appeal to the members of council as men and property owners. He
stated that the time might come when the state would run a road through the borough connecting the two state
roads. He believed it was only a question of a short time before council would be compelled to install a sewerage
system throughout the town and that would mean tearing up the streets. There was no telling, stated Mr. Berger,
when the Reading Company would decide to remove the shops and depopulate the town, the same as they did in
Auburn. There is a probability that when the Saint Clair yards are completed, the Reading Company will order its
men to move closer to their work. He failed to see where the paving of Dock Street was going to increase the
value of the property along that thoroughfare or add one dollar more in rental value to places. He believed that
there were persons who could not afford to pay for the paving in front of their places of business or homes at the
present time and that in some cases it would be taking the widow's mite away from her. Mr. Berger stated that
there were but possibilities and he had no way of knowing them for a positive fact.
In answer to the above statement, Solicitor Noecker and members of council stated that when Main Street was
paved, John Ebling came to council or a number of its members and stated that council was beginning at the
wrong end of town, that they should have started at his place. Now when council decides to start in front of his
place, he objects. It was also stated that the petition supposed to have been signed by two thirds of the property
owners was taken around by a John Smith who owns no property on that street and who resides on Broadway.
Solicitor Noecker stated that if the State Highway Department decided to take over this section of the town, it
would mean that council would have to sign over its entire rights to the state forever, that the state would pave
only sixteen feet of it and that if in the future, council would care to enlarge the street or dig it up for any purpose,
the consent of the state would first have to be secured. Members of council were of the opinion that the cost
would not have to be paid by the property owners on one year or as soon as the work was completed. It was
stated that one, two, or even more years could be allowed for the payment of the work. Special bonds, bearing
interest of five or six percent, could be issued and a sinking fund created. As the money was paid into the sinking
fund, the bonds could be paid and when the bonds were paid, the cost of paving the street was paid. Several of
the members of council were of the opinion that in case there was a person or persons who were unable to pay
for their portion of the paving, council might find a way to help them or probably exonerate them entirely. It was
one of the most lengthy sessions of council held in recent months and some excellent arguments, both for and
against the paving, were called to council's attention. A petition, signed by nearly eighty owners of horses and
carriages, auto owners, and people who are compelled to use this street daily was presented, asking for the
paving.
Councilman Moore stated that every year since he has been a member, a letter of notice has been received from
the court, directing council to repair the street. President Brown stated that he is a property owner along the
street and that it would affect him the same as anyone else. He stated that the members of council were the
servants of the people and it was up to the former to take care of them and spend their money as they thought just
and proper. President Brown then stated he would vote for the paving on the grounds that in the course of a few
years it would be all paid and that it would be a saving to the taxpayers in the long run. It was also stated that
while a large number of the property owners did not sign the petition, they were in favor of paving. The members
of Christ Lutheran Church, reverend Smoll, pastor, were heartily in favor of the paving and on Sunday last, the
members of saint Matthew's Lutheran Church, at a congregational meeting, voted for the paving without a
dissenting vote. The members of council were informed that they were living in an age of paving and everything
all over the country, was for the improvement and the betterment of the roads. The following members of council
voted for the paving: Kauffman, Moore, Berkheiser, Saul, Yost, Betz, Brown and Small. Against were: Weiss, Carr
and Rooney. McKeone was absent.

Pottsville Republican of April 12, 1912

SCHOOL NOTES

The high school baseball team is now practicing and arranging a schedule of games. The need of the patronage of
the public at the games, to which about ten cents admission is charged, is manifest. Necessary expenses must be
made up: the guarantees, the purchase of balls, rent of grounds, etc. The games are usually played on Fridays,
when most men cannot get of from work. Let those men and women who can come to the games patronize them
liberally or the team will be compelled to disband, without a chance to show what the boys can do. Come out to
the games.
A special Arbor Day program was rendered by the boys of the high school on Friday. After the exercises, eight
hundred trees were distributed to the pupils of the schools for planting and instructions given on how to plant
them. The trees were presented to the schools by Dives, Pomeroy and Stewart of Pottsville.
The school board held an adjourned meeting on Monday night. Several truancy cases that were left over from the
previous meeting were taken up and disposed of. Teachers orders were reported as becoming due before the
board will meet again but no action was taken in the matter. In regard to the tax levy, no action was taken. The
teachers requested that the present system of drawing be changed as it was pronounced of little value by the
state inspector. A special teacher in drawing should be secured or if that was not advisable, to give the first two
grades the materials to teach drawing in a manner set forth by the state. The question of abolishing or changing
the old system was left over for the May meeting.
The introduction of Winslow geography readers was taken up. The teachers were requested by the board at a
previous meeting to examine these books and pass judgement on their use. The board adopted Book Eleven of
the series on the United States for use in the eighth grade and desk copies to be given the other instructors
teaching geography. By direction of the Supply Committee, five gallons of ink were ordered to finish the term.
Because of the work and expense entailed by the present method of securing reports from employers, the
principal was instructed to notify all employers that hereafter they are required to send in the lists of their
employees between the ages of fourteen and sixteen regularly and according to the law.

Pottsville Republican of April 16, 1912

SCHUYLKILL HAVEN ADOPTS "T" TROLLEY RAIL

Schuylkill Haven council at a general meeting held Monday evening decided to allow the Eastern Pennsylvania
Railway Company to use a "T" rail in relaying their tracks on Dock Street in this town. In his opening remarks,
President Brown stated that the purpose of the meeting was to determine the kind of rail to be used by the
Traction Company and also how the work of paving Dock Street should be done, whether by the borough or by
contract, and transaction of other business. He went on to state that council had examined the "T" rail at
Tamaqua, Lansford and Mount carbon and in his opinion the work at Mount Carbon was the best of the three.
Councilman Saul made a motion to allow the company to lay the "T" rail and his motion was seconded. When the
question was called, Councilman Weiss stated that some time ago he had been in conversation with a
representative of Bethlehem Steel Company regarding the several makes of rail. This representative, who is a
Schuylkill Haven boy, informed him that the "T" rail was no better than the other but that it was cheaper and for
that reason it was advocated by the officials of all traction companies. Council were informed that more rolling
and more handling were necessary on the other rails and for that reason were dearer. Council was also made
aware of the slot rail. These rails are in use in large cities. It was stated that on Saint John Street, the rails in
some places were spreading. Only a three quarter inch bolt holds the rails in place and it requires but a very little
jar to break the bolt. Councilman Yost stated that the girdle rails are not center bearing and for that reason he
would advise against the "T" rail. When the vote on the question was again called after a lengthy discussion, all
members voted for the "T" rail with the exception of Weiss and Smoll.
Council decided it would advertise in the Pottstown, Reading and Philadelphia newspapers for bids for the laying
of pavement on Dock Street. It would then be determined whether the work should be done cheaper by council or
if the prices of the contractors were interesting, it might be given to them.
Irvin Lautenbacher appeared before council and stated that the wall to rear of both his property and that of Mrs.
Hannums had fallen into the Schuylkill Canal. He wanted to know what council would do in the matter. The
question then arose whether council had ever accepted the alley as a street. No one was present that could
answer the question and it was referred to the borough solicitor.

Pottsville Republican of April 23, 1912

BURGESS ADDRESSES MOVING PICTURE SHOW

Burgess Hartman again called the attention of council to the conditions of the moving picture show and how the
management was crowding the people and blockading the aisles. He stated that one night last week not only were
both aisles crowded but the sides also and that, after the rear was filled up, they let people in through the back
door. It was impossible for any more to get in and those who were in were unable to get out. He then referred to
the recent accident at Phoenixville, where one hundred people were injured when someone cried fire. People at
the present time are worked up to a high pitch, stated the burgess, and very little would be required to start a
panic. He asked council to inform him whether he had the power to revoke the license and if not, whether an
ordinance could not be drawn up governing the same. The burgess stated it was not his purpose to interfere with
the rights of the owners but to protect the public. Several members of council were in favor of notifying state
authorities and have them act on the matter. This will probably be done.