EDITORIALS Days Of The Trolley One of the most shortsighted evolutions in U.S. transportation was the race to get rid of the much-loved trolley car after World War II. The motor industry persuaded the city fathers of one metropolis after another that petroleum-burning buses were superior to track trolleys. Eiders, who liked the steadier ride of track street cars and who disliked the greater sideward motion and fume-smelling buses, were disregarded as old-hat or sentimentalists. And, largely, street cars disappeared from the scene. Now the trolley is staging a comeback--with light rails, separate right-of-ways and in the conventional form. In many European cities, where the trolley never was discontinued, passengers fill trolley cars to overflowing every working day--as traffic congestion, auto fumes and costs have beset the internal combustion engine boom. Especially on suburban runs, the trolley offered riders scenic, romantic rides in past years. One recalls the fight in the national capital to save these famous trolley routes. The "Cabin John" trolley in Washington ran into Maryland, along the Potomac, and to the amusement park, Glen Echo. It was worth riding even if one only came back. There was nothing else on the throughway, the track was between beautiful trees, with a nice view of the hills and river. There were no gasoline fumes, no horns and no congestion. It was, in other words, like a drive in the country. Yet that, in so many cities, was discarded for exhaust-polluting buses. The trolley can't come back too soon. The Non-Workers A major daily recently surveyed Americans not working and who didn't intend to start. Most content to live off food stamps, unemployment compensation, welfare of one kind or another, veterans' benefits, educational allowances, etc. The attitude of many of these disenchanted Americans is that they can eke by on benefits available to the non-working; they don't like regular hours, the American rat-race for the dollar, and responsibility. The burden on the average U.S. taxpayer is already heavy. As high unemployment continues, the national debt increases and inflation gets in its licks, the burden is likely to get heavier. Though some recoil at the suggestion, welfare and unemployment pay probably shouldn't be extended longer than a brief period for those able to work--and federal and state dispensing bodies should somehow be required to take a hand in finding work for the free-riders.No other system is really fair to the working citizen. from HISTORY'S SCRAPBOOK D A T E S A N D E V E N T S F R O M Y E S T E R Y E A R S September 8, 1858-Abraham Lincoln, in a speech at Clinton, Illinois, said: "You can fool all of the people some of the time; some of the people all of the time; but not all of the people all of the time." September 9,1963 A federal injunction against Governor George C. Wallace is issued after he orders state policeman to block Negroes from enrolling in the segregated public schools of Bir mingham, Tuskegee, and Mobile. September 10, 1846-After five years of experimentation, Elias Howe of Spencer, Massachusetts, receives a patent for his invention of the sewing machine. September 11,1963-Three Negroes are enrolled at the University of South Carolina without incident, ending an 86-year history of segregation at that university. PUBLIC PULst (The Plaindealer invites the public to use this column as an expression of their views on subjects of general interest in our community. Our only request is that the writers give - signature, full ad dress and phone number. We ask too, that one in dividual not write on the same subject more than once each month. Ue reserve the right to delete any material which we con sider libelous or in ob.jec- tional taste.) TAXPAYER COMPLAINT "Dear Editor: "As a taxpayer, you sometimes wonder what is happening to your money. You look at the conditions of some of the roads and think they must have another shoe box going. Then a road gets fixed and you think 'Wow, maybe everything isn't ail bad'. For example, the im provement to RL 120 between Draper road and Rt. 31. What a wonderful improvement, maybe as a taxpayer I'm not getting 'took'. Even though the improvement was only to Rt. 31, it had to be improved down to in front of the hardware store to work the new four lanes in with the old. "Then some rinky dink outfit comes in to lay some sorteaof pipe along the edge of the road. Fine, but they could have left the road in the same condition they found it. Now there is a dip in the road from Rt. 31 to in front of the finance company If your car tires get in this rut and you try to get out and someone pulls out in front of you. Wow! "So this is the quality of work the taxpayers have to put up with? "A taxpayer, "Virginia Anzinger "3008 Mary Lane "McHenry, 111." COOPERATION "Dear Editor: "As publicity chairman for the Ladies auxiliary to Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4600, I would like to take this opportunity to express my appreciation for your cooperation in making it possible for my publicity book to receive a second place award in the V.F.W. Fifth district competition. "As you probably know, each year I have entered this competition and many times I have received recognition with my entry, without your Here They Come! ?UBl> CPJ& UllVVVlW a :;-v LUNCHROOM PAGE 17 - PLAINDEALER - FRIDAY,' SEPTEMBER 5,.1975 * * * * * * r - m A r n o l d t o a t t a c k On August 28, 1775, Gen. Philip Schuyler prepared to leave Fort Ticon- deroga and move north into Canada. Three weeks later, Washington gave final approval to the plan for Benedict Canada from Maine. Schuyler became i l l a n d R i c h a r d Montgomery went on to St. Johns and M o n t r e a l , w h i l e Arnold pushed up the Kennebec River to set the stage for a long siege. cooperation in publishing my news this would not have been possible. "Thank you again and may I offer my personal congratulations on the 100th anniversary issue which I am enjoying. It is almost im possible to read such a huge issue of the Plaindealer in one short week. "Gerry Kuck" THE CENTENNIAL "Dear Sirs: "We received the an niversary copy and were pleased beyond words to have it. "Almost made us homesick for McHenry but we do like Florida, too. "Thank you, "A1 Barbian" JUST ARRIVED AND DON'T KNOW WHICH WAY TO TURN? Call m The hostess in your area will call on you with a variety of helpful community information along with gifts and greetings from local mer chants. pj10ne Mary Ann Bellak 385-5705 Peggy Kaiser 385-2710' v\WJ W. ( ^ IN DOWNTOWN CRYSTAL LAKE, ILL GFi J "Essex" from $38,500 IN AN ESTABLISHED PRESTIGE COMMUNITY "Cambridge" from $45,500 -4 fc "Canterbury" from $41,900 » .̂ fair- LARGE, FULLY IMPROVED LOTS, CONCRETE DRIVEWAYS AND WALKS AND MUCH MORE £1 A MOST PICTURESQUE AREA Nottingham' from $44,900 the ROBINO-LADD company BUILDERS AND DEVELOPERS 1=3 LENDER 409 Kensington Dr. - McHenry, or Phone: (815) 385-8830 Visit Our Facility Daily Or Drop Us A Card For A Free Brouchure Financing Available To Qualified Buyers 4 0\HIIM Crystal Lake Rd West On Rte. 120 To Crystal Lake Rd then 1 Mile South To FOX RIDGE.