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Reasons Why You Should Locate in South Bethlehem

South Bethlehem has grown to be the largest Borough in Northampton County. It is distant fifty-seven miles north of Philadelphia and eighty-nine miles west of New York, being connected with the former by the Philadelphia & Reading Railway and the Lehigh Valley Transit Company (electric), and with the latter by the Lehigh Valley and the New Jersey Central Railroads. All of these have connections with the Lehigh & New England Railroad at this point. The Lehigh Valley Transit Company, South Bethlehem and Saucon Street Railway, and the Easton and South Bethlehem Transit Companies’ lines radiate in all directions from the town and afford excellent facilities for reaching all near-by points. The town is essentially of an industrial character, the great works of the Bethlehem Steel Company being located here and employing about 17,000 men. The other industries embrace the Bethlehem Foundry & Machine Company, silk mills, hosiery mills, and cigar factories. Despite this industrial feature it has a decided educational side, there being located here the Lehigh University, one of the foremost institutions in technical training in the country, and just across the Borough’s border, on the west, is Bishopthorpe School. The South Bethlehem Business College is one of the finest of its character in the eastern part of the State. Each of these are fully described elsewhere. The public and parochial schools are equal to the best in the State, and descriptions of them also contained herein will prove interesting reading.

The Borough’s population is a cosmopolitan one, embracing peoples of many races. In the number of its churches, schools and public institutions it is not surpassed by any town of its size. Its population has increased with great rapidity in the past ten years, due to the extensions in the Steel Works, until now it has reached about 26,000 people. The local government is a progressive one, and improvements begun several years ago have been steadily continued. The town is well sewered, particularly for storm water, with which the place was troubled for many years.

A considerable number of house sewers have been built, both these and the storm water sewers being constructed after plans originally prepared by Rudolph Herring of New York, a prominent sanitary engineer. The street paving, of which considerable has also been done in the last seven or eight years, is of a most substantial character. The Police and Fire Departments are well equipped with all modern improvements and apparatus, and the streets are well lighted. The water supply is pure and wholesome.

The Borough is in excellent financial standing. The assessed valuation for the year of 1915 of taxable property is almost $9,000,000.00, this probably being about two-fifths of the actual valuation. The outstanding bonded indebtedness is $394,500. The tax rate for the Borough is nine mills on the doller. The school tax rate is seven mills on the dollar. The Borough Government comprises the Burgess and fifteen Councilmen.

Immediately adjoining South Bethlehem on the west is the Borough of Fountain Hill, incorporated about a score of years ago, and on the east is the Borough of Northampton Heights. The former is a fine residential district and is being rapidly developed in that direction, owing to its advantageous location. The Saucon Plant of the Bethlehem Steel Company is located in the latter Borough. The Borough is being rapidly built up with homes of workingmen. The streets of both Boroughs are curbed and paved and are in good condition.

Across the river from South Bethlehem is the old Borough of Bethlehem, incorporated March 6, 1845. The town was founded in 1741 by the Moravian congregation. The town has not the industrial features of South Bethlehem, and is mostly a business and residential place. It has many historic points of interest. Its streets are well kept and well lighted, and there is an enterprising and progressive government.

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Building and Loan Associations

South Bethlehem is fortunate in having five good sound Building and Loan Associations. Building and Loan Associations are the best mediums for saving money that are offered to persons receiving wages or salaries; saving money is a habit, and the earlier one contracts this habit, the better.

They encourage thrift and independence, and make better citizens of its members.

Its advantages are that any sum whatever can be paid monthly; that any sum, not exceeding the value of the shares can be borrowed on a note and repaid in installments at any time; that all monies paid as dues may be withdrawn at any time with interest.

Two hundred dollars for every share of stock will be loaned upon approved security, which loan may be repaid at any time, either in one sum or in as many installments, and of such amounts as the borrower may desire.

Shares mature in about 11 1/2  years, which is equivalent to about 8% interest on the money borrowed.

The following is a list of Building and Loan Associations:

Title–9 | 10–19 | 20–29 | 30–39 | 40–49 |  50–51  52–53  54–55  56–57  58–59  | 60–69 | 70–79 | 80–89 | 90–99 | 100–109 | 110–119 | 120–129 | 130–139 | 140–151

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