Monday, July 6, 2015

EMPIRE TELEGRAPH AND TELEPHONE COMPANY WANTED A FRANCHISE IN CORTLAND



The Cortland Democrat, Friday, June 6, 1890.

They Want a Franchise.
   The Empire Telegraph and Telephone Company, which has given the business men of this village an excellent telephone service for the past eight years, are asking the Board of Trustees of this village to grant them a franchise. The board at its last meeting very properly refused to grant their request. Since the meeting of the board, the company have circulated a petition, which is signed by a very large majority of their customers, asking the board to grant the company's request.
   It is an easy matter to obtain signers to a petition. Many good business men sign petitions that they would not sign, if they had a few moments time in which to consider both sides of the question. In the case under consideration, several parties have expressed their regrets at having affixed their signatures to the document without first considering the matter.
   A franchise is a privilege granted by a municipal government to an individual or corporation to carry on business in that municipality to the exclusion of others in the same line of trade.
   The Telephone Company claim that they do not ask for an exclusive franchise, but if they are granted a franchise, which is to be of any value at all to them, it must operate as an exclusive franchise, and it is believed that it would not be necessary to have the word exclusive used to make it operate as such. The fact that they have a franchise would make it exclusive. If not, why ask for one at all? The patent on the telephone expires within the next two or three years, and if the Empire Company could have the privilege of excluding other companies from locating in Cortland, they could keep up the prices and have a monopoly of the business, but if other companies were permitted to come here, our citizens would undoubtedly be benefitted by a reduction in the price of the service.
   If the editor of the Cortland Standard should ask for a franchise for publishing a Republican paper in this village to the exclusion of all others, the board of trustees would be justified in refusing to grant the request and the people would support them to a man. Let all business enterprises in Cortland compete for business. If there be any that cannot stand legitimate competition let them fall. Merchants do not ask for a franchise and it would do them no good if they should.
   When a corporation once obtains a franchise they have the village or city at a disadvantage. This will be seen by the attitude of the old Water Company in Syracuse. They will neither furnish that city with a plentiful supply of pure and wholesome water, nor will they permit others to do so, and the consequence is, Syracuse has an expensive legal fight on its hands. It is not well to put ammunition in the hands of your enemy to fight you with.
   Three or four years since [ago] the service furnished by the Cortland Water company was inefficient and unsatisfactory, and the people of this village were in a state of commotion and excitement for a long time; some favored condemning the works and a purchase of the plant, which would necessarily have burdened the town with a heavy indebtedness. Others favored putting in new works, but as several of the stockholders of the water company were property holders and residents of the village, the system was enlarged and improved and is giving entire satisfaction.
   A franchise ought not to be granted to any company or corporation, and especially a foreign corporation, for any purpose, except upon a vote of the citizens of the village, and even then action should be indefinitely postponed.

FROM EVERYWHERE.
   The grip [influenza] caused an increase in the death rate over 1880 of 20 percent.
   Upward of 1,000 Cincinnati carpenters struck for the nine-hour system, Monday.
   Francis C. Lowehorn, inventor of the railroad turntable, died at Trenton, N. J., Sunday, at the age of 81 years.
   Timothy, or herb grass, was so named from Timothy Hanson, a Maryland farmer who was the first to cultivate it largely in this country.
   The well known aeronaut, C. Redmond, was killed at Snahomish, Washington State last week by his balloon catching in a tree top, throwing him to the ground.
   Articles of incorporation have been filed in the Broome county clerk's office by the Binghamton Electric Company with $200,000 capital stock for a term of fifty years.
   Rose Coghlan played "Lady Gay Spanker'' as the final performance in the Brooklyn theatre, Monday evening. The play house will be torn down and the Eagle will occupy the site.
   Troy observed Memorial Day by the laying of the corner stone for the soldiers' monument which will be 90 feet high and 29 feet square at the bottom across the spurs. It is expected the unveiling will take place early in October.
   Owners of nets are very much excited over the law prohibiting their use in the Rondout and Esopus creeks. Wilbur fishermen are up in arms, and think strongly of disregarding the law debarring them from catching shad and herring in a driftnet in the Rondout creek.
   A Brookfield father has just been awarded a verdict, by the Massachusetts Superior Court, of $3,000 against Boston & Albany railroad for the killing of his son two years ago, on the ground that defendant neither sounded the bell or whistle when approaching the crossing where the accident occurred.
   Before the close of the year 1892 the pension taxes alone will average over $14 a year on every head of family in the United States. The present average per head is exactly $9 a year, or $108,000,000 annually on 12,000,000 heads of families in a population of 60,000,000.—St. Louis Republican.
   During the present month the labor federation of Massachusetts has boycotted two Springfield mercantile houses for keeping their stores open more than two nights each week, a barber for refusing to close at 6:15 Monday evenings, and denounces Senator Metcalf as an enemy of labor. They are now circulating 8-hour petitions throughout the city for signatures.
   A recent decision of the Supreme Court of the State, will interest any man in New York who proposes to build a dam. It has been decided that when a dam is built in waters where fish abound, a fishway must be built in the dam. The decision is on the principle that the dam builder has no right to shut off his neighbors' food supply further up stream.
  
HERE AND THERE.
   Fresh fish of all kinds at Johnson's market, James street, Homer.
   Work was resumed in the Homer brick yard, last Monday.
   Children's day will be observed in all the churches in this place, next Sunday.
   A sewer is to be built under the south cross walk at the junction of Railroad and Church streets.
   July the fourth is being agitated as deserving of local demonstration this year. Cortland can do it proud if necessary.
   A strawberry and ice cream festival will be held in the First Presbyterian church in Preble, on Wednesday evening, June 11th.
   Monday, while fishing, Rufus Steadman, of Groton City, fished out a watch valued at $30. It was lost the day before by Arthur Harrington of Cortland.
   Any boy under 16 years found smoking a cigarette upon the streets is liable to arrest, Governor Hill having signed the bill prohibiting minors from smoking.
   Mr. P. B. Corwin, of this village, aged 80 years, attended the dedication exercises of the Presbyterian church, last Wednesday. He was also present at the dedication of the old church.
   Remember that the annual reunion of the 185th regiment takes place in Homer, on Wednesday, June 11th. Gen. Joshua L. Chamberlain, commander of the old brigade, will be present.
   Mr. W. W. Gale, who is engaged in enumerating the children of school age in this village, informs us that ward No. 1 contains 515. He also reports the number of inhabitants in that ward all told to be 1991.
   Four female and five male residents of Cortland were removed by death during May. There were five births of each sex and five marriages during the same month, according to Health Officer Moore's monthly report.
   Dr. G. E. Barber, of Tully, has formed a partnership with Dr. S. Hinman, of Cortland, and the new firm will carry on the practice of medicine in this place with office at Dr. Barker's office, Railroad street, with the name of Barker & Hinman.—Tully Times.
   A large force of masons and carpenters are engaged in the work of remodeling the Bauder residence on Lincoln avenue. The hallway and doorways on the first floor will be enlarged and remodeled, and a general transformation will place Delos Bauder and family in possession of a pleasant home.
   Messrs. Briggs & Peck have a litter of seven half grown foxes in one of their show windows that are attracting notice of all passers. The little fellows were taken from a hole in the ground a couple of weeks since, by Mr. John Hammond and Will Stoddard, on the Wickwire farm two miles east of this village. After the store is closed and the lights turned out in the evening, they are as playful as kittens, but during the day they are inclined to be quiet.
   A party of surveyors passed over the E. C. & N. railroad, Monday, enroute for Camden, to survey the proposed extension to Watertown.
   President Harrison has signed an act providing that all mail matter, of whatever class, relative to the census and addressed to the census office, the superintendent of census, chief clerk, supervisors or enumerators, shall be transported free by registered mail. By this act supervisors can send schedules registered to the enumerators, and enumerators can return them in same way. The census office is anxious the postmasters throughout the country should take notice of this as it may be necessary for supervisors to avail themselves of this provision before the postmasters have time to receive official notice of its passage.

Mahan's Music Festival.
   Monday of this week witnessed the opening of Mr. A. Mahan's sixteenth music festival with the unprecedented enrollment of 250 names of vocalists, this list being swelled to upward of 330 during Tuesday, being a larger opening register than at any previous annual. Of the yearly increasing interest that is being awakened in the music circles the above facts conclusively prove that Mr. Mahan's efforts to provide means for improving the vocal culture of the masses are appreciated and crowned with success. Besides the liberal attendance from our own village it is worthy of mention that Homer, Scott, Preble, Little York, East Homer, Skaneateles, Auburn, Kelloggsville, King's Ferry, Georgetown, Lansingville, Ithaca, Etna, Dresserville, Groton, Moravia, Ludlowville, Spafford, Elmira, Seneca Fails, Syracuse, North Syracuse, Fabius, Union Valley, Lincklean, Brocton, Dryden, Carthage, Canastota, Truxton, Poland, Russia, McDonough, Rome, Solon, Pitcher, Cincinnatus, Taylor, New York city, and other localities in this state, from Tyler Hill, Pa., Boston, Mass., Dennison, Iowa, are liberally represented, showing the wide spread popularity of these gatherings.
   An elevated platform has been constructed on the rear of the stage for the choir of about 500 voices, which under Dr. Palmer's management are as a unit in expression, the beauty of which is better appreciated by ear than can possibly be portrayed by pen.
BRIEF REMINDERS.
   Remember the greatest of musical works, Rossini's "Stabat Mater," will be rendered Friday evening.
   The Higgins Concert Company, the renowned artists Miss Lilian Carll Smith, Miss Minnie E. Stevens, Mr. Thomas Impett and Dr. Carl E. Martin, and the great festival orchestra will participate in to-day's exercises.
   The Acme Glee Club will sing at the Friday afternoon concert.
   The Decker Brothers concert grand piano which is being used during the festival will be sold at less than usual wholesale price. A rare chance for some one to obtain an exceptionally fine piano.

LITTLE YORK.
   The ice company are loading two cars per week for market at Cortland.
   Beautiful specimens of May-apple blossoms are brought from the mountain every day.
   The Gruber family, of New York, are expected at the Raymond House this week for the full season.
   The masons are at work on the cellar of the new milk depot. Duane Fish of Homer, is the contractor for the completed building.
   The restaurant on No-man's-land is thus far conducted on honorable principles and found a convenience even to temperance people who are on the lake.
   We observe some flowers were placed on graves of dear friends on Decoration day in our neglected yard. This custom should be more generally observed.
   Sunday there was almost a continuous passing from either side of the valley. Every boat was out and the first warm Sunday of the season was enjoyed by every one.
   Where are the potato bugs this spring? Are they mad because McKinley neglected to see that they had proper protection? The Senate can remedy this matter perhaps.
   The Scott men are not the only ones who are violating the fish and game laws. But that is a good place to start the reform and then it will be easy to spread it in other towns.
   Miss Flora Clark is gaining very fast and will soon be able to ride out. Some little prescription of Dr. Johnson of Cortland has done the business with her own nerve and firmness.
   Mrs. Kate Chamberlain and family spent Saturday at this place. She was the guest of Mrs. S. D. Perkins while the young people found pleasure on the lake and mountain.
   Dr. R. A. Goodell is in New York this week representing Homer Lodge F. & A. M. Last week he removed an enormous tape worm from Abner Bartlett. He has a previous record in this class of practice.
   "Squire" Hunt, of Scott, was in this place on Tuesday. Time deals gently with him and gray hairs are but honors. When we remember that he was the first patentee for barbed wire as a fence and how little he has received as royalty, we think our patent laws a failure. Some little worthless toy will net the inventor perhaps $100,000.
   W. W. Salisbury occupies the south tenement house of the Cushing estate. He was disturbed by peculiar noises, and as the previous tenant had also heard the same, it began to take on the character of a haunted house. On removing some of the clapboards a colony of bats was found. He killed by actual count 132 and the house is no longer haunted.
   ULI SLICK. [pen name of correspondent]
 

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