Wednesday, September 30, 2015

DR. JUSTIN MAKES A HIT



The Cortland Democrat, Friday, December 26, 1890.

DR. JUSTIN MAKES A HIT.
   Dr. Justin made three successful tests with his dynamite gun Saturday at Perryville, N. Y. About 200 spectators were present. Three shells were fired, each containing 7 1/2 pounds of dynamite and 80 pounds of powder.
   The effect of the first shot and explosion of dynamite was to rend the face of the cliff in cracks, break off a number of large pieces, make a decided hole into the rock face and send a cloud of pulverized limestone flying over the snow. The next shot hit in the same place and did yet greater havoc. The third shot left a huge heap of stones at the base of the cliff with large cracks extending every way over its face and larger quantities than ever of pulverized rock scattered about for a considerable distance. Each time, as the shattered rock became more shelving, the damage was greater.
   Dr. Justin was greatly pleased over the result of the experiments. He is confident that he can throw a large quantity of dynamite as successfully as a small quantity. Other experiments will be made at frequent intervals. It is probable that the original plan of organizing a big stock company to manufacture the shells with a capital stock of $50,000 will be consummated as all the backers of Dr. Justin are delighted at the result of the experiment Saturday.Syracuse Courier.

"Muggs' Landing."
   That brightest and funniest comedy ever written, "Muggs' Landing," presented by Bishop's original company of fifteen comedians will be the attraction at the Opera House Saturday evening. Since the last production of this very popular comedy in this city, there has been added a line of new and improved specialties which are seldom if ever equalled in farce comedy. New music, new dancers. The four original gaiety dancers in the latest craze the skirt dance, and the famous "Muggs' Landing" double quartette in selections from all the latest and most popular operas. If you want to have a good laugh, see this beautiful comedy. Prices, 25, 35 and 50 cents.

FROM EVERYWHERE.
   There are about 75,000 persons in prison in the United States.
   New passenger coaches on the Erie have large doors on the side, and are liked better than the old style.
   George Alfred Townsend says both [former President] Cleveland and [New York State Governor] Hill have an Irish strain in their blood—Cleveland on the mother's side and Hill on the father's side.
   A trust has been formed by all the leading lumber concerns of Georgia to control the world's supply of long-leaf yellow pine. It is an immense combination, involving millions of dollars.
   The railroad cars which traverse Manhattan Island over their hundreds of miles of tracks last year carried the enormous number of over 400,000,000 passengers who paid 4-cent fares.
   Nearly all the low class of negroes living along the levee in Kansas City have been seized with a craze similar to the Messiah superstition. The negroes have been led astray by a Voodoo doctor who came from Bismark, Dakota.
   There is a slight hitch in the Vermont slate trust, some of the firms refusing to go into it for another year. Efforts are being made to bring about a settlement. If the differences cannot be adjusted there will be no pool another year.
   The late Justice Miller is said to have had a taste almost amounting to a passion for mathematics. He deprecated the amount of time college students gave to the study of dead languages, and held that mathematics and scientific studies were of chief importance.
   Saturday, as Simeon Miner, of South Otselic, was riding on a load of wood up a small pitch the draw-pin gave out throwing him unto the heap and his foot caught in the sleigh and he was dragged to the bottom of the incline, injuring him so he is confined to the house.
   News has been received hereof the death of William Harrison Schutt, which occurred at his home in Georgetown. D. C., Dec. 10th. He was a former resident of Slaterville and a brother of James H., Ephriam, and Aaron Schutt. He was a brother of the wife of Ruloff, the murderer, and it is believed without doubt that the first wife and child of Mr. Schutt came to their death by poison administered by the same Ruloff.— Ithaca Journal.
   A plucky wife was developed in Saratoga last week. A man came running to the police station, saying that Thomas H. Devan, of the Dublin section, was drunk, had a loaded revolver, and was about to kill or harm his family. Officers ran to the house and found all serene there, and Davin tending the baby. It was learned that Mrs. Davin had taken the pistol from him and went into the yard and fired its five cartridges, while she had placed Thomas to the sobering work of nurse pro tem.
   A singular piece of treasure-trove was discovered the other day by Mr. Addison, of Fairfax Court House, Virginia. In the hoof of one of his cows he found imbedded a gold ring in which is set a stone carved with the American shield and an inscription. On the inside of the ring was engraved, "H. J. Hunt, Worth's Division." It proved to be a ring made for the late General Hunt when in Mexico at the war with that country, and lost by him during the first battle of Bull Run. The ring has been restored to General Hunt's family.
   Two or three days ago several Lowville parties claimed to have seen an animal of some sort in the eastern part of the town, but people regarded the matter as a hoax. Others now claim to have seen the same animal, and the statement is having credence. John D. Hough and Hiram Gray have seen the animal near the Wentworth farm east of the village, and were within a few rods of him. Mr. Hough states that he is positive it is a wild animal of some kind, and is of the opinion that it is either a panther or lynx. Large numbers of sheep and calves have been killed in the town of Denmark by a wild animal, and in one instance a hog left hanging out of doors was found next morning to have been nearly devoured during the night. The supposition is the animal has strayed from the Adirondacks.

NEIGHBORING COUNTIES.
   CHENANGO.—Sherburne has organized a Business Men's Association.
   In Norwich milk is selling on the streets at two cents a quart.
   The Board of Supervisors at their late session appointed a special committee to see if something can be done to check the growth and spreading of the wild carrot, a noxious weed that threatens to ruin agricultural lands.
   Miller & Foster of DeRuyter, have purchased Leroy Soule's monster hog, which has created such a furor at Otselic Center, and will have him on exhibition at their market Christmas day. His weight is estimated at upwards of a thousand pounds.
   F. N. Coville, government botanist, a former Oxford boy and a graduate of Cornell University, is to make one of the government expeditions into the "Valley of Death" in the great desert that extends between the Sierra Nevadas and the Nasatch mountains. The party will be a large one. They start next March.
   MADISON.—Ice boats are out on Oneida Lake.
   Hay sells for $6 a ton at DeRuyter.
   The Earlville National Bank commences business January 1.
   James Kinney has succeeded C. H. Hickok as proprietor of the Barker House, Morrisville.
   The safe in John A. Bends' store at Oneida was blown open Monday night and relieved of $160.
   A. Stowell and James Lindsley have bought the Cornell block, Canastota, and will remodel the same into a hotel.
   John Cross, a newly married resident of Canastota, mourns the loss of this wife, who has skipped with a railroad man.
   Landlord Livermore of the Bouckville hotel, had a little misunderstanding with a customer, the other day, and broke two of the man's ribs.
   Miss Jane Scott, who resides with E. D. Jenks, in DeRuyter, fell and dislocated a hip, the 9th [sic]. Dr. McClellan was called and the patient is doing nicely.
   Patrick Hayes, of North Brookfield, paid $25 for selling adulterated milk. John P. Wirck, one of the firm owning the milk station at Hubbardsville, plead guilty to a charge of adulterating the milk shipped from there to New York, and paid a fine of $200.
   TOMPKINS.—Potatoes retailed at forty cents a peck one day last week in Ithaca.
   The Poormaster's bills for the month of November amounted to $900.
   A number of persons walked across Cayuga lake on the 8th inst.
   The ladies of Sage college will give an exhibition of gymnastics at the armory sometime next term.
   Edison has presented a 20 horse power generator to drive two Sprague motors in the Mechanical department of Sibley College.
   Dana Conklin, telegraph operator and ticket agent at the D. L. & W. depot in Ithaca, has received and accepted a call to become the general secretary of the Young Men's Christian Association at Oneonta, N. Y.
  
What is Horse Power?
(N. Y. Times.)
   When men first begin to become familiar with the methods of measuring mechanical power they often speculate on where the breed of horses is to be found that can keep at work raising 33,000 pounds one foot per minute, or the equivalent, which is more familiar to some mechanics, of raising 330 pounds 100 feet per minute. Since 33,000 pounds raised one foot per minute is called one horse power, it is natural that people should think the engineers who established that unit of measurement based on what horses really could do.
   But the horse that can do this work does not exist. The horse power unit was established by James Watt about a century ago, and the figures were fixed in a curious way. Watt found that the average horse of his district could raise 22,000 pounds one foot per minute This, then, was an actual horse power.
   At that time Watt was employed in the manufacture of engines, and customers were so hard to find that all kinds of artificial inducements were necessary to induce power users to buy steam engines. As a method of encouraging them, Watt offered to sell engines reckoning 33,000 foot pounds to a horse power And thus he was the means of giving a false unit to one of the most important measurements in the world.
 

Tuesday, September 29, 2015

LOT OWNERS NOT RESPONSIBLE



The Cortland Democrat, Friday, December 19, 1890.

Lot Owners Not Responsible.
   Among the decisions which the Court of Appeals handed down Tuesday is one of more than ordinary importance. Under this ruling a lot owner in a city or village is not liable for injuries persons may sustain by defects in the street or highway abutting.
   The action upon which this decision is rendered is the city of Rochester against John H. Campbell, and it sought to recover from the defendant the amount that the city had to pay for personal injuries to one of its residents through a defective pavement. The opinion is written by Chief Judge Ruger and is concurred in by all the judges. It recites that the theory upon which actions have heretofore generally been sustained in favor of municipal corporations against wrongdoers for damages which they have been compelled to pay individuals injured through defects or obstructions in streets and highways is that such corporations have succeeded in some way to the remedies of the injured party against the wrongdoer. Recoveries have been allowed in such cases only where the wrongdoer is responsible, generally, to all who are injured by his act, and when corporations have been compelled to pay damages for a wrongful act perpetrated by another in public highways they become entitled to maintain an action against such person for indemnity from the liability which the wrongful act has brought upon them.
   In other words, the municipality, by payment, becomes practically subrogated to the cause of action against the lot owner, which the injured party originally had, and it can recover against the lot owner only by proving the injury, the extent of the damage, and the fact of payment by it.
   The Court thinks that the lot owners are liable to the municipality, upon a neglect to repair the streets after notice, for the expense which the corporation has incurred in making such repair, but this is the extent of their liability under the statute. The statute clearly points out the liability which is incurred by the lot owners for a neglect to make repairs, and gives the street superintendent an action to recover the damage suffered by the municipality from such causes. This, evidently affords a full indemnity to the city for any neglect of the lot owners and ample means to discharge its duty to make repairs. It seems entirely unreasonable to suppose that the act was intended to impose the same duty upon two independent bodies. The obligation of the municipality to make such repairs is unconditional and unquestionable.
   The primary duty rests upon the municipality, notwithstanding a duty has also been imposed upon property owners. The existence of an absolute power of control in one party and an imperative obligation to repair in another is impossible. The obligation to repair is necessarily subservient to the other, and must be performed or neglected at the will and pleasure of the party having the right to control. The duty of performance could be imposed on the lot owners, or they could be compelled to pay the expense; but the paramount obligation always rested upon the corporation. It thus seems that the immunity of the lot owner from liability for damages for defects in streets is founded in reason and justice, supported not only by authority, but by the uniform current of all authorities, not only in this but in our sister states.
   The impression, shared in by judges and lawyers, is quite common that abutting property owners are in some way liable for damages occasioned from their neglect to keep sidewalks in repair when that duty is in any way imposed upon them. "It seems to us that there could never have been any logical cause for such impression, and it seems it has no foundation in the reported cases."

Afraid of a Splurge.
   One of the slickest games ever worked by confidence men is that of buying a farm. One of a pair looks over a country and he finds the man he is after, and he buys the farm at the farmer's own price, paying from $50 to $200 down to [seal] the bargain. Before the papers can be made out a confederate comes along, falls in love with the same farm, and offers the farmer $2,000 more than the other did. The agriculturist sees a speculation here, and he buys the first purchaser off with a bonus. Then both men drop out of, and the farmer learns something.

TOWN REPORTS.
PREBLE.
   We are enjoying the sleighing, it is such a relief from the splash, splash through the mud.
   School is closed this week. The teachers are attending the Teachers' Institute held at Homer.
   Mr. C. C. Van Hoesen and family moved to Homer this week and will be at the old homestead in Preble every Sunday.
   Fred Wagner works Mr. Van Hoesen's farm the coming year.
   Auction sale at the Hall last Friday, Saturday and Monday by outside partners. They had a few odds and ends to sell to our farmers.
   Mr. Crookshank and partner, who were here last spring, have become residents of Preble and are buying and shipping maple logs to New York. They are agreeable and pleasant men to deal with.
   Monday of this week Miss McMahan, daughter of Christ McMahan, who had been a long time in poor health, died very suddenly. She was 15 years of age. The funeral was Wednesday and she was buried at Truxton.
   Last Saturday evening there was a raffle at "Old Diff's" of a single harness and other articles of personal property. Miley Tully was the boss shaker and took the harness. C. C. after many desperate trials secured a strap halter.
   The evening our new "Deestrict Schule" opened was very stormy and the attendance was not what it would have been if the weather had been more favorable. The pupils gave evidence of the fact that had they lived in the days of their grandfathers they would have been very much at home.
   There is a good deal of bad blood stirred up between the landlord and the boys. He had four of them arrested for making a noise in the bar-room but they were discharged. The case was before Judge Mulholland. Some folks say if they would buy more at the bar and get in proper condition to make a noise it would not be so objectionable, but the idea of boys making a racket without first getting in proper condition should not, and will not be tolerated, and don't you forget it.

FREETOWN.
   Mr. Henry Seeber had the misfortune to lose one of his valuable horses.
   Mr. Bert Shepherd was a guest at his brothers, T. Shepherd, over Sunday.
   Mr. Albert Davis is carting goods for his brother, J. Davis, from Marathon, who is proprietor of the store here.
   Rev. U. S. Beebe attended quarterly Conference here Saturday and preached from words found in Philipians 1st chapter, and 27 verse.
   Rev. Wm. Robertson, of East Homer, was here and assisted in the meeting Sunday evening, also Mr. Emory Bowdish and others from McGrawville.
   The Lord is doing a mighty work in this place through the instrumentality of Mr. Chaffee and Rev. Fred Knight, the pastor of the church. Souls are being converted, backsliders reclaimed and the church awakened in a measure. God grant it may continue.
   It is with unfeigned sorrow we learn of the death of Mr. Samuel Conger. With this sorrow is mingled joy, that our deceased neighbor died in the full hope of a glorious… and was ever an active and faithful worker in the church until laid aside by the infirmities of age. As a citizen he filled a prominent place, as a husband and father, he was devoted to his family and friends. He was exact and just in his business relations and his kindness of heart made him friends among all classes. To his surviving relatives our sympathy is extended.
   KATE.

TAYLOR.
   Three dollars were realized at the dime social at W. DeLong's Wednesday night.
   Our schools are closed this week, the teachers being in attendance at the institute at Homer.
   Marcellus K. Smith. M. D., died Thursday, Dec. 11, 1890, at the residence of his brother, B. A. Smith, in German, Chenango Co. For many years Doctor Smith practiced medicine at Cincinnatus, in which he was very successful. His friends here and in all the surrounding towns were legion to whom the news of his death will be regretted. About five years ago he was stricken with disease and had constantly failed both physically and mentally until death claimed him as her own.
   CALUMET.

FRANK'S CORNERS.
   On Thursday morning, Dec. 11, William White, a long time resident of Virgil, died of consumption. He leaves a wife and two daughters, Mrs. Frank Caswell of Dryden, and Miss Georgie White of Cortland. The funeral took place Sunday.
   Last Sunday evening Rev. O. J. Purrington delivered a lecture at the Baptist church at Virgil, on the prohibitory amendment question. It was a masterpiece of eloquence, and he graphically compared intemperance to a parasite, and demonstrated without fear of a successful contradiction that if this constitutional amendment be enacted that it would augment our manufacturers and that this gigantic evil, intemperance, which has a tendency to degrade humanity, would be infinitesimal.
   UNCLE DICK.

McGRAWVILLE.
   Edward Holton had an auction on Tuesday, selling off all his valuable Ayrshire stock.
   Quite a large number of season tickets for the Y. M. C. A. lecture course were sold in this place.
   Ira Rockwell and wife started on Tuesday evening for a few weeks visit among friends in Washington.
   Dea. John Kenfield, after a long illness of consumption, died on Friday morning. The funeral was held at the Baptist church Monday afternoon.
   O. A. Kinney, assignee of the firm of P. H. and D. McGraw, have commenced paying off the creditors, paying a trifle over seven cents on a dollar. The liabilities amount to over $126,700. The farmers who brought in their hard earnings in two horse wagon loads and well filled pocket books and deposited with this firm, can carry away their percentage in one corner of their vest pockets. Bring out the old flag that hung in front of the Corset Factory with the inscription "Protection to American Labor."
  NEPOS.

Masonic—Election of Officers.
   At a regular communication of Cortlandville Lodge, No. 470, F. & A. M., held in their lodge rooms on Tuesday evening, December 16th, 1890, the following officers were elected and appointed, and subsequently installed for the ensuing year:
W. M.—John W. Suggett.
S. W.—Duaue E. Call.
J. W.—James R. Schermerhorn.
Treas.—Fitz Boynton.
Sec'y.—Thomas N. Pudney.
Trustee— Robert Bushby.
S. D.—George S. Sands.
J. D.—Peter Muelendyke.
S. M. C.—M. J. Stanton.
J. M. C.—Arthur Holt.
Organist— LaFloyd Stillman.
Tiler— William W. Gale.
   At a regular convocation of Washington Chapter, No. 29, R. A. M., held in Masonic hall, Homer, Tuesday evening, the following officers were elected:
H. P.—Charles E. Wills.
K.—William H. Crane.
S.—John J. Murray.
Treas.—Lorenzo L. Rood.
Sec'y.—John H. Van Hoesen.
C. of H.— Frank D. Carpenter.
P. S.—Robert J. Watson.
R. A. C.—Rollin A. Goodell, M. D.
M. 3V.—O. A. Bovee.
M. 2V—Hiram D. Hazzard.
M. 1V.—Lorenzo L. Rood.
Tiler—Thomas V. Martin.
 

Monday, September 28, 2015

ANNUAL CORTLAND FIRE DEPARTMENT MEETING



Fireman's Hall to the left of First National Bank on Main Street.
The Cortland Standard, December 19, 1890.

Annual Department Meeting.
   At the annual election of officers of the Cortland Fire Department for the ensuing year held in police department hall, Wednesday evening, an informal ballot for chief resulted: total vote 147, of which John Phelps received 1, John F. Dowd 74, William Linderman 67. On motion the ballot was made formal and Mr. Dowd declared elected. On motion the secretary was instructed to cast the ballot for the remaining officers. The list is:
   Chief—John F. Dowd, No. 4.
   1st Assistant—Jacob Grassman, No. 1.
   2d " —A. H. Watkins, No. 5.
   Secretary—Chas. E. Thompson, No 3.
   Treasurer—Calvin P. Walrad, No. 5.
   Property Clerk—L. E. Waters, No. [?]
   Mr. Dowd was called upon for a speech and responded, thanking the representatives for the honor and closed by inviting the boys to call at the American House after the meeting and partake of a cigar or glass of milk. Every man was in it. Mr. Grassman made a speech in favor of harmony in the workings of the department under the new management, assuring the fire-fighters that John and himself would be with them. The meeting and reunion were harmonious and short.
   The report of Secretary Thompson for the past year shows twelve monthly and four special meetings of the board of engineers. There has been the sum of $50 contributed by the several companies toward the memorial fund of the late Arthur Delevan, and a committee appointed to erect the monument. Thirty-one have withdrawn and twenty eight new members been admitted during the year leaving a total of 197 men in actual service—88 of whom are taxpayers. [Volunteers were eligible for a tax exemption—CC editor.] Only seven alarms: June 9, July 8, August 2-3, October 23, November 30 and December 1, only three requiring the aid of the department.
   Only two deaths have occurred, that of Mr. Isaac Miller and Frank Harvey, both members of the Engine Company.

The Laudanum Route.
A Resident of Greene Commits Suicide at Whitney's Point.
   Irvine Hazzard, a resident of Greene, committed suicide at Whitney's Point, last week Wednesday evening. Hazzard was known as a hard drinker, and recently returned from an extended trip to California. He was in this city the past week and endeavored to borrow money from several persons, evidently being "dead broke."
   On Wednesday night he was seen about the village in company with several friends, and finally went to the Rogers House, where he boarded. About 2 o'clock Thursday morning, one of the men entered his room and found him lying on the bed breathing heavily and suffering from a dose of laudanum. Aid was quickly summoned, but despite the physician's efforts he gradually sank and expired at 4 o'clock Thursday morning.
   Hazzard was a man weighing 300 pounds, and leaves a wife and two children. The bottle which contained the poison was found in his pocket. He was 35 years of age, and it is thought the deed was committed while temporarily insane and while recovering from the effects of a spree. Coroner Gridley will investigate.—Binghamton Republican.

Wells-Hunt Wedding.
   The Baptist church was nearly filled with people at 7:30 Wednesday evening to witness the celebration of the nuptials of Mr. John S. Wells the popular bookkeeper at D. F. Wallace & Co.'s, and Miss Ethel May daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Geo. S. Hunt.
   When Prof. Bentley struck up a wedding march the bridal party entered the auditorium and proceeded to the altar where the groom was in waiting to receive the bride from the hands of her father. Rev. Dr. Cordo performed the marriage service and the party repaired to the residence of Mr. Hunt, where a short reception was held. The bride was tastily attired in white Henrietta, neatly draped with beaded tulle to match; she wore a veil, floral crown and carried a bouquet. The groom wore the regulation suit of black. Mr. Dewitt Rogers acted as best man and Miss Mabel G. Olmsted and Miss Fanny Hoffman, bridesmaids. Messrs. W. G. Johnson, Eugene Eastman, Fred Taylor of Cortland, and Mr. Leech of Syracuse, were the ushers. The happy pair departed on the 10:11 P. M. train for their tour.
   Mr. and Mrs. Wells will be at home at 57 Lincoln avenue, after January 1, 1891.

Sitting Bull.
SITTING BULL IS DEAD.
The Wily Old Chief Killed by Indian Police.
   CHICAGO, Dec 15.—At 9 o'clock tonight Assistant Adjutant General Corbin of General Miles' staff received an official dispatch from St. Paul, saying that Sitting Bull, five of Sitting Bull's men and seven of the Indian police were killed.
   WASHINGTON, Dec. 15.—Indian Commissioner Morgan this evening received from Indian Agent McLoghlin the following dispatch, dated Fort Yates, N. D., Dec. 15:
   "Indian Police arrested Sitting Bull at his camp, forty miles northwest of the Agency, this morning at daylight. His followers attempted his rescue and fighting commenced. Four policemen were killed and three wounded. Eight Indians were killed, including Sitting Bull and his son, Crowfoot, and several others wounded. The police were surrounded for some time, but maintained their ground until relieved by United States troops who have possession of Sitting Bull's camp with all women, children and property. Sitting Bull's followers probably one hundred men, deserted their families and fled west up the Grand river. The police behaved nobly and great credit is due them."
   Commissioner Morgan showed this telegram to the President. The President said he had regarded Sitting Bull as the great disturbing element in his tribe, and now that he was out of the way hoped a settlement of the difficulties could be reached without further bloodshed.


                                   FROM EVERYWHERE.
   The town of Guilford, Chenango county, reports the slaughter of 2,492 woodchucks during the past season.
   The bill of Martin B. Brown for printing the 14,000,000 ballots used at the recent election in New York city, was $39,754. Enough of the returns have been received to show that the women should be entitled to seats in the M. E. General Conference of lay delegates.
   Wild animals are much more numerous than usual in the Catskill mountains this season. Hunters are bringing in large quantities of furs.
   During the current year bounties were paid by the supervisors of Orange county on 188 foxes killed in that county. The bounty in each case was one dollar.
   It is reported that the cold snap caught 200 boats loaded with coal in the canal between Honesdale and Rondout, and about 38,000 tons of coal are fast in the ice.
   Gov. Hill has appointed Frederick W. Devoe, of New York, to be trustee of the Middletown State Homeopathic Hospital in the place of Fletcher Harper, deceased.
   The latest chicken story from Van Ettenville, is that a family of new residents recently bought a setting of eggs in one of the stores of that place and put them under a hen and next day there was a nest full of chickens.
   Captain Brennan of the 69th regiment, New York city, was arrested Sunday for violation of the Sunday law in allowing a fife and drum corps to play upon the street while returning from acting as an escort with company A at a funeral of a comrade.
   The village of Bainbridge is about to have another enterprise established within its limits that promises, and is to be a valuable industry. Ground has been broken for a large three story building to be used for manufacturing purposes, and is to be finished by February. Among the various productions that will be made there is infant and invalid food. The firm will employ about thirty-five hands.

HERE AND THERE.
   Old newspapers for sale at this office.
   The village schools closed to-day for a week's vacation.
   The C. L. S. C. will meet with Mrs. M. E. Cummings, 33 Clayton avenue, Monday evening, Dec. 23d.
   The pleasant weather of the past week has been improved by continuing the work on the Homer avenue church foundation.
   The Sunday schools, aided by the parish ten, have prepared Christmas boxes to be sent to a colored school in the South.
    The new brick additions to the Cortland Top & Rail Company are nearly completed and a smoke stack has been raised on the boiler rooms.
   Justice-elect Dorr C. Smith will hold his court in the offices at present occupied by him in Masonic Hall building. Entrance near Hopkins' store.
   The regular meeting of the "King's Daughters" will be held at Mrs. C. F. Thompson's, 22 Clayton Ave., Saturday afternoon, at 2:30. As it is the annual election of officers, it is desired that every member be present.
   A battle scene painting representing the battle monument, 5th New York Cavalry, Gettysburg, the handiwork of Mr. B. R. Carpenter, as arranged in one of Sager & Jenning's holiday display windows, attracts much attention and favorable comment for the artist.
   Next Sunday being the anniversary of the landing of the Pilgrims on Plymouth Rock, known as Forefather's day, a commemorative service will be held in the evening at the Congregational church. New Englanders, and the descendants of such, are specially invited.
   On Wednesday morning, Dr. C. W. Parker performed a very delicate and skillful operation upon the left eye of Mr. J. C. Osborn, 50 Groton avenue, in the removal of a large tumor. Mr. Osborn's vision was greatly improved by the operation, and he is assured by the doctor that his sight will be fully restored in a few days.
   Every few days queries are received at this office relating to the law on driving, especially on village streets or between this village and Homer, as to which side of the street or track one should keep. For ages the advice to youth has been, "Keep to the right as the law directs, and if strictly followed in driving, much annoyance and ill feeling would be averted, as well as danger of collision.
   Solomon Hicks, or Chapman, of Homer, shot one Burdette Evans, at Dresserville, N. Y., a week ago last Sunday, in a quarrel over a horse. The bullet entered Evans' face near the temple and lodged near the nose. Hicks was arrested and taken before Justice Hopkins, near Summerhill, and the examination was adjourned to allow Hicks to obtain counsel. Hicks left that vicinity, but was arrested later by officer Shirley, of Homer, and held for the Cayuga county officer.
   Mr. H. T. Hollister has returned from Norwich, Conn., where he has been to complete his contract on a $90,000 opera house erected under the supervision of Mr. L. R. Hopkins, a well known Cortland builder. The following mechanics of this village are still in the eastern city completing the carpenter work: Frank W. Groat, foreman, John Holmes, Frank Miner, Cyrus Terpening, David Fralick, Clarence French and Milton Pratt. The plumbing and gas fitting was awarded to Mr. Hollister, who, with Messrs. T. T. Bates and James Derdrick, have concluded their work and are now attending to work hereabout. The opera house was opened Dec. 2d by Miss Pauline Hall's Opera Company. Mr. Hollister brings home an elegant programme of the opening as a souvenir.
   Willmarth & Livingston have moved their harness shop to No. 90 Main street, and invite their friends to call. They will carry a full line of heavy harness and do repairing.
   The committee appointed by the Board of Supervisors of this county, have concluded a contract with the Inspectors of the Onondaga County Penitentiary for the board of prisoners for the ensuing year.
   The concert given by the Homer Band, at Cazenovia, Tuesday evening, was greeted by a crowded house and pronounced to have been as fine an entertainment as has appeared in this winter's course of that village.
   The heavy weight of snow upon the frail awning in front of the stores in the old Wickwire block on Railroad street, caused the same to fall Wednesday night, breaking the windows in Harrington's music store and Stamford, Banks & Co.'s fruit depot.
   Mr. Chas. W. Smith, late of the Flushing (L. I.) Journal, has purchased the Daily Message in this place, and took possession last Monday. Mr. Smith has had many years of successful experience in the business, and we doubt not will make many improvements in the Message. The DEMOCRAT extends a cordial welcome to the new proprietor.
   The Town Board of Truxton met last Saturday and appointed Judson Osterhout to be collector in place of Elmer B. Arnold, who failed to secure bondsmen. It is claimed that Arnold is some $1,200 short as collector last year, and as a result he was arrested Saturday and held in $2,000 bail. L. F. Stillman and T. F. Grady, of this village, became his bondsmen.
   Mr. Geo. H. Hubbard, of the firm of Buck & Hubbard, the well known hardware dealers, has disposed of his interest in the business to Mr. H. M. Lane, formerly of the firm of Williams & Lane, and an inventory of stock is now being taken preparatory to the change which takes place on the first of the year. Mr. Hubbard retires to give his entire time and attention to the business of the Cortland Manufacturing Company, limited, of which he is the President. Mr. Lane is a most excellent business man, and although his experience has been in another line, we predict he will drop into the traces as though he had served his time. He is fortunate in being associated with a gentleman, Mr. A. E. Buck, who understands every detail of the business from A. to Z. The new firm will have the best wishes of all patrons, and if their future is to be judged by the past, they will deserve it.